Everything I Do Is a Prayer (cont.)

After I wrote my last blog post I thought about it, as I tried to understand that everything I do is a prayer. By maintaining a focus on my every action, what I am really doing is living in the present moment. The results are the same. I feel grateful for all around me. My confidence soars, my ability to be compassionate becomes easy and obvious. My life is filled with Peace and Joy

As I wrote at the end of my book, Simple Happiness, It doesn't matter if I come from a place of God-Consciousness and arrive at Peace and Joy, or I begin by striving for a place of Peace and Joy and arrive at God-Consciousness. The two lines can't help but intersect and intertwine.

Step back and experience the joy of the ride.

Jim Ryan Talks - A Timely Idea

PIPER Conference

Yesterday I gave a presentation at the second annual PIPER (People Improving Peer Empowerment Recovery) Conference. It was held at Touro Law School in Central Islip, NY. My presentation on Simple Happiness - Eight Characteristics of Happy People was very well attended and very well received. However it was far from the highlight of the day.

Deb Damone, founder of PIPER and who is recovering from mental illness herself, told her story at the end of the morning session. It was unlike any life's experience I had ever heard. Her's is a story of survival. She has survived traumatic experiences of her youth and has turned a severe mental condition into a story of hope and inspiration for anyone who suffers from mental illness.

Through PIPER, Deb uses her considerable skills and talents to bring hope and practical ideas to those who partake in her program. She encourages her students to become advocates for others who struggle daily with the issues of mental illness. She brings in speakers from far and wide to enhance the learning experience of her students. Deb continues to develop new programs to challenge her students to continually reach higher in their efforts to overcome their sometimes deep seated disabilities.

You never really know what is going on inside a person's head. You never know what struggles a person could be dealing with in their daily life. Yesterday was a lesson in love, compassion and inspiration and determination. Thanks you Deb.

Deb will be appearing at the Book Revue in Huntington at 7:00 pm on April 6, 2010. She will be giving a talk and signing copies of her book, "The Ominous Betrayal: Memoir of a Child of Hope". If you are suffering from any mental illness or know someone who is, you must attend this event and get her book.
Contact Deb @ deb_damone@yahoo.com

A Step Forward

Today I installed in my computer a client contact system called ACT. It will make my business life more organized. I am always a bit late to the technology game, but as they say, "When the student is ready the teacher will appear." I am ready. All my speaking contacts will be in one place. My notes and follow-ups will be organized and efficient. There will be no more ,"Oops, I forgot to call that guy!"'s. I'm looking forward to loading up all my info. I feel good.
Just another step along the way to a life of Simple Happiness.

Meditation

Everyone can derive benefits from meditation. You don't have to be a Buddhist monk or live far away in the wilderness. Meditation is available to us all. Even Olympians meditate. Gold medal winning snowboarder Shawn White attributes much of his success to the practice of meditation.
You need no special outfit. It's actually free, although some enjoy taking classes to insure getting off on the right foot.
Meditation is simply quieting the mind, simply being. All you need to do is be quiet and breathe. The real benefit is derived from doing it on a regular basis. Make it part of your day. Start slowly, maybe five minutes. Sit quietly in a comfortable position and breathe. Pay attention to the physical aspect of your breathing. A thought will come in to your head. Notice it as a thought, let it go and return to your conscious breathing. Like anything you will get better with time. The more you practice the better you get.
Let me know how you do.
It's another simple step you can take along your way to a life of simple happiness.

Accountability For Your Happiness

This morning, as I do every Tuesday morning, I went to the DWI Alternative Facility in Yaphank, NY, to teach my class in personal development to the men there. This morning’s topic was the eight characteristics of happy people. The men, as usual, were attentive and engaged. We spent the most time on the second characteristic, accountability. That is, happy people realize that they are responsible for their own happiness. They don’t play the blame game: no blaming divorced parents, birth order or alcoholism or anything else for that matter.

