Greetings!
Spring is in the air and happiness can be found in a host of
new and fresh places. This month I am particularly
reminded of the wise words of Benjamin Franklin when he said,
"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the
right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
So where and how does one "catch" happiness? I find that it usually starts with
willingness. Willingness to see thing
through eyes that are free of judgments, willingness to allow things to evolve
without feeling pressure to label them good or bad and willingness to allow
yourself to be in this moment as opposed to any other.
A great example is my friend Jim. Jim has been working the same job for many
years, it is a job that does not fulfill him but it makes it possible to
provide for his family while pursuing his true love of voice over work. With the current constraints of the economy
Jim's employer was forced to reduce his hours recently. Instead of labeling the situation as negative
Jim and his wife decided to look for potential upsides to the situation. They were willing to acknowledge that he
would be home more, that he might get some much needed rest and even
potentially have more time to pursue his dream career.
They decided to see what the universe had in store for them
rather than decide the universe had dealt them a raw deal. Within weeks of having his hours cut Jim
booked a voice over job recording a book on tape. It is a long term job requiring him to work
one day a week, at double the salary of his job for half the time. His income has increased and more importantly
he is happier.
Whenever we allow for things to reveal themselves to us -
rather than decide their outcome for ourselves, we leave ourselves open to
"catch" happiness. Take a moment today and everyday to sit quietly with your self
and to experience the peace and joy of "now".
So often we get caught up in what might happen or what did happen, that
we forget to fully enjoy right now. When
you feel the world intruding on your meditation ask yourself to take an
inventory of what is actually happening now.
More often than not you will find the peace that you are seeking and the
fine feathered wings of our friend happiness beating softly in the silence.
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We remain in the editing room hard at work on the new and improved 90 minute version of H-Factor for Film Festival submission, Motivational Speaking, Educational Services and Academic Conferences.
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Natasha Richardson
The shocking death of Natasha
Richardson has been on all of our minds of late. I have been especially drawn to her quote
from 2003 ~ "I wake up every morning feeling lucky - which is driven by fear,
no doubt, since I know it could all go away."
It gives me peace to know that she
lived and loved so richly and consciously. Unarguably her time here was too
short. But by all accounts she was
deliciously happy. She was raising two
children while enjoying a happy marriage, which in any arena is noteworthy,
within the confines of the entertainment world it is almost an anomaly. She enjoyed a rich and successful career in
film and on stage, yet she maintained the ability to move through her life like
a normal citizen.
Her untimely death has reminded us
all of the brevity of this dance on earth.
It has reminded me that there is no time to be lost in the minutia of
petty disagreements, hurt pride and misunderstandings. Like Natasha Richardson I wake up every day
and feel lucky, thanks to her I am reminded yet again to tell those around me
how grateful I am for their presence in my life.
I challenge all of us not to focus
on the brevity of Natasha Richardson's life, but on the depth of it. In remembering her ability to find happiness
in the moment her legacy will live on.
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I overheard a conversation between
two women the other day. It was not my
intention, but they were talking loudly while I sat at the table next to
them. One of the Moms was struggling to
come to grips with the limitations of a new budget and what it would mean to
her children. I heard her say something
I have heard many parents say, "I want to be able to give my children
everything."
As a mom, I know exactly what the
other mom was saying. There is a desire in all of us to make our children
happy. It is easy to confuse happiness
with things and lessons and opportunities.
It's fine to give those things to your children if your budget supports
it, but the truth is giving our children the gift of happiness has nothing to
do with a budget. The best way to give
our children true happiness is by modeling it for them. Mark Twain said "Whosoever is happy will make
others happy, too." When we set an
example of true happiness and how to artfully maintain it across a life time,
we give our children a road map to their own happiness.
If you are struggling with a
budget that doesn't seem to meet your needs, stop and consider the opportunity
you have to show your children how to achieve happiness regardless of what your
bank balance is.
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· Happiness-Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth
By Ed Diener & Robert Biswas-Diener
The
world's leading expert on happiness, Dr. Ed Diener challenges our
modern assumptions about the causes and consequences of happiness. Ed
and his son Robert Biswas-Diener share the results of three decades of
research on happiness to help unlock the mysteries of this elusive Holy
Grail. In this fascinating book the father and son team presents
scientific evidence revealing that happiness is not overrated, and is
good for people's health, social relationships, job success, longevity,
and altruism. They also show why "super-happiness" is not a desirable
goal.
http://www.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/
http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Unlocking-Mysteries-Psychological-Wealth/dp/1405146613
· NEW H-FACTOR BLOG Where do we find
happiness? How do we find happiness? Why are happy people
happy? And why are unhappy people unhappy? These are legitimate
questions with some surprising answers. Find out at: http://lisakamen.wordpress.com/
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· Global Happiness http://www.globalhappiness.net
The goal of this organization is to "spread this
most contagious bug to everyone everywhere so that they feel empowered to live
the best lives and feel they can make a difference to our planet, our people
and our earth."
