I’m reposting my original book review of Marci Shimoff’s great book, “Happy For No Reason” because you can now get it in paperback! With the current news stories dragging us all down these days, why not take a much needed break and learn how to be happy, for no reason. Let Marci show you how. And……you get some great free gifts as well…enjoy!

You can go here to order….“Happy For No Reason”

Happy for “Good” Reason”…

I just finished reading “Happy For No Reason” by Marci Shimoff, and now I have a good reason to be happy. For a little background, Marci has co-authored Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul, and is one of the featured teachers from the movie, The Secret.

The book teaches a 7 Steps to Being Happy, which she lays out in a clever analogy of building a home, a Home for Happiness as she calls it.

The Happy 100

We’ve all seen many top 100 lists, but here is one truly worth aspiring to make. Marci interviewed people from all walks of life and from around the globe and compiled a list of her Happy 100. (No, she didn’t call me)

The book is filled with some remarkable stories from these Happy 100. Each story I read became my favorite, just long enough until I reached the next one.

Sip A Fine Wine

This is not the type of book you want to hurry through and finish in a couple of sittings. I began reading a chapter at night while in bed. I figured it would be a nice way to head into sleep..and it was. I found myself looking forward to each night knowing that I had another chapter to read, a new favorite story to enjoy, and another night of sweet dreams. So I am a little saddened now that I am finished, and a tad envious to those of you who have yet to begin.

I don’t know Marci personally, but I found myself wishing I did. I guess that’s the sign of a good writer….and perhaps just a good person.

So if you are looking for a reason to be happy, buy the book…(Link to Marci’s Website) …. and then you can learn to be happy for no reason. And hopefully one day we’ll all be on her Happy 1 Billion.

Rich

Tags: General, Gratitude // Add Comment »

Many of us walk around looking for the answers that will make us happier, healthier, or more successful. Wandering, but not finding, we end up feeling tired and depressed, like the dog chasing his tail. But just like the dog who doesn’t realize that the tail belongs to him, we fail to realize that the answers we seek belong to us. So I’ve created some fun and thought provoking questions to ask that special person who holds all of your answers…you!

This is a great exercise to do in the morning by yourself, or the evening before bed. But, it’s also a fun thing to do in a group setting, or just go around the table at dinner. Some questions have a follow up which I have denoted as part (a).

1. I would be happier if I had?
1 (a). I’ll bet if I just did this (fill in), I would probably get it.
2. I’d be willing to try this new good habit (fill in)for the next 21 days.
3. I’d have a much better day tomorrow if I just did this today.
4. I’ll bet that this belief of mine (fill in) isn’t even true after all.
5. I’d be willing to believe this (fill in) for the next week.
6. I’d probably like myself more if I just did (didn’t) do this.(fill in)
7. Probably the number one reason I don’t have more money is this (fill in)
7 (a) I’d be willing to try this (fill in) to help change #7.
8. I’d be willing to stop trying to control (him, her, or this)
9. I would be most disappointed if I died before having done or accomplishing this? (fill in)
10. I’m really good at? (Fill in)
10 (a) If I’m not, should I be doing #10 for a living?
11. I’d be willing to stop doing/believing this (fill in) for the next month.
12. Rather than getting upset, the next time this (fill in) happens, I’m going to do this (fill in) instead.
13. I’d be willing to give up wanting to be, do, or have this (fill in)
14. I really love (fill in)
15. If I just did this (fill in) today, I’d be happier.
16. I’ll be this person (fill in) would love to hear from me.
17. Does anyone else make a good living at doing what I do well?
17 (a) Why don’t I do #17?
18. I’d be willing to do this (fill in) to be in better shape.
19. It seems whenever I do this (fill in), everything gets better.
20. If I just did this (fill in), the way I do that (fill in), I’m sure I’d be successful at it.
21. Ok, I give up trying to figure this out (fill in); I’m now turning it over to God.
22. Rather than simply preaching this (fill in), I should probably practice it.
23. If I just stopped procrastinating on this (fill in) everyday, my days would be so much better.
24. If I got this much money (fill in), I’d feel so much better.
24 (a) List 10 ways it’s possible to get #24. Stretch your mind.
25. My life is so much better whenever I do this (fill in)
26. I should probably make this (fill in) a goal of mine and go for it, rather than thinking about it.
27. I’d do this (fill in) if I wasn’t afraid.
27 (a) Have you ever tried to face rather than run from the fear in #27?
28. If I had this much money (fill in), I’d help out (fill in)
29. I’ve been thinking and worrying about this (fill in) for way too long, it’s time to just do it.
30. If I did nothing else to improve my life other than this (fill in), I’ll bet I’d feel great.

Please feel free to share some of your favorite answers or some additional questions that you came up with.

