Reprogram Yourself!

Dear Friends,

Here are some important tips to make yourself happy more often than you can imagine. It sounds simple but if we just take some steps, it is not impossible.

"You have the power to make "HAPPINESS" a Way of Life, instead of an occasional occurrence!" This saying is so true and it is important we realize it.

Well, if you are feeling sad most of the time, you can change that immediately. You need to "Reprogram Yourself!" How? 

Here are some tips:

1) Analyze your state of mind. Ask yourself the following questions:

-How are you feeling? Happy, Sad or neither!

If you are Happy, GREAT! Cheer others who need some of your SUNSHINE!

- If sad......why?

- Can you ignore or forget about it?

-If Yes....-Think of something POSITIVE or HAPPY.

-If No.....Why? Talk to someone you are close to. Sometimes we complicate things by making a mountain out of a molehill. Are you doing that? Are you overthinking things? If yes, my advise is to stop it now. Change the way you look at things. Think of something POSITIVE or HAPPY. Locate the source of your sadness. Eliminate it by focusing on  something good in your life. Don't depend on someone else to make you happy. You should love yourself before others can love you. Let go of your insecurities and become a New Person.

Tell yourself - the time is now for you to feel "HAPPY". SMILE! You can do it. You need to monitor your moods and your thoughts.

2) Do Happy things. -A hobby, happy song, dance, play a sports you like, travel to a place you wanted to go, watch a happy movie and quit the job you hate and find one you like. Most importantly reduce the stress. I like to go for a run, play golf and work in the gym. I also like to meet friends, spend time with my family and watch comedies.

3) DO something nice for someone else and make someone else smile for a change. Make someone's day AWESOME! That will make you happy. Sometimes when we change our focus, we can change our mood and state of mind.

4) Exercise regularly. People who exercise regularly are less likely to be sad or moody because the exercise endorphin released by the brain helps to reduce pain and stress. I find that it reduces my stress level when I exercise.

If you think that Life has been tough on you, look around you. There are people who are blind, with no limbs, who have lost everything they have starting over but they are making something of their life and making great progress. Look at NicVujicic who was born with no arms or legs. Please learn from him. No matter how bad your life is, you can make it better for yourself and other.

Help Yourself and Help Others.

Best of Luck! Smile! Reprogram Yourself.

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Words of Wisdom by Dalai Lama

Hi Friends,

Happy New Year! 

I came across this quote and I thought this would be an appropriate way to start my blog for 2015.

Here are some words of wisdom from Dalai Lama:

“Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

What Dalai Lama says is very true. I am sure we are all guilty of the above and we all chase after the wrong things. We need to get a proper perspective of our own lives so that we can live it to the fullest within our capacity.

Since this is the beginning of 2015, we should take stock of our lives and make necessary changes so that we can live a meaningful and happy life. Work is only a means to an end, not the end itself. The end being to have a good quality of life with good health, happiness,doing what you really want such as spending time with your family, travelling, doing charity work, gardening, playing golf, tennis, soccer, cycling, etc. Our stress level is what causes ill health, anxiety, fear, etc. Try to reduce that and things will definitely improve.

If you need ideas on how to make changes, please read my blog posting on "New Year Resolutions 2013"- http://helpyourselfnhelpothers.blogspot.sg/2012/12/new-year-resolutions-2013.html

Best Wishes for 2015! God Bless!

Best Regards,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Self-Help Book- How to Benefit from it?

Dear Friends,

I am currently reading a book called "Happy" by Ian K. Smith, M.D., a #1 New York Times Best Selling Author. It is a very easy read and I am really enjoying reading the book. It is not that I am sad and miserable that I needed to read a book call "Happy". I feel that even though you may be happy and good, that does not mean you stop there. You can make things even better by learning from others especially respected Motivational Speakers who have a wealth of information to share in their books and seminars. Of course you need to be careful not to be sucked into some of these motivational speakers attempts to up-sell courses that cost thousands of dollars.

I have listened to many Motivational Speakers and read several books. You and I connect with different authors and motivational speakers. But there is no need to buy all the books that are out there. Pick one or two self-help books and read it over and over again. Then pick up 5 or 10 points from the book and apply it in your life daily until you form a positive habit or change in your life.

Here are somethings I hope to apply from the book "Happy":

1. Have some "Me Time" on a weekly basis. My suggestion, at least 3 hours to 1/2 a day or one or two days a month. Do things that you want rather than for your Boss, Wife, Kids, Friends, etc.
2. Learn to disconnect from your laptop, handphone, TV, iPads, etc. Enjoy the freedom away from the control of these electronic devices.
3. Have friends who are happy and positive as they can influence your mincdset, mood and attitude.
4. Simplify your life.
5. Identify 3 of your passions and spend an hour on it.

And yes, do write out your New Year Resolutions for 2015. If you have no clue, please read one of past blog entries- https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7228704288843632860#editor/target=post;postID=1803171724208245842;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=26;src=postname

Good Luck!

