Holiday Message

I saw a fascinating show on PBS yesterday - Happy for No Reason. The presenter was Marci Shimoff, co-author of ‘"Chicken Soup for the Soul" and author of “Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happier Right Now.”

She said a couple of amazing things - here's one:

#1 Don’t believe everything you think. Learn to question your thoughts. You have 60,000 thoughts each day; 95 percent of them are the same thoughts you had yesterday and the day before. Just because you have them doesn’t mean they are true.

In addition, she said, "somehow the bad comments or thoughts stick more than the good ones."

Isn't that true - we remember the negative comments from a boss or parent; rarely the favorable compliments. One of the paths to happiness is to let the good thoughts consciously come into our heads more often and "stick."

#2 Based on her research, she said brain chemistry changes when you give - another path to happiness.

So to all my colleagues who are helping others by moving their organizations and missions forward, I wish you a very happy holiday season and a happy 2009.

Despite all the uncertainty in this universe, we can change our brain chemistry. Keep the good thoughts up front!