Happiness

Having said this, even this sort of happiness is a product of positive thinking and positive action, with good fortune lending a helping hand. In short, it is a product of will in relatively favorable circumstances. But isn't it peculiar to imply that happiness can be of one sort or another?  Are there not simply happiness and unhappiness?  I think not. The sort of happiness that the sage talks about is compatible with misfortune. It is preeminently a doing from within – while without, the only prerequisite for it is that the sage be alive and capable of thought. It is a feeling of serenity, of being at peace with his situation and his conscience, as a well-adjusted and fully committed servant of life, of humanity, of God as he sees them.

However conscious he is of the subjectiveness – i.e., the individual limitations and hence the imperfection – of his view, he does live by it with utmost faithfulness, if also with a willingness to reevaluate it critically when he catches himself out in a misstep. His wisdom is forever a work in progress; it is always laced with some form of foolishness, which leaves him open to ridicule. Humility and compassion, plus humor are therefore qualities that he cultivates. He mocks and forgives himself, and above all strives to improve. He shows no complacency, but an acceptance of his humanness that he is intent on bringing to the highest possible degree of truth and nobility. And this delicate blend of resignation and struggle alone – in any situation, favorable or not – is indeed the secret of his happiness, which admittedly is a dry manner of joy that fills the mind rather than the heart.

It follows that this happiness leaves something to be desired: happiness in the fullest sense of the word (a state of fulfillment, when everything is going our way, in terms of results as well as efforts), which is a joy, ever so sweet, that fills both the mind and the heart. When the sage experiences this supreme happiness, he rightly feels blessed, and knows how precarious it is. Furthermore, he accepts this precariousness, or the fact that suffering and ultimately death loom ahead. Only battles are won in the war of life that will inevitably – despite every valiant effort to prevail – end in defeat. 

Some will say that happiness in its so-called fullest sense leaves something more to be desired: the power to make this happiness infinite: immeasurably great and unlimited in duration. Among them, some will choose the path of faith, which allegedly leads to a heavenly afterlife, whereas some will choose the path of reason, which admits of no rosy belief based on wishful thinking and unbridled trust. This path leads nowhere as far as the beyond is concerned, or rather somewhere that is unknown – presumably so different from what is known that it totally exceeds our ability to conceive of its nature. 

I count among these proponents of reason, these infidels, to whom the only source of meaning is not a paradisiacal destination, whose existence is supported by no credible evidence, but the journey itself, a rugged and uphill journey to be sure, with an abundance of twists and turns, some of which are propitious, others not. This journey is well worth the trouble, in my opinion. It is so independently of the above-mentioned destination, which people are free to pursue blindly or regard with skepticism (and with detachment to boot, in the best case scenario). It is all about the dignity of living and loving and the pleasure of succeeding in these difficult assignments. From this perspective, the purpose of life is none other than life itself, in partnership with our fellow creatures; and happiness is made possible – within certain limits – by our striving to achieve this worthy, albeit humble purpose.

The limits imposed upon worldly happiness may initially stick in our craw, but after due consideration, as we realize that life without these limits would be death, we accept them, and better still we welcome them. Life is by definition a dynamic state that presupposes a perpetual tension between desires and their satisfaction. Render this satisfaction absolute, you resolve this tension and consequently reduce life to nothing; i.e., something as inert as a stone. And this nothing – this inert something – is death, as I just pointed out. Not a brilliant prospect in the eyes of a life lover!

Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety or panic attacks are sudden periods of intense anxiety, fear and discomfort. While these attacks might seem to happen for no reason, they're actually the body's response to what it perceives as the need for fight or flight.

The attacks usually last about ten minutes, but can be as short as one minute. In severe cases, these attacks can happen in cycles. These cycles may last for extended periods. These cycles can cause anticipation anxiety between episodes.

Physical symptoms of anxiety attacks generally include shortness of breath, heart palpitations and sweating. Tingling and numbness in the extremities, dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches and nausea are also commonly experienced. These may appear to be random, but they're actually the result of the body's preparations for protection.

The anxiety attack is brought on by a sudden onset of fear. In response, the body releases adrenaline followed by increases in the heart and breathing rate and production of sweat (to regulate body temperature). These actions prepare the body for the physical activities of fighting or escaping. Because the anticipated strenuous activity rarely follows the panic attack, these reactions result in physical discomfort.

