Happiness is yours and you deserve it

Let the photo speak to you in whatever way you allow

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Life-enhancing ideas often pop up in unlikely places.

This occurred to me while watching the movie “The Ball” one of the short films chosen to be shown on Pangea Day. In the film, thousands of children in Mozambique found a way to use a product that clearly was not the manufacturer’s intent. Business people like to call this repurposing, but for these children it’s just a practical way to reach their goal.

As children, many of us found ways to create fun play time with simple items and techniques just like the children in the movie.  As we grew up, however, we often opted for not-as-good, but ready-to-go alternatives.

Those of us living in cities and towns with easy access to a multitude of products and services often trade money for saving time and enjoying convenience.  The more money we have the more we trade. In the process of easy fixes, perhaps we lose something. (Read my contradition here.)

People with limited means and/or access are forced to be resourceful and clever, but perhaps in the end are happier with their simpler more straightforward lives.

Enjoy this cute movie. Then think of resourceful, low-cost, clever ways to reach your goals and enjoy a simpler, happier life.

The Internet is loaded with wonderful articles, stories and tips for improving your life. I’ve gathered a few links to give you a shortcut to the inspiration from other authors and bloggers.

Times Change–A Short Story on Looking to the Future 
Cameron explores how we look at music and other things differently in retrospect.

20 Questions You Need to Ask Your Surgeon Before You or Your Loved Ones Have Surgery 
Millions of Americans have surgery every year and most of it is elective. You will not only want to read this, but also pass it to your friends and loved ones.

Stop Using the Rewind Button and Visualize What You Want
When you start making changes in your life whether for good or bad, your subconscious will kick into survival mode. Find out what to do.

Who Wants to be Rich?
What do you think is at the top of the list of what most people want?

Ghandi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World
Guess what you have to change first in order to change the world

14 Reasons to Become More Conscious
Going beyond spiritual issues, these tips are about enhancing your daily life.

4 Reasons You Should Meditate and How to Get Started
Once you grasp how meditation positively affects your life, you won’t have trouble getting started.

How Your Income Grows as Your Personal Development Grows
Discover how income and personal development are related.

 Why Your Loved Ones Want You to Fail
You’ll be surprised at some of these reasons.

Six Steps to Become Assertive and Nice
Yes, you can do both at once.

Jonathan Field’s Best of the Web Roundup
For more inspiration and entertainment, check out the 20+ links Jonathan has rounded up

Celebrate Pangea Day on May 10, 2008, a global event that brings the world together through film.

The intent of Pangea Day is to use the power of film to bring together peoples of the world who are so often divided by borders, difference and conflict.

On May 10th at 18:00 GMT major locations around the world will be linked for a live event of 24 short powerful films, live music and visionary speakers. The event will be broadcast in seven languages and can be viewed on television, mobile phones and on the Internet.  View the video below and then visit the Pangea Day website for more information and details.

Even though we live inside our own skin, we seem to know others better than we know ourselves. Why this is true could fill volumes, but more important is what to do about it.

I just read a blog post titled “4 Tips to Finding Yourself,” by Joan Schraum at her blog Accelerating Momentum. Joan gives these four tips:

1. Discover what you really want. 

 This includes choosing jobs, relationships and living situations that suit you, not please others. Trust that your life is unfolding perfectly.

2.  Accept your mediocrity.

 ”Good enough” is good enough.

3. Create a vision board.

The movie “The Secret” has popularized vision boards. Have you created yours yet?

4. Change your thoughts.

To do this you must change what you say to yourself.

Read Joan’s full article here.