Merry Christmas &  a Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Who is Bill Cosby Really?

Dear Friends,

I am sure many of us have grown up watching The Cosby Show. Recently, we have been watching re-runs of the iconic show about the wonderful Cosby Family. We respected the indomitable Bill Cosby who made us laugh and made us forget about our worries and fear.

But now, in light of the accusations and stories that are coming out of the woodwork, who is the real Bill Cosby? His silence is making the accusations more and more credible. There is no smoke without fire as the saying goes. I wish the story about greedy women trying to make a quick buck were true but I doubt it. Not many women would want to embarrass themselves by coming out to accuse one of the most respected people in showbiz unless it was really true! And given the history of powerful men wanting to have control over women, Bill Cosby may not be exception. We have seen it with Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods, Arnold Schwarzenegger and many other powerful men in politics, showbiz and sports. 

I was a big fan of Tiger Woods before his fall from grace. He has never been the same man since his shenanigans became public. I did not "hero-worship" him by having huge posters and adorn my home with memorabilia of Tiger Woods. But I wanted to play golf like him. What I liked about him was his dedication to his chosen sport -Golf and he was loving family man until the truth came out. Then everything fell apart.

Since then I have been advising people to stop "Hero-Worshiping" stars. We all need role models to look up to. But take the good qualities that they have to offer and learn from it and ignore the rest. We are not saints so we shouldn't expect these stars to be the same. Hollywood is the worse place to find heroes and role-models. There are some good souls who are really nice. But they too may have their faults.

I like good men and women who are genuine and sincere and who like to help others. Hence, I still cannot come to terms with the fact that the funnyman Bill Cosby is really a bad guy who mistreated women and raped women who trusted him. I feel sorry for the women, his wife and kids.

So try not to  "hero-worship" any stars. You can be a fan but if there is anyone you should hero-worship, it should be those who are closest to you which can be your father, mother, grandfather or grandmother or a friend, etc., because these stars do not care about who you are, They only care about themselves but your family and friends do and they are most likely to have sacrificed a lot to care for you and bring you to where you are today. So, if there is anyone you should worship other than God, it should be those closest to you. 

Have a Great Week! God Bless!

Cheers,

Mark

Treat Everyday as Friday!

Hi Friends,

I keep hearing people getting stressed about Mondays, about Work, about Money, about Relationships, etc. Well, there is a simple solution to all these stresses. Look for the solutions rather than looking only at the problems.

One way to overcome Monday Blues is to "Treat Everyday as Friday". Everyone looks forward to Friday when you get off work, hope to spend money to buy a weekend of good time, spend time with friends, boyfriend and girlfriend and family. If you learn to see everyday as Friday, that will put a smile on your face and that will reduce your stress significantly. It does not mean that you have to drink everyday.

One should learned to chill. Don't take yourself too seriously. You need to learn to take the "chill pill" and be positive. Its good for your health and you will be productive at home and at work. I read of the 100 year old men who learned to look at all his problems as simple problems. Hence, he was able to live a relatively healthy and peaceful life.I think we can take a leaf from the old man's book.

The modern man faces a lot of new health issues because of stress both internal and external. The internal stress can be managed when start think positively. I good book to read is "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" by Richard Carlson. The external stress can be managed to a certain extent. For example, "work". If don't like your work then change your job. First, you find a job and next throw in the resignation letter. If possible take a short break to clear your mind and start the new job on a positive note.

If money is the cause of your stress, then sit down and write down how much money you have, how much you earn and how much you spend -include your housing loans, car loans, meals, household expenses, entertainment expenses, children's school fees and clothes, healthcare expenses, etc. See where you can cut down your expenses and where you can increase your savings. If you can save enough money, then learn how to invest so that you can have some kind of passive income and you can grow your wealth. Don't spend with the hope of making more in the future. "Live within your means" and your money stress will dissipate.

Don't Worry, Be Happy! Treat Everyday as Friday! And don't forget to "SMILE".

Have a Great Week!

Cheers,
Mark
http://exercise2energize.blogspot.sg/

Help Yourself N Help Others: Don't be Too Kind to Your Bosses

Help Yourself N Help Others: Don't be Too Kind to Your Bosses

Love What You Do!

Dear Friends,

Many people hate the job they are doing! Sad but true. They get on the treadmill of work everyday and they drag themselves to work just so they can earn a salary. There is no work life balance. The stress is harmful to your health. 

But if you do what you love, you will love what you do, It is a choice we need to make if you want to be happy. We all have a choice. But some of us are scarred to make the choice for fear of losing their security. My point is that I always believe that if do not try, you will never know. 

The best way to decide whether you should change or remain in your current job is to do up a check list. The list should contain "PROs" and "CONs" of leaving the job. Then do a list similarly for the job that you love to do. Give weightage to each point based on certain criteria. 

Talk to a friend or a counselor. Air it out so that you can get a clearer picture. You need to bounce this of someone else. But at the end of the day you have to decide.

Good Luck!

Cheers,

Mark