The gift of a smile

I’ve been spending some time at my parent’s house, back in my home, my country. These are my good earned vacations but also the opportunity for my son to practice my mother tongue as well as the opportunity for my parents to finally be grandparents.

I suppose everybody has once heard the saying “nobody is a prophet in his own land” and I’ve always felt that way.

Contrary to what some people might think, even as a foreigner in Austria, I find the people of Tyrol (“Unterland”) very friendly people who smile at you in the streets and that are very correct and respectful.

Today while walking through some places I noticed that people smile at me here too. And although I can’t remember how it was when I lived here (11 years ago), I don’t think people were so friendly.

I just read an article about life being a mirror of your own being, and it just clicked in me that I’ve changed for good in the last 11 years.

I noticed that wherever I walk I look at people in the eyes and smile and it is very beautiful to see those eyes smiling back. Most of them are surprised; big town people aren’t used to smiling eyes, let alone looking at strangers in the eyes at all.

Have you had this experience with complete strangers lately? This recognizing the human being in you and the person you smile at in this moment when your eyes catch. This is the simple but nice gift of a smile.

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Success in Life is expansion of happiness

“Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.
Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease.”
– Deepak Chopra

Not long ago I read an article that placed Nigerian people among the happiest in the world. This is true, even though many are living in deprivation when compared to our comfortable lives.

At this moment my house is full of kids whose ages range from 6 to 12. They are all together in my son’s play-room. And they are so happy to be together, simply playing, sometimes complaining at each other, but then again being friends again. I think many of us can recall simple happiness in our childhood times; isn’t this successful living?

Can we as adults have access to this care-free happiness in our western civilization? Growing up, having a family or a life on your own is logically related to responsibilities and with having to provide for yourself or your family, whether we’re in Africa, the States or Europe, it’s always the same.

But, if a country with abundant poverty problems can boast about having the happiest people on the planet, I think we can also achieve that! And with “we” I mean everybody.

Happiness in every dimension is achievable. Being life’s nature constant motion and continuous evolution, I believe that it is also our nature and mission to constantly evolve and develop, while in the meantime being happy. You don’t have to wait to be happy until you achieve something, the way to get there should make you happy also.

The capability to set yourself goals and work in their direction with deep engagement, consequently and in peace, trusting your inner powers and the powers of the universe leads to a light hearted and joyous life along the way of achievement. And this is beautiful. These goals should be in harmony with your nature, it is important that you feel love towards that which is your goal or the way to achieve your goal.

There’s a passage in Dr. Murphy’s book, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, which states that human inner urges to achieve anything are inspired by the universe and the subject’s own capability. And with the right mindset we are” doomed” to succeed. So if we will succeed anyway, why not be happy now?!

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Being happy is a habit

In this week’s article Returning to happiness after loss or crisis I listed some practical steps that lead to recovery and returning to being your usual happy self.

After living exceptional experiences it’s inevitable to return to normal life and routines, and being happy is a way of life and can be a habit if you choose it to be. Affirmative prayer and programming your mind can help you turn happiness into a habit.

Mind touched by faith works miracles in your life.

Confidence in your own power and sublime trust in the assistance of the powers of the universe will bring you happiness that stays. Choose to be happy by working on your mental patterns and following the call of your heart.

I’ve used many affirmative prayers to repeat everyday that I find beautifully simple. Try making this the first thought when you awake and repeat this several times during your day:

I choose happiness today,

I choose peace,

I choose succes.

Love and joy brighten up my entire day.

For these blessings I am thankful

Exercise makes the master. Exercise bringing the best and highest in you, put it into action everyday.

Trust the guidance of the divine cell of God contained in your mind,

allow yourself to be inspired by the Spirit of Truth in your heart,

be conscious that your Guardian Angels bring you into situations where decision-making is vital.

It is in hard times where you have the opportunity to show what you are made of, and your Angels see to it that you make the best out of this opportunity.

Even when you find no strength to go on, and I know it can get hard, goodness that comes out of you heals you and others and it fills your heart with sublime joy.

Some people feel anger towards life because of their so-called fate or take revenge at others because things went bad; this only empowers the lowest in human kind.

You see, events are a result of mental structures and not the cause.

Letting go, moving on, being constructive or fair, forgiving, discovering your inner strengths and augmenting your self-worth imply a great deal of personal character and mental power in hard times; but training these muscles can and will bring back the feeling of happiness. Working on yourself can give you a feeling of accomplishment that is a balsam for your soul.

Sincerely desire to be happy and happiness will follow; divine guidance of the universal powers lay before you.

If you want to read more about how your mind can make happiness a habit, read The Power of Your Subconscious Mind from Dr. Josef Murphy; you’ll be happy you did.

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