Wishing you all the best,

Rich

Tags: General // 2 Comments »

*** “Worried about your Financial Future? Give your worries a summer vacation with “When Money Talks, Listen!”,

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”. Sir Winston Churchill

Ok, here is your chance to be put into the history books. Quotes can come from anyone, even our friend “anonymous” has his or her share out there. Today it’s your turn. I am going to compile a list of “new” quotes, and they will come from all of you. Anyone who reads this has their chance of being quoted for the rest of time. The 10 best will be listed as “The 10 Best Quotes of the 21st Century” in a future post, and hopefully on tv. Below are the rules.

1) Authentic: This is an opportunity to strut your stuff! Please, no plagiarizing. If you choose to be anonymous, sign your quote as “anonymous”.
2) Submit: Write your new, awesome, soon to be classic quote as a comment to this post on www.mystermoney.com/blog
3) Spread to word: Digg it. Stumble it. Blog it. Email it. Whatever your method, make sure you do your part to increase the number of entries so you can see how you compare to the best of the best.
4) Number of Entries: You may submit one quote per day for the duration of the contest. Contest ends Feb 29th, 2008.
5) Judging: I will be putting together a list of judges to determine the 10 best quotes. The judges will include yours truly, some fellow bloggers, authors, and perhaps even a celebrity or two! (sshh).

Oprah

Ok, I can’t promise this, but we will attempt to get the new “10 Best Quotes of the 21st Century” announced on Oprah. You never know.

To get us started…

“Should we fail to reach any of our hopes and dreams, it will be due to only one reason. All the time we spent trying to find that reason” Richard Ezzo, author, “When Money Talks, Listen!”

Best of luck to you, and here’s to seeing your quote referred to in the 22nd century!

Rich

Tags: General // 20 Comments »

Make an Invitation

During the holiday season we tend to get many invitations to gatherings of one sort or another. Perhaps we are the ones who are doing to inviting. We invite friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, or members of some group or organization. Do you see anyone missing here? I think God invites us to be with him all the time, but how often do we think of doing the same. The nice thing about that is, you will never get a “cannot attend” response.

Breaking “Fried” Bread

One day over the summer I tried an interesting experiment. It was a beautiful day outside, and I was going to go and hit golf balls at a local driving range. I decided to ask Jesus if he would like to join me this morning. Not sure why I did that, I just did. The first thing I did was to clean out my car. There were some things on the passenger seat and the floor, so I figured I better make some space for my special passenger. So off we went. I must admit, just imagining Jesus sitting there did make it feel like there was the presence of someone in the car.

It was morning, so on the way I stopped for a coffee. As I went to open my door, naturally I thought, “you’re welcome to come with me if you like”. I order my coffee from the young girl behind the counter, and as she was getting it, my eyes caught the thick chocolate frosting on the Boston Cream donuts in the glass case in front of me. She handed me the coffee and asked if I would like anything else. Figuring I’d get some exercise hitting balls, I ordered a Boston Cream. And here is where it got interesting. She reached down and put the donut in the bag, stood, looked at me, and then reached back in the case and got a second donut!
She never said a word, and only charged me for one coffee, and one donut. Yes, I got goose bumps.

Be a Good Host

They say there is no better way to get yourself to clean your house than by inviting someone over. If you were inviting God to come to your house, would you clean it? If so, then why not clean it now. The same for your car. I find when I clean with this in mind, the cleaning gets done, and it gets done with a smile. The same is true for your body. If you wanted God to live inside of you, would you feed him junk food? I think we should make an effort to treat all things as though they are God’s, for in reality they are. We don’t really get to own or keep anything. From our homes to our own bodies, all will one day return to dust. So treat them well while we have them.

And who knows, by inviting God into your home, he may one day return the favor.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year!

Rich

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Recently I was asked to do a reading at a friend’s wedding. Like most people, I find this to be both flattering and nerve-racking at the same time. I’ve done my fair share of public speaking, therefore I can’t say I was terribly nervous about this, but I know many people would be. However, I think even the most seasoned public speaking veterans all get those jittery butterflies as the moment approaches, and I am no exception.

There were two readings. A friend of mine happened to be doing the first reading, and I was doing the second. I felt pretty good about mine; I had rehearsed it a little the night before at the rehearsal mass, and was familiar enough with it to feel rather comfortable.

But as I sat there and watched my friend take that slow, lonely, quiet walk up to the altar, the butterflies began to stir. Then I noticed a slight raise in my heart rate and that my skin had joined in with a slight tingle, and then my breath shortened ever so slightly. Fear can be sneaky, and often shows up when you least expect it.

Those of you who have done any public speaking I’m sure are very familiar with this set of sensations. Perhaps you are even beginning to feel them now just reading this and imagining yourself being up next to read.

The Critical Moment.