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· Happiness.org http://www.happiness.org
The Happiness Foundation
provides strategic consulting services to non-profits that want to
optimize operations, grow stronger, and have an even bigger impact by supplying
intellectual capital. "The world is filled with bright, motivated individuals
who use their skills and talents every day for economic gain. It is our belief
that most of these same individuals - given the chance - would gladly
contribute a share of their time to the non-profit sector if asked." In this
alternative to traditional philanthropy, business leaders and experts donate
their time, knowledge, and contacts to help non-profits increase
their impact. Acting as a matchmaker and project coordinator, the Happiness
Foundation supports a wide range of non-profits doing work on poverty
alleviation
education, human rights, and health.
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· Visit the H-Factor website to leave your heartprint!
www.whatisyourhappiness.com
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Spring is a time for renewal. It is a time to dust off old worries and
start on new projects. It is a time
filled with hope. Not all of the seeds
we plant in Spring will bear fruit, but the simple act of sowing seeds is our
reminder that all things are possible.
This Spring as you plant your seeds, metaphorical or otherwise, remember
to enjoy the process. Happiness is about
enjoying the journey instead of impatiently waiting for the arrival. Enjoy the
ride!
Love,
Lisa, Kayla & Aryel Kamen and
the staff of H-Factor...Where is your Heart?
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Have you ever noticed that all
birds can sing? I just think it's funny
that there are no birds who are really bad singers or afraid to sing. I wonder what the world would be like if people
weren't afraid of what other people thought.
Maybe we would all be really good singers too. It's something to think about.
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The Venerable Sumati
Marut
Click the image above
for a sneak peek!
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On April 21st Lisa Kamen guest lectured at
University of Southern California (USC) in the Department of Psychology with a
screening of H-Factor...Where Is Your Heart? followed by a Q & A.
On April 22nd Lisa also was a guest lectured at
Glendale Community College in the Department of Psychology.
On April 26th Lisa & Kayla Kamen will take H-Factor on the road, by holding a
launch of a new workshop entitled, "Harvesting Happiness" in Los Angeles in
conjunction with Motherhood Incorporated.
As part of "Harvesting Happiness", employees of Motherhood Incorporated
and their daughters will enjoy a screening of the documentary; H-Factor...Where
is Your Heart? followed by a discussion on global views of happiness. The workshop will culminate in a vision
boarding workshop on the theme of happiness.
We look forward to meeting all the amazing moms who are the strength of
Motherhood Incorporated! Lisa will be using this upcoming "Harvesting
Happiness" workshop as a launch for her new
Harvesting Happiness private coaching practice.
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New! Harvesting Happiness Workshops
facilitated by Lisa Kamen Now Available!
According to Lisa, her inspiration for Harvesting
Happiness came a few weeks ago while standing in the shower. "It just
dawned on me that I could be doing something to help people navigate what many
refer to as the Global Economic Crisis. My take on what is happening is that it
is a unique opportunity to shift our focus to what really matters most. Yes,
the financial impact is hitting home hard in different ways for each of us.
Yet, at the end of the day it is how we relate to these challenges that is key.
After years of study on the important topic of happiness, I realized that
beyond H-Factor, I have other gifts of
value I can share. In a very real sense, I harvest happiness, I harvest
the joy in myself and help others do so within themselves, and that is how the
workshop and the name came to be. Soon after I conceptualized the idea, a dear
friend organized my first "test-drive" workshop with super happy results
(contented attendees). It is a simple, four-hour format. I screen the 30-minute
version of H-Factor followed by a Q& A, a light meal, and a brief
meditation to assist participants in focusing on and accessing their happiness.
Then we close with a Vision Boarding session on what else....happiness! Talk
about setting intentions and watching them come to life! We have planned
two more Harvesting Happiness workshops in the upcoming months, so if
you'd like to plant the seeds of happiness and reap bountiful benefits of this
healthy harvest, please contact us at heartprint@whatisyourhappiness.com. And, if you or someone you
know would be interested in hosting a Harvesting Happiness workshop,
we'd love to hear from you. Happiness is truly an inside job!"
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Happiness & Its Causes
14-15 May 2009
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Now in its 4th year, this conference brings together more
than 50 speakers and an audience of over 2,000 for an exploration of the
science, psychology and philosophy of human happiness.
Happiness Down Under
In May, Australia will host its 4th
Annual Conference on Happiness and Its Causes.
The two day conference will feature a wide array of topics on human
happiness. In addition there will be
full workshops offered the day before and day after the conference. One of the highlights of the conference is
the adjoining festival. Each morning
participants are invited to join the Gyuto Monks of Tibet for meditation and chanting.
Another returning favorite this year will be Cris Popp leading the group in
Laughter Yoga. Did you know that one
minute of hearty laughter is equivalent to 10 minutes of exercise on a rowing
machine? That's something to smile
about!
For more information on the
conference visit www.happinessanditscauses.com
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Written and edited by
Shannon Penrod
Writer
&
Lisa Kamen
Film Maker
Designed by
Dustin Zahn
Dzahn Design
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