Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Welcome to the conscious party
"There has always been a longing in the human heart for a more just, free, loving and creative society. But it was never before possible to fulfill these aspirations, because we had neither the evolutionary drivers and global crises to force us to change, nor did we have the scientific and technological powers that can free us from the limitations of scarcity, poverty, disease, and ignorance. This is the time of awakening for the social potential movement."
– BARBARA MARX HUBBARD
YOU'RE OFFICIALLY INVITED TO THE CONSCIOUS PARTY! Who doesn't like a party, right? This is no ordinary party though — no costumes, masks, or facades allowed. Just you, showing up in all your glory! It's been said that 90 percent of succeeding is showing up! We are all experiencing a transformational awakening together. What is so cool about this is that it gives us all a second chance to be who we really want to be, do what we truly desire, and live with our hearts and minds open.
Have you heard of the term, tabula rasa? The Latin term means "blank slate" and according to Webster's Dictionary, it is defined as "something existing in its original pristine state." The mind is in its hypothetical primary blank or empty state before receiving outside impressions. By re-training the brain, I believe that we have the power for this to occur at any time. By abiding by our true nature, our minds become clear, and our brilliance unfolds as we rediscover the intelligence of our essence. It is a type of rebirth where you get to start again with this clear mind.
It may be hard to grasp what a clear mind actually feels like without taking a long, relaxing vacation away from personal issues and the complexities of today's world. You want to find clarity — but what will it take for you to grasp what a clear mind feels like?
Conscious Happiness
Remember Cindy Lou Who from "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?" by Dr. Seuss. She was the bright-eyed, little girl and the hero of the story. A timid child, she displayed the most profound courage of anyone (including adults) in the city of Whoville. She represented and reclaimed what she and all the Whos of Whoville most loved, the happiest feeling known to its inhabitants: the feeling of Christmas.
Benefits of Practicing Conscious Happiness:
[??] All feelings are fleeting.
[??] You Well-Being is reinforced by feelings of fulfillment and joy translated in our brains.
[??] Compassion becomes a form of controlled emotional response, away from the negative, replaced by loving kindness
[??] Increased awareness equates to start each and every day with what you want to create, not what stops you.
Cindy faced up to the meanest, greediest, most self-absorbed creature — the Grinch — who was slowly stealing and hiding the happiness of each inhabitant until there was no happiness left. The Grinch believed that stealing every trinket, toy and piece of tinsel that symbolized happiness would leave an emptiness that the Grinch was all too familiar with: misery. As the snow began falling in Whoville, all the Whos gathered and sang joyous songs despite not having any symbols of their happiness.
Cindy Lou represented the conscious happiness of the story, and the Grinch represented the false belief of perceived happiness. When the symbols were eliminated, the Grinch believed his response would be satisfaction. However, the true response was emptiness, a projection of the Grinch's deep insecurity. The conscious happiness, however, is what prevailed. You see, what you might believe represents your happiness is a misperception or illusion. When you elevate your consciousness, you begin to see what truly is fulfilling to you. You can still create your own happiness, but it lies beyond your familiar perceived mindset.
In recent history, society has sought instant gratification. This collective consciousness has instilled what we believe is happiness but that is really a false sense of entitlement along with a mistaken sense of happiness. In reality, we all have the capacity to live happily when we follow our individual truth and don't look for instant results.
Each of us was born with a "barometer of happiness." It's our task to regulate this internal barometer so we can feel 100 percent happy more often than not. It will take a new belief system and conscious intention. We are all here to learn unconditional love where happiness is not only a lifestyle — it's a conscious party!
Are We in a Happiness Revolution?
"Revolution" can be defined as a significant and dramatic turnaround. Throughout human history, revolutions have varied widely from political to military to social upheavals. Many revolutions that have occurred outside of the political sphere are recognized as having transformed society, culture, philosophy, and technology. The social and technological changes happen at a breakneck speed these days — and whether or not you are a "tech geek", an ardent social media participant, or stay-at-home mom, we are affected by major life changes.
Whenever dramatic change occurs, the hardwired reaction in our brains to stress is a fight-or-flight mode, guided by the two universal feelings of fear and love. The harmony of what we think, what we say, and how we act is one pathway toward happiness. However, this is based on the decisions you make — you can choose your feelings, actions, and conclusions.
Unfortunately, most individuals act from fear, which is an ego-based default mode. Decisions are often put on hold and left for "someday." Some believe they are unable to do it alone or will be more successful if they lose those next 10 pounds, have more money in the bank, or meet the perfect mate before making a change that will enhance their lives.
