To laugh often and much; to win the respect of
intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn
the appreciation of honest critics and endure the
betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find
the best in others; to leave the world a little better;
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a
redeemed social condition; to know even one life has
breathed easier because you have lived. This is the
meaning of success."
--Ralph Waldo EmersonHappiness is a choice
that requires effort sometimes.
--Anon
Write the bad things that are done to
you in the sand, but write the good things
that happen to you on a piece of marble.
--Arabic Parable
Courage is the price
that life exacts for granting peace.
--Amelia
Earhart
Obstacles are the frightful things you see when you
take your eyes off the goal.
--Henry
Ford
Aerodynamically, the bumble bee
shouldn't be able to
fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on
flying anyway.
--Mary Kay Ash
Simple
Pleasures
Do You Have A Comfort Network?
Happiness is related to the quality of relationships in
our lives. As human beings, we usually desire to be
related to others in some way. We desire to share
aspects of our lives with other people. We desire to be
valued. Realizing that we are not alone on the planet
also helps put our challenges and problems into
perspective.
Having a comfort network is a simple pleasure
and contributes to authentic happiness.
Take time to answer the following questions to learn
about your comfort network:
Name three people you get in touch with when you are
blue. Do these people usually help you feel better?
At work, name two people you seek out when you need
honest feedback. Do they help you? Can you trust
them?
Who energizes you? Who do you like to play with or
discover new things with?
Name two people you would contact in a crisis. Would
they bring you food if you were ill? Would you feel
comfortable giving them your house key?
Can you ask them for what you need, without feeling
guilty or needy?
Is there someone with whom you can discuss spiritual
ideas and concerns?
Do you feel comfortable with your doctor, attorney,
coach, accountant,
and financial planner. Stop giving your money for
services that leave you feeling drained, insecure, or
simply not satisfied. Find professional people that you
feel happy about.
--Source: The Women's
Comfort Book
If you have a Simple Pleasure
that you would like to
share with other
readers, please email me
Winner's Circle -
Robin
Borthwick
Robin Tells Her
Transformation Story
Robin's life choices brought her to Houston in 1974.
She earned a BSF (Forestry) at SFASU in 1982, but
redirected her career focus to the oil and gas industry
as a Geoscience Technician in 1985. All the time Robin
knew that her true calling was music. She knew this as
early as 1968. When asked by a camp counselor,
what she wanted to be when she grew up, Robin says
that "the only word that emerged from my soul, and I
remember this clearly, was, 'a drummer'." Robin
describes her calling as "a knowing, a self-perception
too grounded to understand in such a young mind."
As Robin reflects on her journey of 36 years, she
realizes that she is living her musical dream. She has
had many successes in music-- played every rock and
roll venue in Houston, studied jazz, recorded, and
toured. Last summer Robin toured Europe by invitation
with a blues band, and currently she is drumming
for "Always, Patsy Cline" performing at Stages
Repertory Theater.
Robin has worked very hard to find her center and learn
how to move forward. According to Robin, she has
been guided along the last 10 years of her path by two
gifted healers, Joyce Gayles and Vickie Pierce. Robin
says that her transformation has brought her, "finally,
to a place where I am comfortable in my own skin,
feeling centered, happy and ready for the next chapter
of self-discovery and joy."
Congratulations to you, Robin, on your life's journey
and as winner of last month's drawing for a 1-hour
massage!
Contest Questions
To participate in this month's drawing for a $25 Best
Buy gift certificate, email your answers to the following
questions:
Martin Seligman, PhD is the founder of "positive
psychology." Yes or No
Working Effectively with Your Inner Critic will be offered
on _______________(date)
Happiness is related to the quality of
_________________ in our lives.
Email your
answers to me with "Contest" in the subject line.
Thanks!
The word psychotherapy comes from two Greek
words, "psyche" and "therapia." The meaning of
psyche is soul or spirit essence and therapia has as its
root meaning "doing the work of the gods. "
Psychotherapy is a process of self-discovery, healing,
and transformation, and the basic work of the
psychotherapist is to become herself a fully functioning
human being and to teach and inspire others to become
full human
beings who are able to to live, work, and love with
ease.