When fear decides it’s time to pay you a visit, it’s in the early stages where you need to send it packing. If fear finds you to be a nice dwelling place, it takes over and then it’s “Katie bar the door”. Hands shake, breathing quickens, face gets red, temperature rises, and then fears second cousin “sheer panic” licks her chops just waiting for a shot at you.

So, what do you do at this critical moment?

Take a look at it. Huh? Yes. Go inside and look at it, or simply look for it. Ask yourself…Where is it? What is it? Try and find it inside, and identify it. Does it have a color or a shape? Begin to describe it to yourself as though you were telling someone what you were finding. Better yet, make it interview style. (If you’re really serious about this, make it Larry King, Barbara Walters, or your nosy Mother-In-Law)

Here’s how my conversation might have sounded.

Rich: I’m starting to feel some fear.
Larry King: What’s that?
Rich: Well, it’s hard to describe. Its kind of a tightness.
Larry King: Where?
Rich: In my chest.
Larry King: Where in your chest?
Rich: Sort of in the front.
Larry King: I need to know exactly where.
Rich: Well, sort of here in the middle. Wait, it seemed to move down some, actually, maybe more towards my back…
Larry King: Maybe it’s the suspenders?
Rich: Huh?
Larry King: Ok, let’s forget where. Tell me what it looks like?
Rich: Hmm…not sure. Maybe grayish?
Larry King: Gray, ok. And does it have a shape?
Rich: Sort of round-ish, maybe. Maybe not gray….

Ok, so the ratings would not be too good for that show, but I hope you get the point. All of this can take place in a matter of seconds, and you’ll find that as you are looking for it, you can’t find it, and it begins to weaken. You’ve taken your mind off of being afraid, and you are also exposing fear as being, well, nothing.

Making Friends.

After you look for it, and it’s time to go do your speech, presentation, reading, or bungee jump, just welcome the fear. Tell it that it’s more than welcome to join you, and you’re glad it showed up. Compliment it. Say something like, “hey, I like how you make my skin tingle a little, and the fact that you really bring me into the present. No day dreaming with you around!”
Yes, I know this seems a little crazy, especially when you see it in writing like this. But seriously. Are you going to sit there and tell me you don’t have conversations going on inside your head ALL day long anyhow? Gosh, I hope it’s not just me.

By the time it was my turn, I walked up there to do my reading feeling fine, and almost glad that my old friend fear came to join me.

Wishing you all the best,

Rich…

Myster Money Mystery Series….

Q: Dear Myster Money. Why is the symbol Rx used to represent pharmacies or prescriptions?

MM: Ah, yes. Wonderful question my dearest. And a rather strange answer if I must admit. You see, in the olden days many people used to look into the night sky for answers. And much like they would create gods with different roles, they would do the same for planets. For health and healing, this planet was Jupiter. If you look at the symbol for the planet Jupiter, you will see the resemblance to the Rx. (Though it looks more like a 24 if you ask me). Now off to bed you go.

-MM

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The Red Sox won the world series….again…(Yawn). Wait a minute. After 86 years of a wanting, yearning, begging, praying, blood, sweat and tears-ing, they win a second one and Red Sox nation is almost blase’ over it. How can that be? I mean, they are not the Yankees…. not yet anyhow. So what is it?

I call it the Feel of Success. Sometimes when we want something so badly, for sooo long, that when we do actually get it, there is almost a let down. Now, in 2004 when the Red Sox finally won, it was different. There was pandemonium. But not this time. This time it seemed too easy. There wasn’t the struggle, the melt down, the “not again” moments that the fans got so accustomed to. Why do I bring this up on here? Because the same “Feel of Success” can hit you and me whenever we get something we really, really want. And the danger of this is that when we feel that we no longer “feel”, we may attract the lack back into our lives, just to “feel” again.

So what’s the answer? Ok, let’s say you want money. You need money. You’ve wanted to have a big bank account for so long you can’t ever remember not wanting it. What can you do so that when you get it, you don’t dislike the Feel of Success, and push it away? The best thing to do is prepare for it. Think about what you will “do” when you have this money. But also, think about what you will think about.

Let’s face it, Red Sox fans thought about nothing else for a long, long time. Chances are, the one thing you yearn for is something you’ve yearned for, for a long, long time. Where will your thoughts go when they can’t hang their hat on this want? Well, if you are not prepared, there is a good chance they will go out and seek the familiar, and try and bring that lack right back to you. So, start thinking now as though you have it. Play with it for a bit. See where your mind wants to go. And get comfortable with feeling lighter. Also, ask yourself what types of things you might start doing if your problem went away. Would you be more likely to write, paint, take walks, etc, once you have money? Would you laugh more? Would you be a better listener? Would you have better posture? If so, start doing these things now. Prepare for your success by getting used to this new, lighter feeling. Once you can accept feeling like a champion, you can continue being a champion.

Wishing you the best,

Rich

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