Ask anyone on the street what it is that they most want in their lives and the majority will say, "To be happy!" Decades of research concludes that a sense of happiness makes us productive, improves our health and leads to stronger relationships, which builds morale. Most recently we've seen society's morale wither when faced with economic, personal and social challenges, but this, in itself, is part of the cycle that occurs in fashion, finance and the economy. Unfortunately, we are a society that tends to look externally for answers as opposed to within. Therefore, we rely on an external barometer to determine our moods and way of life, which does not seem to yield the desired solution. Here's why:
One of my career avenues led to consulting with organizations to define and market their brands, a few of which launched into blockbuster billion-dollar franchises. Surrounded by thought leaders and masterminds in the healthcare industry, I learned what it takes to navigate to the top of the heap and the pressures behind reaching a lofty goal. When obstacles lay ahead, the only choice is to change lanes or, in some cases, blazing a whole new trail. The number one mindset in working with a successful team is that failure is not an option. This often entails major commitment and a willingness to make personal sacrifices. Such sacrifices can affect your personal well-being, home life, and relationships, leading to an out-of-balance life. For example, I could have chosen to stay under the covers and allow my life to go by or go back to a career that almost killed me. At the time, I believed there was one of two paths to choose; however, I chose a new road, and new life emerged for me.
One should not work so hard to make a living that he or she misses out on creating a life. Yet, research shows that 85 percent of Americans are unhappy in their current jobs (CNN Money Magazine Survey 2011). According to the World Health Organization, one out of three Americans is diagnosed with depression, and more than 75 percent suffer from chronic stress and are completely unaware of it. This does not account for the percentage of unemployed who are struggling to find their place and offer their talents. The "failure is not an option" mode is an old belief system based upon fear and competition that results in working too much (now known as "workaholism"), which can literally kill us.
Despite monetary success and a perceived winning attitude, statistics from the World Happiness Report 2012 (among other sources) tell us that happiness is not money-based. More importantly, these statistics tell us that most people in today's society are not feeling fulfilled, creatively challenged, or satisfied in their immediate lives. No matter how much success or money you accumulate, it will not buy you inner bliss.
Re-evaluating your life can be a lonely path of emotions, grief, fogginess and indecision. I am here to tell you that you will be okay. It is because you are not alone on this path. Your clarity will improve as you evolve and grow, recognizing that your happiness revolution is based upon gratitude, love, truth, purpose and intuition. The happy backlash is a compassionate movement based on authenticity where all of us on that path can learn to develop a new appreciation for individual uniqueness and collectively thrive.
Failure is not an option when it comes to recognizing and celebrating your uniqueness, as it is the secret sauce to your own billion-dollar brand from the inside out. Remember, the cycles of change are temporary. We have experienced this since 1790 as our ancestors endured and survived more than 200 recessions to date. Most of our ancestors exemplified a survival consciousness with an underlying fear of poverty — what I call "bag lady" mode. This is an extreme practicality adhered to by our grandparents and great-grandparents that may be difficult to understand unless we actually shared the experiences that shaped their views.
Fallen paradigms and worldly structures built upon the survival and integrity of our ancestors represents a death of sorts. It's one in which we must grieve the loss of those before us, whose children and grandchildren have since thrived upon the creations built prior to our birth. We owe a big thank-you to our ancestors who did the best they could on our behalf.
Perhaps the unconscious cloud of grief is where many have become stuck. Grief and loss can take years to overcome, yet we endure, learn from the past, take risks and rebuild, knowing that everything is temporary and 'the only direction to go when you are down is UP! It's time to stop hanging low while waiting for a positive life change to come to you.
CHAPTER 2
Riding the Wave of Change
"If you can change your mind, you can change your life"
– WILLIAM JAMES
Say YES to LIFE!
Say YES to LOVE!
Say YES to ABUNDANCE!
Say YES to HAPPINESS!
Say YES, PLEASE to YOU!
Your thoughts are directly related to your decisions and acts. Every day you wake up is an anniversary of loving yourself.
Unfortunately, it seems that recognizing this love often is pushed aside as we move day-to-day through our crazy, hectic and stressful world as we run ourselves ragged and into the ground. This is not living life in a courageous or passionate manner. The pervasive feeling of drowning within our own debacle of life and consuming the energy of a collapsing world has us convinced we are collapsing as well.
We have relied on specific chiefs, such as banks, the government, and big corporations, to be the ringleaders of our destinies. Resuscitating our lives, as we once knew it, is not an option. What has become the reliance we must have is upon ourselves. By creating, designing, and manufacturing your own happiness life jacket, you can keep yourself from drowning in the sea of life's daily stresses.