The increased heart rate is felt as heart palpitations. Rapid breathing (hyperventilation) results in a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and blood. This leads to the tingling, numbness, dizziness and lightheadedness. The adrenaline causes a narrowing of the blood vessels which results in less blood flow to the head. This also contributes to the lightheadedness and headaches.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are two separate conditions. The exact relationship between the two is still under study. Even though it's very common to find them together, any direct relationship to each other has yet to be found. For the time being, the relationship between anxiety and depression is often referred to as comorbidity. Meaning unrelated but co-existing. Their symptoms can overlap each other, which can make the initial diagnosis of either condition difficult. The symptoms can also be completely independent of each other.

A study by the National Comorbidity Survey reported that 58% of patients suffering major depression also exhibited lifetime anxiety. Agitated depression and akathitic depression are most often referred to when supporting these results. Both of these depressed states exhibit anxiety with heightened restlessness, suicidal thoughts or tendencies and a general sense of dread. While agitated depression includes symptoms of nonclinical and nonspecific panic, akathitic depression doesn't.

Even mild anxiety symptoms are being found to have an impact on the course depression takes in individuals. A study at the University of Pittsburg showed patients diagnosed with depression and also suffering lifetime panic symptoms experienced significant delays in the success of their treatments. These patients also exhibited additional problems when facing the resumption of their normal activities.

There are theories regarding the possibility that depression acts similar to anxiety in attempting to encourage avoidance of potentially harmful situations. Anxiety tries to avoid and prepare for physical danger, while depression tries to avoid emotional or psychological danger.

Dinners: A Great Fundraiser to Bring Awareness to Your Community

Are you a church leader or are you a member of a church group that is actively looking for ways to improve your congregation, your community, as well as the world in general? If you are, you may be looking to raise money. Whether you are interested raising money that can be used to performed needed church updates or repairs or if you are looking to support a worthy issue and cause, such as cancer research, you may want to examine community dinners, especially those that are used as fundraisers.

Before further examining why community dinners make for the perfect fundraisers, it is best to focus on fundraising first.  Does your church regularly hold fundraisers?  While many church groups do use fundraisers to their advantage, there are many who prefer to not burden the community. Of course, it is your decision or the decision of your church leaders, whether or not you want to hold fundraisers. With that in mind, you should know that most fundraisers are successful. Individuals, companies, churches, and other non-profit organizations have been relying on fundraisers to help them raise money for decades now. That just goes to show how successful they can be.

If you are still unsure as to whether or not a fundraiser is right for you, you may want to consider brining fundraising to the attention of your church congregation. Although community dinners are a great fundraiser to have, you will find that they are not your only options.  That is why it is advised that you do not limit yourself when it comes to fundraising. Asking your church members at your next church meeting or service if they feel that fundraising for your local church group or another needy non-profit organization is a good idea.  If the overall feeling is that it is okay, you may want to ask those in your group for suggestions. As previously stated, community dinners are a great fundraiser; therefore, it is likely something that you will hear as a suggestion.

As nice as it is to hear that dinners make for great fundraising events, you may be wondering exactly why that is so.  For starters, it is important to focus on the costs.  When hosting a community dinner, you do not have to go with fancy or expensive foods.  Popular community dinner foods include pizza, affordable barbeque foods, as well as spaghetti.  The ability to purchase your food and drinks in bulk may make your next fundraiser an affordable one.  It is also important to mention that your church should have tax-exempt status; therefore, many of your needed supplies should be tax-free.

Another one of the many reasons why a community dinner is ideal for a fundraiser is because they are relatively easy to organize.  As long as you carefully choose which foods you plan on serving, you should find that planning for and preparing for a community dinner is relatively easy. This also including the cook time.  If you would like to offer side dishes or desserts, you may want to ask that some of your congregation members bake a few items for your next community dinner.

To ensure that your next community dinner, should you decide to have one as a fundraiser, is popular, you may want to consider examining large dining areas in or around your community.  Many times, you may find that some business owners or hotels will donate the use of their banquet rooms for a few hours, especially for a good cause. A change of scenery may attract more eaters.  It is also important to ensure that your meal prices or requested donations are affordable.  You may want to consider offering discounts for couples or families.

As outlined above, community dinners can make for some great fundraising events. With that in mind, it also important to remember that you do have other options. For more information on those options, you can use the internet to your advantage or ask those that you know, preferably other church goers, for recommendations.

