Lately I've been thinking about how to make a life change. I think this will bring me happiness.?It may not but I am in the pursuit of happiness. Things are going well and it is time for me to look out for me. I've been so stoic in the past just as a survival mechanism now I have a new lease. My situation is changing just in time for my mid life -non- crisis. The crisis is behind me. It's a new feeling.

I think my last post answers a small bit of your question. I think as a parent a person can put all of their energy just making things 'right' because they are not. Needs met is a bit motivator but what happens when the children grow up? One needs something else to be motivated about. The only thing that I can see that needs improvement now is me.
I have raised a wonderful kid. He is getting top scores and he has great wisdom and strength. It's a new day. It's a new day for me too.

Yeah, maybe I was being unclear. I was referring to things that happen to you which may not be your fault, but you try to ignore them hoping that they'll go away or someone else who actually caused the problem will fix it. It's that sort of 'live and let god' mentality that I'm referring to. I've found if I take responsibility for a lot of stuff I would otherwise ignore, things tend to sort out better.

Then again, maybe I'm just one of those people who thinks everything is my fault. :eek:

I just spent 40 minutes on a good post and lost it. I knew I wasn't qualified to speak about this topic!! Aaah!

No really, I'll have to come back to this again.....after I learn pateince.

Cicero's guide to happiness:
Reach 1,000 posts before Zengum ... no matter what you have to post to do it.
:D
Love ya Cic.

Another variation on what some have said: figure out a way for someone to pay you to do your hobby and make a living out of it.

Zen....I haven't even posted photos of the tick my balls yet.....quit complaining!
:)

I haven't even posted photos of my ass or started a thread about it.....jesus...you are too new to be this hard to please.

Hey, Monster asked me for that photo. It was just there to draw attention to my "You sound like a horny moose" thread.

It was all meant in fun. ;)

Nah, that's just a good way to take the fun out of a hobby.

Who cares if they are paying you for it.

But you can lose control over what you are doing.

I believe the secret to happiness is to create it within and stop looking externally for something/someone else to give it to you. I firmly believe that no one can 'make' another person happy or unhappy, it is your reaction to their behavior that is the source of your emotions. Learned reactions can be retrained and changed, if you work at it.

Internal happiness generally starts with acceptance of your strengths, weaknesses, triumphs and failures. An intimate knowledge of your inner self is necessary. Surround yourself with people and things that enhance your life rather than diminish it. Be assertive in getting your needs met and don't be afraid to say no when potential situations will be detrimental to your well-being.

Works for me.

Stormie

How to be happy
 

Kill everyone that annoys you.

*Kill everyone that is "intolerably irritating" ...