Haphazardly piecing together a life jacket with duct tape and random materials is not exactly the best strategy. It can't give us that a false sense of reassurance that, when we need it for an emergency, it will be an effective floatation device. Instead, the duct-taped life jacket has causes us to become frantic when faced with an impending tsunami. However, we tend to do the best we can with what we have and resort to other strategies like heading to higher ground and taking cover, kissing the sky and thanking God we endured yet another storm safely. In case of an airline disaster, it is always recommended that you put your oxygen mask on first and then you can be of service to others. We can employ the same strategy if we consider leveraging new strategies, tactics, and loving care of self and our fellow man.
To go from performing our best to what is optimal may be a single, more meaningful act of self-love. It's one with significantly more meaning that reincarnates to a heart with know-how! We all have heart, an intention, where we are searching for the "what's in it for me, we, US?" Experiencing paradigm changes and the consequences of change upon us all points to happiness as a healthier choice as we ride the roller coaster surrounded by what is collapsing around us such as economic downturn and instability, corporate greed, and a grandiose sense of entitlement held by many.
When you combine gratitude, meaning, and heart, you revolutionize the act of self -love. Are you doing this for yourself?
Heaviness in your life equates to you putting off what needs a call to action. Examples of this include dealing with debt, marital or relationship issues, or health problems. Passivity ultimately keeps miracles at bay. When you are faithful with what you have, the universe will give you more. You enjoy life more when you get things done with good intentions. Being responsible rewards your good intentions. When you are responsible for your ability to act, to be, to do, inevitably you feel lighter and experience an overall wellness.
Two simple words - "one day"- can cause you to feel unsatisfied, dismayed, and living with regrets for what could have been. What's more, this is a familiarity that leads to a life of complacency that will literally kill you. If you're not busy living and growing, you're simply dying. Many people have come to me who have allowed the past to hold them back. It could be an old experience, regret, sad occurrence or manner in which they had behaved in the past that has led them to a life filled with self-hate or a lack of self-acceptance.
The past contains feelings of yesterday. The only moment that holds your power is the moment right here and now. This is the moment where you can take action to change your life for the better.
"Change Your Destiny" Life Enhancement Exercise
When you're sick and tired of being sick and tired of certain areas of your life, it's now time to clean up the past in your mind and create a new destiny for yourself.
Write out those things from the past that no longer serve you in your life.
For example, you can start with the statement, I will no longer: _________________________.
Some ideas might be:
I will no longer work for no %.
I will no longer drink alcohol.
I will no longer tolerate being spoken to with disrespect.
I will no longer eat alone.
During this exercise, recognize that your feelings are important, but some of your feelings may be a reaction to someone else's standards and not your own feelings of self-worth. Or perhaps your self-worth has diminished because someone has imposed his or her standards on you. Release your resentment, bitterness, or anger related to these people. They are not your friends and are projecting their own pain upon you. Chances are those who choose to judge are unhappy with their own lives.
If this is the case, keep reading. There is more here to help you ride the wave of change as you move toward removing those toxic things that no longer serve you.
Happiness is Not for Sissies, Fear Is!
Happiness is good for your health. Unfortunately, the fact is not all of us are good at predicting what will make us happy or what constitutes well-being. Happiness alone does not lead to a fruitful or fulfilling life. True happiness is an interaction of well-being for the brave who are willing to look at the areas of their lives that can be enhanced or changed for the long-term versus short-term gain.
Your overall well- being encompasses the five elements of well-being. They include:
• Community well-being
• Physical well-being
• Financial well-being
• Career well-being
• Social well-being
According to Well-Being, the Five Essential Elements, by Tom Rath and Jim Harter, Ph.D., about 66 percent of the population is thriving in one of the five categories. However, only 7 percent is successfully thriving in all five categories.
As you may already be aware our health is our wealth. The important factors that constitute our well-being include:
• Financial organization and consistency with living within our means
• Relationships of love, intimacy, and social interaction
• A career where you like what you do every day
• And a community life where you like where you live and there is a sense of engagement
To accomplish true happiness and well-being, you must feel deserving of it and recognize the myths and realistic de-stressors.
Don't link your happiness to a small rise in your stock portfolio. Do link your happiness to steady time with the people who will lift you up!
Don't wait for a rare opportunity to meet with friends once a year. Do create more realistic ways in which to spend quality time with friends more often.
Don't buy something to make yourself feel better. Do clean out the clutter in your life and donate belongings to help another; you will feel organized and refreshed.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Get Happy and Create a Kick-Butt Life"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Jackie Ruka.
Excerpted by permission of Morgan James Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