Happy people say, “I am the person I am standing here today as a result of every choice that I’ve ever made in my life.” Now, as scary as that thought is, if you can buy into that concept, it can be just as empowering. If my choices are what make my life what it is, all I have to do is start making different choices. This only can happen with much introspection.

Helen Keller said it best, “Self pity is our worst enemy. If we yield to it we can never do anything wise in this world.” Sure, we all feel sorry for ourselves from time to time. Now is the time to start paying attention to our thoughts, especially the dis-empowering ones. Now is the time to stop hanging on to thoughts of self pity as we realize that self pity gets us nowhere. The next time you notice yourself feeling sorry for yourself, let go of that thought and replace it with a thought of gratitude. Be accountable. Taking responsibility for your own well being is a major step on your way to a life of Simple Happiness.

Cheer Up, It'll Help with Your Heart

A recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University found that happy people are less likely to have heart problems than those who are not so happy. So if you are a tee-totaling non smoker but are a grump, beware. That grumpiness could be what gets you.

Cheer up, lighten up. Stop taking yourself so seriously. These positive attributes will not only make your life more fun, they could make your life longer and healthier as well.

I wish you all life of Simple Happiness.

Video Aha Moments

I just started to add a short video to go along with my weekly "aha moments". I just bought a new little flip camera and am really enjoying putting them together. My associate, Maggie Kalas, is doing a great job editing and producing them. They start with a little music which has a nice beat, then the cover of my book Simple Happiness scrolls down to the music. I give my little talk which lasts a minute or so and I close by wishing everyone a life of Simple Happiness.

They are available on You Tube and my hope is to widen my audience, to enlarge my territory, according to the prayer of Jabez.

I hope you like them.

Jim Ryan's Aha #102 - Compliment Your Children

Jim Ryan's Aha #102

Compliment your children today.
Tell them why you’re proud of them.
If you have no children, compliment your parents.
Don’t be stingy with your affection.

To receive your personal copy of Jim Ryan's Aha Moments every Wednesday, go to www.jimryantalks.com to subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

A New Internet Presence

I bought myself a flip camera last week and have been experimenting with it these past few days. I finally will be able to post videos on You Tube. It is my intention to post a video every Wednesday morning to accompany my weekly "Aha Moments". I am very excited about the potential to reach many more folks who are interested in living more fulfilled, joyful lives. I'm sure there will be a few bumps in the road as we embark on this new venture, but in time they will get more and more professional. I hope to spread my "Simple Happiness" message more effectively with this new venue.

Limiting Beliefs

A belief is nothing more that a thought that we continually think about. It becomes comfortable. We feel that it is the truth. The problem is that many of our beliefs are limiting. We constantly tell ourselves that we can't do this or we can't do that. Who says so? We say so. And because we tell ourselves over and over, we begin to believe that it is true.

Start to pay attention and notice when a limiting thought shows up in your head. Ask yourself, "What if the opposite were true?" Picture yourself in your mind's eye doing what your thought told you that you can't do. Wow, maybe I can get my degree, or, maybe I can look for a more fulfilling job, or, maybe I can lose those pounds, or, maybe I can read a book every month. Start living up to your untapped potential.

We can change our beliefs. Imagine your life if you got rid of even one limiting belief. What are you waiting for? Simple Happiness is waiting just around that limiting belief.

If Necessary, Use Words

This morning while reading the paper I came across a quote that I have prominantly displayed near the front of my book, Simple Happiness. It is a quote from St. Francis of Assisi. To me it is a quote that embodies the total message of Christianity. It even completes what Jesus taught when asked what were the two greatest Commandments. Jesus said the first and greatest commandment was to love God with your whole mind your whole heart and your whole soul and the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself.

A song comes to mind that we used to sing in church -" They will know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love. They will know we are
Christians by our Love." How simple is that.

Back to the quote from St. Francis.
In medieval times the followers of St. Francis wanted to know what to do when they took to the streets. "Tell everyone about the Love of God", St. Francis advised. "If necessary, use words."