I was blown away by the scientific research in quantum physics that related a story of how praying for less crime in Washington DC on one given night, actually worked.  And recently best selling author Marci Shimoff interviewed 100 unconditionally happy people.  These people were being happy for no reason – it wasn’t their birthday or anything.  They were just happy.

What she found is really cool.  Marci recognized that they all focused on the solution rather than the problem.  Wow – write that one down.  Another cool point she found was that happy people let love lead in their lives.

They have the same junk thrown at them in life that we do, yet they choose to keep their hearts open in their daily lives.  And this can be seen in their gratitude.  They focus on it.  Not that they have more to be grateful for.

And here’s an important one.  They connect to something larger than themselves.  Marci found that people who are happy don’t always have to figure out everything to be in control.  The live in the flow of life, trusting underlying benevolence and wisdom from that larger wholeness.

These same people seek a nourishing support system.  Remember what I talk about – the power hour?  These people do this and discover their passion and incorporate it into everything they do.

Now – quick things you can do today that lead to happiness.

In a minute, you could – be grateful – write a thank you card.  Relax – close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly, three times.  Connect – call, text or email someone you haven’t in a while.  Gain perspective – look out the window toward the horizon.  And think about you – list three things you like the most.

Did you know that 72% of Americans dream of starting their own business.  Man, that’s almost all of us.  I know I’ve had that entrepreneureal spirit since a buddy gave me a copy of Think and Grow Rich.

And what is your passion?  Like model airplanes?  Creating websites?  Taking pictures?  57% of us are passionate enough about something to turn it into a money maker.

I don’t know about you, but if you’re like me, there are reasons – whys – you want to start something you can call your own.  Intuit by Decipher released interesting figures.  They say they found 40% would start a business because they are tired of working at something they hate.  (That number sounds awful low compared to people I talk to.)

Finally, let me give you a clue I got from Dr. Oz, America’s Doctor, who I heard in a recent seminar on his HealthCorps organization.  Essential to health and happiness are exercising and sleep.  We don’t get enough deep sleep for our bodies to repair themselves.  Should you be up at 1 AM reading this?  If you have a normal day – 9 to 5, the answer is no.  So my challenge to you today is to do what you can to have a more positive outlook on life, and to get 8 hours sleep tonight.

I am flabbergasted at the news.  CNN reporting some guy took the lives of his family and then himself because he couldn’t find work.  First, I think where our priorities are nowadays.  And then I think the guy could have possibly been mentally ill from any number of things.  There is enough toxin around us to affect our minds.  That, along with influence from media, friends, global events; it’s enough to give you the creeps that this could have happened.

And yet, I know it’s not the end of it.

Listen, people – life is precious – and even if you’re down to your last penny, know that there is someone somewhere who cares about your life.  My first thought would be to go to a local church – seek help from a pastor.

You can let this external drain on your mind drag you down to despair if you want to.  And you can also not buy into the fact that the world is going to h*ll in a hand basket.  It’s a choice.  Maybe you’re too attached to stuff to make it an easy choice.  I don’t expect you to be like Job in the Bible.  And believe me, this ain’t nothin’ like that was.

Still, at first glace, these are trying times.  My word to you is that you can get through this and it can be better than you think by simply believing you are going to be OK.  It is not as horrible as you may think and certainly, these cyclical things come and go.

Here are five tips that will help you make it:

1. Stay away from negative people.  This includes people who you get bad vibes from.
2. Pray.  Ask God to guide you through this time.  He will.
3. Begin a gratitude and abundance journal.  Each night write down what happened that day that you could either be thankful for, or that was abundance!
4. Become the world’s best money steward.  Be frugal and celebrate at your frugalness.
5. Set goals weekly to where you want to be in 6 months.

Take that and really do it.  Rewrite those items and then do them.  You will be SO surprised when you can actually see how things work.

Talk soon,
Dave