Hooked on Happiness?

“Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.”

Chuang-Tzu (350 B.C.)

It’s always challenging to comment on these “Zen like” sayings which respond well to exploration in a five day or five year retreat setting.

I find myself on the other side of many motivational and self-help experts who counsel millions on how to be happy. My sense is that happiness is too transitory to actively create and in that context, I resonate with Chuang-Tzu.

I do believe we can set up our lives such that feelings of joy and satisfaction are more likely to occur. Happiness seems more random and therefore, while not something we can manufacture, something we can fully celebrate …. another welcome miracle in our lives.

What about you? Are you “hooked on happiness” as a goal or ????? Please share with all of us your thoughts and perhaps your strategies.

With love and respect,

Robert

Living "On Hold"

“Technology is changing our lives. It cannot and will not change what is fundamental to the human condition. It will never change the way we are, or how we feel. The more technology we create, the more we seem confused, side-tracked with what we are conned into believing will improve our lives in the future. Always the future. Anything to get us off thinking about who we are right now, and how we might make our relationships more rewarding and loving. Too many times, all of that is put on hold.”

from “Living an Extraordinary Life”by Robert White

As is my custom, commenting on what I’ve written seems self-indulgent.

I am, as always, interested in your thoughts and you are encouraged to share them with all of us via the comment link below.

With love and respect,

Robert

To Love or Not to Love?

“A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.”

Joseph Joubert

My personal experience plus observation of thousands of participants in our seminars informs me that while it’s somewhat easy to assert that we desire to be compassionate and kind, often that compassion is conditional. One of those “conditions” is pointed to in this powerful message from Mr. Joubert: we use our judgments of others to justify withholding kindness.

Now perhaps you’re “pure as the wind driven snow” (one of my Mother’s favorite expressions when she doubted my veracity!), and kindness is always available to you with every person in your life. If so, perhaps you should be writing these missives instead of me!

I sometimes struggle to get past negative judgments about people in my life so that I can be fully present to them and to extend to them the compassion and kindness I want from them.

I’m sure you have some great stories...Be sure to share them with us.

With love and respect,

Robert

Winning and Losing .... or Losing and Winning

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."

Muhammad Ali

There’s a lot of defeat “out there” ... failures in business, in relationships, with investments and retirement plans, government programs that don’t deliver on their promises ... lots of opportunities to develop defeatist attitudes and behaviors.

As I hammer home relentlessly in my book, “Living an Extraordinary Life,” we all have choices on how we respond to circumstances. While we often can’t control the event, we have total control over our response to it—that’s the essence of being personally responsible for our lives.
No one, least of all your humble correspondent, says it will be easy. And, of course, it is a choice and by choosing, we gain personal power.

So how are you doing with any defeat in your life? What are you learning? Let us all share in your learning by adding a comment.

With love and respect,

Robert

P. S. On July 18th and 19th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida I’ll be presenting with other innovative speakers and consultants, health & wealth experts, top athletes, and trainers—all focused on building what is called the success-mindset. This is where one begins to breakthrough fear, take risks, to begin finding & living your passion. Your price is only $149 and just insert RW01 as a Registration Code!! Check it out, it is definitely an event worth attending.

After the event, you will not be the same person as when you walked in. Your accomplishments and lifestyle will move to the next level. Personal growth is an investment, so this is something I wanted to share with you. You can visit their website at www.healthandwealthannex.com for details or call 1877-HW ANNEX to register.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security, will deserve neither and lose both."

Benjamin Franklin

Old Ben’s wisdom seems appropriate for our times, methinks!
As always, I’m interested in your thoughts as we make decisions about the size and scope of government that will surely change our experience of our lives, our children’s and their children’s.........for years to come.

Let all of us know what you think.

With love and respect,

Robert