http://cheerfulliving.com Tips to adding more cheer, joy and happiness to life Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:51:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en “Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” - Eric Fromm The recent death of my Auntie Kerry put me in a state of mind that I think we all go through at different times in our lives: the feeling of utter isolation, of complete ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2009/01/how-to-connect-with-humanity-when-you-feel-all-alone/ Image from zdnet Do you have a definition of success? I’ve taught hundreds of students for over five years. Every time I ask this simple question: “Who wants to be successful?” every single person raises his hand. At this point, I actually have inverted the question to simply be, ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2009/01/so-you-want-to-be-successful-here%e2%80%99s-a-thought%e2%80%a6-define-it/ Image by ~FreeBirD®~ via Flickr I was sitting here at my computer, pondering whether I wanted to write a post with tips about “making 2009 your best year ever”. It’s been done, and most of my tips you’ve already read before on Cheerfulliving. I made a small list of things I’d recommend ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2009/01/the-single-secret-to-making-2009-your-best-year-ever/ Image via Wikipedia Tomorrow evening, like billions of people around the world, my wife and I will be celebrating the coming new year. Some people celebrate this by having a big New Year’s Eve bash at their home. Others go out to various parties, enjoying the celebrations put ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/how-we%e2%80%99re-frugally-celebrating-the-new-year/ Image via Wikipedia No matter what is happening around us, we do not have to react impulsively, but can learn to respond. Giving into automatic negative reactions can become addictive and it's important to learn how to diffuse them. The steps offered here are simple, but powerful. The more we practice ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/how-to-calm-down-easily-some-zen-steps/ Image by TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ via Flickr Along with the joy and excitement of the New Year’s season, a feeling of sadness often exists side by side. This feeling sometimes grows stronger after the New Year itself has passed. During this period we consciously or unconsciously review the year ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/new-beginnings-zen-steps-to-starting-fresh/ Image via Wikipedia Ten steps to better understand the zen spirit, and their equivalent for the potter. Steps for the zen: You decide to look for your favourite cow that is out in your fields. You learn tracking techniques to look for your favourite cow. You search the fields and find ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/zen-and-the-potter/ Image by ktylerconk via Flickr “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” — Hans Hoffman Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” — Henry David Thoreau For today’s knowledge workers, every distraction is a drain on productivity and sanity. Every ringing phone, instant ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/10-steps-to-a-zen-like-working-environment/ Image by .nele via Flickr “Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.” - Red Buttons Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Asha Dornfest of Parent Hacks Parenting is equal parts skill and art. The skills — diaper changing, nightmare soothing, gentle ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/top-20-parent-hacks-tips-for-organization-kid-optimization-and-happiness/ “So if we love someone, we should train in being able to listen. By listening with calm and understanding, we can ease the suffering of another person.” Thich Nhat Hanh It’s Christmastime and it’s the season of giving … what are you giving your loved ones this year? The holidays often mean ... http://cheerfulliving.com/2008/12/the-six-greatest-gifts-you-can-give-your-loved-ones/