Tuesday, June 23, 2009

What Is Happiness Really All About?

Everyone seems to be seeking happiness, but most not able to explain what it is in clear and understandable terms. How would you explain happiness to a child?

The dictionaries seems too obscure with its references to; a state of feeling great pleasure, favoured by circumstances, being lucky or fortunate, feelings of contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.

On the other hand, philosophers and religious thinkers have often defined happiness in terms of living a good life, accompanied by words like pleasure, gratification, enjoyment and feeling good.

At the end of the day, happiness is not just simply a way of living, but living a life of purpose and joy. Happiness is the ability to enjoy life unconditionally, along with the ups and downs of life. Seeing the beauty and joy in things is what makes for a happy life. Happiness is as much a choice as it is a skill. We are all born happy, but somewhere along the way we forget what happiness feels and looks like and start relating happiness to unrelated events.

It is possible to be happy most of the time and you can actually start doing it today.

The most simplest way to become happier is to find something or someone to appreciate at this very moment. It could be the beautiful day, uninterrupted time in your favourite spot in the garden, a beautiful smile by your child or even a stranger. What about a great and refreshing cup of tea, soft music or even the smell from your kitchen.

In the rare circumstance that you are struggling to find anything to appreciate, then simply appreciate the fact that you are breathing and pay attention to that breath. I can almost guarantee that you will feel better right away.

Would you like your child to be happy most of the time? Then forget all those intellectual books that are full of jargon and theory. Instead, go to

===> http://tinyurl.com/happykids4life


And you will be absolutely amazed on what is to be revealed to you.

Regards,

Gerard.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Tips For Raising Happy Children

Are You struggling to find good information on how to rear happy children? Fear no more as you can check through the following few tips.

The first tip is to realize the importance of modeling happiness. You can’t give something that you don’t have. How can you teach kids happiness if you don’t have it yourself? Some parents think loving their family means living only for them, driving them everywhere, cleaning up after them, and putting their kids’ needs and desires way ahead of their own. Parenting shouldn’t turn us into a short-order restaurant or a cleaning or taxi service. It does for some parents. That teaches kids a bad lesson.

A child who perceives his parent as a servant, someone whose life has meaning only through catering to his whims, learns to be selfish. He comes to believe others exist to do his bidding. I have a friend who was raised like that, and she tells me when she grew up, she kept having the strange feeling, “Where are all the servants?” Being catered to was such an ingrained part of her childhood that adjusting to adulthood was difficult for her, because “the servants” were missing.

Kids who are raised this way tend to feel the world owes them a living. So breaking out of the “doormat” mode, if you’re in one, is pretty central to giving your kid a chance at a smooth transition to happy adulthood.

When you take care of yourself, make time for yourself, and do things that make you happy, your child learns those behaviors from you. If she sees you going for your dreams and making decisions based on your inner truth, she learns that doing those things is good. On the other hand, if you model dropping everything to fulfill her latest dictate, she learns that parenting means self-denial and victimization. She may then become a self-effacing parent herself or go the other extreme and forego parenting entirely because it looks like such a sacrifice.

So to raise happy kids, be good to yourself. Treat yourself with respect and dignity the same as you treat your child. Don’t allow disrespect toward you any more than you’d allow someone to be rude to your kids. Make time for your creative desires and dreams. Plan in some scheduled personal time each week (or day), and make sure that you take it.


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Winsome Coutts holds a teacher’s certificate in education and has written hundreds of articles on self-development. She has studied with Bob Proctor and John Demartini, popular teachers featured on “The Secret” DVD. For additional info that will have an immediate and positive impact on your relationship with your children, please visit

===> http://tinyurl.com/happykids4life

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Longing For A Dream Child – Fact or Fantasy?

Are you a parent who come across well-behaved and motivated children, and then wondered why your own offspring do not have such qualities? You then start thinking that somewhere along the line you missed out on something and at worst, even doubt your parenting skills.

Many experienced practitioners in the field of education, brought about the realization that all parents are keen for their kids to grow up to be obedient, bright, honest, successful, and energetic. Complementary studies set about trying to discover what was going wrong with the methods used by such parents, and why other parents could enjoy fruitful, life-long relationships with their satisfied children.

One of the first things that was noticed was that ‘There are no difficult children, there are difficult parents.’ It is parents who are largely responsible for how their children ultimately turn out to be. Parents need to themselves decide what proper and improper behavior really is, and to properly differentiate between right and wrong. Children emulate their grown-ups, particularly parents.

It is advised for parents not to be too authoritarian, or too lenient. A subtle mix of democracy and firmness is needed…Discipline should not be a punishment. It should be a boundary guideline, which cannot be overstepped with impunity. Parents, who take personal interest on a day-to-day basis, are able to spot behavior changes early and take remedial measures.

Parents who are too busy with their business, professional or social activities cannot hope to enjoy good rapport with their kids. Particularly when the child is approaching the teens, and hormone changes are creating stress for the child’s personality, parents have to be on hand, and act as counselors and companions.

Habits which must be cultivated includes letting children enjoy privacy, reinforcing good behavior, listening attentively to the child, having family meetings, discussing the consequences of behavior, praising, establishing an atmosphere of trust, etc.

Even if your child is a dream one, does not mean that you cannot learn any more, as lifelong learning is the order of the day. It is therefore imperative that you visit the below site for even more tips on how to rear that dream child.

===> http://tinyurl.com/happykids4life

Success To You and Your Children,

Gerard.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Raising Successful Children

This can be great fun, and can make a huge difference in their lives. Goal setting for kids books, worksheets and activities will all help you to introduce this idea to your children. It doesn't matter if you are a parent, teacher, grandparent or friend, if you can encourage the children in your life to start setting goals at an early age, you can have a profound affect on their lives.

But why would you bother with this goal setting activity with kids?

You're busy enough aren't you?

  • In today's information age, people are bombarded with so many choices, decisions and options. It's very easy to get sidetracked or to just "go with the flow."? Learning how to set goals at an early age will give your child the tools needed to live a purposeful life. They will be able to make decisions that get them where they want to go instead of just reacting to whatever is in front of them at that moment.

  • Most highly successful people are avid goal-setters. Pick up any best-selling book from personal growth gurus and there will be a section dedicated to goal setting. These coaches don't consider goal setting an option; to them it's mandatory if you want to live an amazing life.

  • When you take the time to sit down and totally focus on your child, you KNOW how much they love that. This is about more than just Goal Setting, it is about saying how much you love them, and that you care enough about them and their future, that you are prepared to spend time working on it with them. You KNOW what an impact that will have with them. They will love Goal Setting, and feel so proud when they have written their first goal.

  • Setting goals can lead to profound feelings of happiness, purpose, confidence and self-worth. Imagine your child being confident because they know that they have the ability to achieve whatever they want to achieve. Imagine how exciting the world would be to them!


Winsome Coutts holds a teacher’s certificate in education and has written hundreds of articles on self-development. She has studied with Bob Proctor and John Demartini, popular teachers featured on “The Secret” DVD. She is the passion behind the project at -

http://tinyurl.com/happykids4life