Happiness Thru Religion

 Concerts:  A Great Religious Event to Host

Are you a church leader or a member in your church group who is regularly involved in the planning of community events?  If you are, has your church ever held a public concert, either as a free community event or as a fundraiser?  If this is an approach that you have yet to take, you may want to consider doing so, as there are a number of benefits to reaching out to your community by way of music.

Before examining a few of the many benefits of hosting a community concert, either as a free event or as a fundraiser, it is important to examine the options that you have. As you likely already know concerts and music events come in a number of different sizes, shapes, and styles.  This is something that you may want to use to your advantage.

When planning a concert for your community, either as a free event or as a fundraiser, it is advised that you place a focus on children.  It is always said that children are our future and that couldn’t be more true.  If you want your church congregation to continue on, even after you have passed, you will want to place a focus on children. That is why it may be a good idea to host a concert that targets children and their parents. The songs sung should have a kids theme to them. In addition to a kids concert, you may also want to turn the event into a fun filled day. This can easily be done with games, foods, and drinks.

As important as it is to place a focus on the children in or around your community, you will also want to make sure that you place a focus on adults as well. That is why it is advised that you consider hosting concerts that may be ideal for adults and possibly even adults only. These types of concerts are ones that you may want to schedule a little bit later in the evening.  You may end up finding that many of your attendees use your religious concert as a way to get out of the home or even as a date night.

As for the benefits of hosting a religious concert, #Paid either as a free event or as a fundraiser, you will find that there are an unlimited number of benefits to doing so. One of those benefits is the interest that may be generated in your church and the new members that may join.  What you need to remember is that many individuals would like to attend church, but many are afraid to take the first step. A community concert, especially if you have church officials on hand, may be the perfect opportunity for hopeful church goers to express interest in your church group, as well as ask any questions that they may have.

Another one of the many benefits to using concerts as a way to insert yourself into the community and make your presence known it that it is relatively easy to do so. Depending on the size of your church, as well as how it is operated, you may have a church choir or even a church music group.  If that is the case, your own members can put on the concerts that you would like to host. With that in mind, you may also want to take steps to see if you can find any locally well-known music artists who would be willing to perform a concert with you as their sponsor. As for locations, many choose to use their own facilities, but you may also want to use local parks as locations for a concert, as well as other fundraisers or free events that you may be interested in planning.

As outlined above, there are a number of benefits to using concerts as a way to reach out into your community. Those benefits include a possible increase in interest at church services, as well as the ability to raise money for a good cause, especially if you are interested in using your concert or concerts as fundraisers.

Living Your Passion

We all begin thinking about what we’re going to be

when we grow up at a very early age. As we grow and

learn more about ourselves and life, those career

ideas change and grow.

As we experience new relationships, hobbies and events

in our lives, we develop interests and ultimately we

become passionate about some of them. It’s these

passions that make the stressors of life dissipate.

What may have been a passion in our twenties may very

well change in our forties or fifties or beyond. We

may find that the career we chose in college no longer

satisfies our needs, once our basic needs have been

met.

While once our passion was making enough money to pay

the bills, our passion in our fifties may become a

desire to help others. As we’ve developed personal

skills, we may find that we are gifted in public

speaking; what could be better than talking about your

passion and making money at the same time?

Unfortunately, many people fail to live a life filled

with passion. Fearful of rejection or of success keeps

many people from pursuing their dreams; many people

simply don’t have enough faith in themselves to reach

for the stars.

What makes you happy? Do you have a hobby that you

just can’t get enough of? Take the step of writing

down any way that you could make money at doing your

favorite thing and try it in your spare time. You

might find a new career doing exactly what you are

passionate about!

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Circumstances Beyond Your Control

Being happy is easy when life is going well; but what

about when circumstances spin out of control and bad

things happen one right after another.

We all have times when we feel that we just can’t get

out from under the storm clouds. How do people stay

happy during the tough times?

It’s been said time and time again that when the going

gets tough the tough get going, but some people don’t

find that at all easy to do.

Positive attitudes can help, but knowing that there is

a higher power that controls the chess pieces of our

lives lets us know that this hard time is only a bump

in the road and will soon pass.

This deep acceptance of faith is called joy; and hard

times simply can’t compete with pure joy.

We may not understand why bad things happen to good

people, but we know that they do and always will. Bad

things happen to bad people too, just as good things

happen to good people.

It’s just the way it is. If we can simply understand

that we can’t know certain things on this side of

life, which will help us get through life here.

Try to look at everything as part of God’s plan and as

a positive experience; find joy in the simple

pleasures in life and don’t let the circumstances of

the day (or week) get you down!