4th Of July... My Favorite Holiday

My memories of the fourth of July are fond memories.  Of all the holidays the 4^th of July is my favorite.  As a kid I remember driving to an open field on the outskirts of town with my parents. 

 The summer air was crisp and fresh and the smell of fresh cut grass was in the air.  My Mom’s coleslaw and potato salad being dished out on paper plates and taking double helping of both… the taste of sweet watermelon and the delicious feeling of summer all around.  

But my favorite part of the whole evening was the fireworks.  I remember lying on the blanket and looking up into the starry summer sky waiting for the big show.  I couldn’t control my excitement looking up in anticipation for the first bang and sparkle shimmering down to the ground.  And then it happened...  boom, bang lights flashing and a wonderful display of reds, blues purples and pinks.  My eyes darting in every direction drinking up the excitement and wonder of the night display.  I would say that over the years not much has changed other than the location. 

Every 4^th of July I become a kid again full of wonder and amazing looking up into the night sky and drinking in the wonder of the show.  Checking the schedule and making sure that we get there early to get the best seat.  Sitting back and looking and waiting in anticipation of that first spark of light. Boom bang owww and ahhh… 

Looking at this it makes me contemplate and think about my life.  Life can be the 4^thof July every day.  If we stop, step back and look at the wonders around us in our daily life we can create that joy every day.  It may not be the grand boom and spectacular lights but a hug from a loved one or smile from a stranger can create this happiness.  Being grateful and seeing the beauty in life everyday can create a joy that is spectacular.  So my 4^th of July challenge to you is to step and to take look around you.  Find the things in your life that are truly wonderful and give gratitude for them.  It is a wonderful feeling to connect to the world and be happy for the little things.  Sometimes there are fireworks all around us and all we need to do is look up to see them.

How To Find The Perfect Career.....

We all know someone or maybe you are someone who walks into work every morning happy to be there.  They greet you with a smile and pleasant conversation.  Nothing seems to shake their positive attitude.  There have been multiple researches that happy and satisfied people are somewhat more successful at the workplace.  

Most researchers have assumed that the accomplishment of such indicators of success in the workplace causes a person to be happy. In fact, the alternative hypothesis—that happiness causes success—may be equally plausible. In this article, we review the available literature to support the idea that happiness is an important precursor and determinant of career success.

Our focus on positive emotions is not arbitrary. We argue that happiness leads to success precisely through the experience of positive affect. Although the exact mechanism is still unclear, several pathways are likely. First, prior research suggests that positive emotions are associated with approach-oriented behavior (Elliot & Thrash, 2002; Watson, Wiese, Vaidya, & Tellegen, 1999). That is, people in a good mood are more likely to enter novel situations, interact with other people, and pursue new goals (Carver, 2003). Positive emotions also signal that life is good and that no threats are readily apparent (Cantor et al., 1991) According to Fredrickson (1998, 2001), a safe and comfortable environment allows one to “broaden and build” intellectual, social, and physical resources, which can be called on in later times of need. Armed with previously acquired resources and primed to pursue new goals, people who experience positive affect are particularly well suited to experience success. In the literature review that follows, we seek to demonstrate that happy people enjoy more success in the workplace than their less happy peers and that such success is triggered by the experience of positive emotions

According to an independent study commissioned by The American Express “The Life Twist Study” Most Americans today define their own success based on being healthy (85%), having a job they love (75%), having time to pursue passions (69%), continuing to learn and do new things (65%), and being able to make a difference in people’s lives (62%). All of these factors scored much higher as contributors to success than simply having a lot of money (33%).When they assess themselves against these standards; Americans feel that they are measuring up. Nearly six in 10 consider themselves to be a success either most of the time (47%) or all of the time (11%).

Based on these studies the key to happiness in your career is to look at life with a positive attitude.  Enjoying life for what it is can create a career and a life that is fulfilling and rewarding/

2008; Julia K. Boehm and Sonja Lyubomirsky ,Journal of Career Assessment Julia K.  

Does Happiness Promote Career Success

2013, The Futures Company,  The Life Twist Study

Focus to Create Happiness in Your Career

Focus is important to create success in the workplace.  This is something that all employers want from their employees.  We can achieve some much in our jobs and our lives by focusing on the present.  With this focus we can also learn to create happiness in our lives and with our careers.  Happiness and focus is something that everyone is attracted to and can create success for you in your everyday life.  How you ask do I do this? 

I am going to tell you how....  It is a simple exercise that will seem forced at first but with continued efforts will become a regular part of your routine.  I will begin with the exercise and then explain how to make this a daily part of your routine.

First I want you to start by focusing on your breathing.... Say to yourself I feel the air moving into my nose and out of my nose.... Continue to do this...



Second...Focus on your breathing and your chest and stomach rising and falling....continue to focus on this for a minute or two

Third... Bring to mind a person or place that gives you complete happiness and joy...Focus on this feeling while continuing to focus on your breathing continue for a couple of minutes

The key to this is to bring you to a place of joy and send this into the people around you.  Happiness is contagious and we all want to be around someone who makes us happy and focuses on the positive.  You can be this person.  At first you will need to practice this several times a day.  I would suggest doing the exercise every morning when you awake, when you first arrive at work, at each break and at lunch.  Before you know it this will become a daily part of your life.  When you are stressed your instinct will be to go to this point and bring back a positive focus...

Good luck on your path to happiness