SMART Living 365

Ideas to create a more happy, peaceful and rewarding life--365!

The World Happiness Report And How It Applies To You and Me

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Filed under: Sustainable

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

The World Happiness Report is hot off the presses and critics are lining up to take shots at its diversion from the GDP and the economic status quo. Commissioned for a United Nations Conference on happiness and published by The Earth Institute at Columbia University, a major focus of the report suggests the outrageous idea that seeking the well-being and happiness of individual citizens is much more important than the growth and health of that country’s economy.   Using statistics from over 150 different countries and three prominent world studies, the report offers ways that governments can develop public policies to support and enhance the quality of life for its citizens, and create a more sustainable foundation for happiness for everyone.  What does that mean for you and I?  And why are the critics so worked up about it? [Read more…]

Creating a Complaint Free Life

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Filed under: Rightsized, Thankful

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Several years ago a book entitled, “A Complaint Free World” became an overnight sensation.  To date, nearly ten million people have read the book and obtained purple rubber bracelets to help them recognize how much they complain on a regular basis.  The practice was designed so that once people recognized their complaints they could put an end to them and gradually transform their world.  This last week I came across my little purple bracelet and immediately realized that the bad habit of complaining was worming its way back into my life.  Right then I admitted I could use another dose of “complaint-free living” in my life and in my world. [Read more…]

Consider Yourself Lucky?—Here Are 5 Ways To Increase Your Odds In The Future

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Filed under: Aware, Thankful

Happy SMART Day Everyone!  

Now that the largest Mega Millions Multi-State Lottery is finally behind us, let’s talk about luck.   According to estimates,  nearly $1.5 billion dollars was spent with the hope of winning $640 Million.  Unfortunately, those who bought tickets were in reality 50 times more likely to get hit by lightening—and some guy in Kansas actually did on his way home from buying three tickets at a local store.  But those odds didn’t stop hundreds of people from standing in line over five hours in nasty and cold weather for the miniscule chance of becoming a mega-millionaire.  News reports say there are only three lucky winners and dozens of others who will share in lesser prizes.   Do those winners have a secret the rest of us can use to increase our odds in the future?   The answer is yes—lucky people do have a formula.  But it isn’t exclusive and you and I can benefit every day of our lives by knowing certain behaviors that can increase our odds.      [Read more…]

What you Think About Me Is None Of My Business

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Filed under: Meaningful, Rightsized

 

Back in the early 1980s, there was a New Thought minister in San Diego, CA named Terry Cole-Whittaker.  She was and still is a very vivacious speaker who was so popular that she even had her own Sunday morning TV program.  During that time, she authored a book called, “What You Think of Me Is None Of My Business.”  Although Terry’s path changed rather dramatically in the years that followed, one of her legacies is the ideas behind the title.  It doesn’t even matter if you’ve read the book or not—the title alone is something that I refer to on many occasions.  It would certainly be SMART for each one of us to regularly remind ourselves “What others think of us is none of our business.” [Read more…]

Priming the Pump and Other Reasons To “Act As If”

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Filed under: Aware, Meaningful

 

Anyone who has studied positive thinking, New Thought or the Law of Attraction understands the concept of acting “as if.”   You know—acting with confidence and grace even when you’re shaking in your boots, or putting a smile on your face and acting happy even when you woke up feeling terrible.  Many people believe that those actions can actually lead to their desired results.  But while “faking it until you make it” might sound like nothing more than an unsubstantiated urban legend, plenty of evidence now proves the process is beneficial in dozens of ways. [Read more…]

SMART Living—Seeking Wholeness and Balance In Everyday Life

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Filed under: Meaningful, Rightsized, Sustainable

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Photo by mbeo on flickr–see link below

Have you been wondering what living responsibly and within your means has to do with positive thinking and happiness?  Or what about articles focused on the search for meaning and purpose, and how those ideas relate to being grateful and appreciating what you have?  And what do any of those have to do with staying curious, open-minded and conscious? In case you haven’t noticed, I write about all these and more here on SMART Living on a fairly regular basis.  And while they might appear at first to be unconnected, I’m convinced that all of these topics and ideas flow together to create a balanced and whole life.  In fact, embracing all of those ideas just might be the perfect way to achieve happiness and a sense of well-being every single day. [Read more…]

Goodness is Catching—The Gift of Unexpected Generosity

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Filed under: Meaningful, Thankful

 

Not long ago, a woman named Chris went with a friend to Disneyland. There in the massive parking lot of the Magic Kingdom, two other women approached asking if they would like free passes to the “Happiest Place On Earth.” The women offering the gift said they had two extra, and just wanted to give the other two away.  This simple act of generosity reminded Chris and her friend of the kindness of others, and restored within her a reminder that people are intrinsically good.  In fact, that charitable act inspired her to be more kind and generous herself. [Read more…]

Cheap Isn’t Always A Bargain—And Other SMART Ways To Save Money

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Filed under: Rightsized

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

The 4th and final!

My grandfather Pat Hiser was a horse trader from the sandhills of Nebraska.  I definitely inherited some of those genes.  I love getting a good deal and scoring a bargain makes every purchase a little sweeter.  But I’ve come to know that cheaper isn’t always a bargain.  And this week, thanks to recent lesson regarding used dishwashers, I’ve learned that the lowest price can end up costing the most.  [Read more…]

Is Your Thinking Lazy? Or Is It Just a Bad Case Of Cognitive Ease?

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Filed under: Rightsized, SMART Book Reviews

Happy SMART Day Everyone!

Kloe–in a lazy thinking mode.

I’ve always been fascinated by how people think.  Particularly, I’ve always wondered why seemingly smart and intelligent people think, say and believe crazy things.  For example, the evidence that humans are contributing to global warming is overwhelming and irrefutable by over 90% of scientists around the world.  Yet, a huge number of people continue to deny it.  Why?   Simply put, it’s lazy thinking—or actually not thinking much at all!  But before any of us start feeling superior—we all do this at least some of the time.  In fact, a book by Daniel Kahneman entitled, “Thinking Fast and Slow” explains how human brains are hard-wired to process and function in ways that are easy and fast.   The problem is—most of the time it’s not really thinking—although we all think it is! [Read more…]

Chutzpah and Humility—And Other Habits of the Heart

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Filed under: Aware, Meaningful, SMART Book Reviews

 

Parker J. Palmer’s latest book.

One of my favorite authors is a man named Parker J. Palmer.  Parker comes from the Quaker Tradition which embodies such a genuine depth of spirit and connection that I am always interested in what he has to say.   With a background in education, spirituality, community, and leadership his latest book is Healing the Heart of Democracy.”  And while politics may seem a strange bedfellow to spirituality or even SMART Living, the manner in which Parker approaches the topic is relevant to every single subject I ever write about.   Ultimately, every one of his themes leads to a greater experience of the whole.

 

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