Want the shortcut to happiness? Buy it!

People who say that you cannot buy happiness are either clinically depressed or they are trying to keep all the goodness to themselves.
SELFISH BASTARDS!
When you have lots of money you will still have problems…. they are just the types of problems most of us would be glad to have  like:laying by the pool to buy happiness

  • Trying decide between Boca Raton or Europe for a weekend getaway
  • Whether to drive the Jag or the Ferrari because of parking at the restuarant
  • If you should send your kids to Harvard business school or Princeton

 
I, for one, would love to have these kinds of problems.
The problem is we are shopping in the wrong places when attempt to “buy” happiness:

The Rich Know How to Buy Happiness (Do You?)

In the modern $1.4-trillion luxury economy, bling is out, and high-priced adventures are in.
So says a new report from the consultants at BCG, which explores the lifestyle habits of the world’s wealthy based on interviews with roughly 1,000 affluent individuals. Cartier jewelry, Hermes handbags, and Tourneau watches are being eclipsed by exclusive getaways to the Maldives and helicopter skiing vacations in Alaska (which, in case you’re interested, you can book for about$5,750-a-person, all inclusive). Spending on those sorts of mind-bendingly expensive experiences now accounts for more than half of the luxury market and is growing more than 50 percent faster than sales of luxury goods.
(read more)
buying happiness image on vacation

What that means is, the soul does not crave “things”.
We want EXPERIENCES
Next time you want to celebrate an achievement look for different ways to buy memories instead of toys.
You will find that overall it has more of a lasting effect on your overall happiness
 

The Right Way to Try to Buy Happiness
In it, Elizabeth W. Dunn, an associate professor in the psychology department at the University of British Columbia, had this to say: “’It’s better to go on a vacation than buy a new couch’ is basically the idea,” says Professor Dunn, …
bucks.blogs.nytimes.com

buy an exotic happiness vacation photo

Money Does Buy Happiness – I Am 1 Percent
Money does buy happiness, but it depends on how you spend money which determines your level of happiness. How many stories have we … All of my best childhood memories were from family vacations. They weren’t even …
http://www.iam1percent.com/

 

Luxury Yacht Charter to Exotic Vacation Destinations a Perfect Experience
Numbers of travel sites are available which can help you get a transport to these destinations and fulfill all your vacation needs. Hiring a luxury yacht charter can be a very memorable experience whether you are traveling with your friends or family.
www.sbwire.com

Car travel not the way to vacation
… unexpected exit if dad happened to fall asleep at the wheel — but we’d meet up with some interesting people (some of them in exotic cars; some of them at the roadside motels we’d overnight in, or at campsites as we’d trek along to our destination.
www.thesudburystar.com

Explore Thailand’s City and Sea with Friendly Planet Travel’s Latest Tour
Now, thanks to Friendly Planet Travel, a leading tour operator that offers high-quality, affordable vacation packages to exotic destinations worldwide, travelers can explore the highlights of Thailand on the 10-day deluxe Thailand City and Sea tour for …
www.marketwatch.com

Images provided by:
www.flickr.com
www.funtraveldestinations.net

Mood Food – 15 Proven Food That Eliminate Stress

There is nothing better than “comfort food” when you are having a bad day.
You go to the fridge and pull out that tupperware care package your mom sent over stuffed to the top with your favorite childhood delights.
You can’t help yourself but to also run to these when you are trying to feel better. Then you blame it on the meal when you start to gain weight and the term “comfort food” has now become TABU.
Well it is not the food that is the problem!
Turns out, when selected correctly, certain foods CAN, in fact, be used (in moderation, of course) to remove the stress of a long day or a fight with a spouse.
 

Slash Your Stress Using Your Diet

Do you know the warm, tingling you feel when you’re in a good mood? That’s the rush of the hormone serotonin being released from your brain. Serotonin is the “feel good hormone” and is crucial to battling stress. Your serotonin levels are directly related to your mood. The higher your levels of serotonin, the better you’ll be able to handle stress.
Serotonin is produced from the amino acid, tryptophan. Tryptophan is found in a variety of foods; the foods with the highest levels are:

  • Shrimp
  • Turkey
  • Cod
  • Tuna
  • Chicken
  • Halibut
  • Calf Liver
  • Spinach
  • Venison
  • Asparagus
  • Salmon
  • Mustard greens
  • Cheese
  • Kelp
  • Eggs

Read more at Earlytorise.com

10 Tips To Increase Self-Confidence That Require NO Work

Let’s face it, most all of us could benefit from being more self-confident in one area of our lives or another.
The biggest one that most of us have trouble with is our appearance.
But you are not alone!
A recent studies has shown that a lack of confidence in the way we look actually starts at a very young age.
 

One in four females aged between 11 and 17 are weighed down by pressure to conform to an ‘ideal notion’ of how they should look, a survey suggests.
Almost half of the girls described themselves as ‘average’ and ‘ordinary’ with a further 10 per cent feeling ‘plain’, ‘unattractive’ and ‘ugly’, according to the research
The widespread lack of physical confidence has led to girls spending an average of 42 minutes a day working on their appearance, choosing outfits and applying make-up – almost as much time as they spend doing homework.
More than half of the girls studied said they would be happier if they were more physically attractive.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123757/Girls-lack-confidence-appearance-blighting-futures.html#ixzz1x2SXi1ui
 

So what can you do about it?
I am glad that you asked!
It really is not that hard.  Some of these things you may already be doing and not realizing the positive effect it is having on your confidence levels.
Most of these tips will increase your self-confidence without any real extra effort at all.
Tips to improve self-confidence
Just make them a habit.  Keep the list near you.  Put it in a place where you can read it every morning and it will stay in your awareness.
You will find that you start to do these things automatically.
That is when you should really start getting excited – when positive change is effortless!
 

10 tips to increase self-confidence

1. Dress Sharp
Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.
This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.
2. Walk Faster
One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important.
3. Good Posture
Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.
…continue to entire list

 
You should start to feel the difference and a very noticeable difference in you self-confidence within days and some . . . within minutes!
 
 

Images provided by:
postmasculine.com

What Abraham Lincoln Can Teach You About Happiness

It’s a spiritual truth that true happiness requires honest
How To Find Happiness Through Abraham Lincoln Honesty self-reflection. The more honest you are with yourself, the greater happiness you will experience. Being truthful brings about an inner ease and happiness flourishes when as John O’Donohue writes, “We feel at home in our life.

Honest Abe was on to something!
Not only does being honest increase your own inner peace,  when you are honest with yourself you will find it quite a bit easier to be completely happy with everything else in life.
Continue reading to learn the 5 ways honesty can make you happy.