ARTICLES & BLOG

Shaileen Shah 04/10/2023 Shaileen Shah 04/10/2023

THE SPIRITUAL WARRIOR'S PRAYER

We are now in the final 3 months of the year. A good time to revisit your goals, aspirations and plans from the end of last year or start of this year and review where you are and what you want to do before the end of the year. Happy Life Habits has a few projects till the end of the year and into the new year that may interest you. These include:

HLH Thanks Giving Lunch
World Values Day
HLH Book Club for 2024
10 Week Training Course for the charity Mind In Enfield and Barnet

What I love about cultivating virtues, qualities and living values is that they help me grow, be aligned to who I am or want to be and bring my best self to situations. This is all part of inner work. No short term fix but long term transformation.

“THE SPIRITUAL WARRIOR’S PRAYER

I pray not to be protected from life’s battles,
But to have the courage to conquer them fearlessly.

I pray not to escape from my struggles,
But to learn the lessons the universe is trying to teach me.

I pray not to work for fame and recognition,
But to make it my mission to love and serve others in all that I do.

I pray not to measure my wealth and success by what I own,
But by how grateful and abundant I feel in my heart.

And I pray not for my circumstances to change so that I feel happy,
But to be a beacon of light in the world wherever God places me.”

— Source unknown, shared to me by a friend this week

Rest, Recovery, Rejuvenation, Review

Through learning and person experience about personal energy, circadian rhythms, ultradian rhythms and balance I have understood it is important to have time for rest, relaxation and recovery in order to let us keep performing well and do the things we want to and need to do on a continued basis. The Summer provided me with a few weeks to go on a family holiday. This we planned at the start of the year and looked forward to throughout the year. I was able to switch of from “work”. In order to do that I had to plan and action before and after the holiday. The break was a welcome respite to re-energise, connect, make memories with family and friends, have some wonderful experiences including bucket list item of hot air balloon ride, trek to waterfall and swim in it’s lagoon, be on safari from before sunrise till after sunset, see the Big 5 all in one day, have a bush breakfast and picnic lunch in the Masai Mara with zebras nearby, sunrises at the beach, full moon over the ocean and enjoy being in the moment.

Forgiveness and Gratitude

Just before going on holiday I had committed to lead a community project related to the Jain Festival of Forgiveness. This meant being very organised, planning and getting on with a lot of prep work in advance as the festival was just a few days after returning from holiday.

I really found it beneficial to be engrossed in the project focusing on Forgiveness, researching material, creating digital posters and a detailed plan for various days. The festival was for 8 days, however I was able to be with it for weeks, deepening my understanding of forgiveness. Here are 2 wonderful videos that I shared. One is on the relationship between Gratitude and Forgiveness and the other a powerful one on saying sorry while we can.

Gratitude and Forgiveness video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKDM5QH_wlo

If you need to say Sorry to Someone : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6QwXyE0J9c

What I love about cultivating virtues, qualities and living values is that they help me grow, be aligned to who I am or want to be and bring my best self to situations. This is all part of inner work. No short term fix but long term transformation.

World Values Day

Happy Life Habits is again supporting World Values Day on Thurs 19th October by running 2 sessions as part of the Valuesthon. From World Values Day website:

“World Values Day is an annual campaign to increase the awareness and practice of values around the world.
Values are what matter most to us. They motivate and guide us. They are the passion in our hearts, the reason we do the things we do.
In a world that can feel increasingly divided, values help unite us. They are the glue holding together our communities and wider society. This year’s campaign theme is Values Bring Us Together.
So on World Values Day let’s concentrate on what brings us together. Let’s put our values into action, reaching across the growing barriers that divide us to build stronger communities and a more united world.”

What values are important to you? Which would you die for?

Book at here for either of the 2 sessions.

Mind in Enfield and Barnet 10 week Happiness Course

We are delighted to have been asked by the charity Mind in Enfield and Barnet to design and deliver a 10 week training course on Happiness. We start sessions on the 6th of October.

Annual Thanks Giving Lunch

Having started last year we continue with our Thanks giving lunch at the end of November. An opportunity to connect with like minded people, have great conversations and gratitude related activities while sharing a lovely meal.

The waiting list for the 30 Day Gratitude and Journal Habit Immersion Training Course is open. We will discuss potential dates with those on the waiting list.

***If interested join Thanksgiving Lunch group :*** ***https://chat.whatsapp.com/LeYGtRvATZUKZXTfPSr04h***

Book Club 2024

The Happy Life Habits book club returns in 2024 with the Heroic book : Arete by Brian Johnson.

Arete means living virtues to excellence or being your best self, living to your potential.

The book ((releases at the end of the year) is a product from the Heroic Public Benefit Company through which I have done the Heroic Coach Life Coaching, become an Ambassador and been using the fantastic materials for over a 2 years in the Master Mind Group and coaching sessions.

It is the best personal development platform I have used for learning, resources and actually applying the learning to move from theory to practice to mastery. Combining ancient wisdom with modern science. Reducing the learning cycle and making change happen. Various Happy Life Habits Community members via the Master Mind Group have used Heroic materials and training.

If you wish to join the book club, have a hard back copy of the book (1000+ pages), want the Heroic App or know more about Heroic let me know.

The book club is a great way to have a disciplined way of working through a book, embedding the learning by sharing with others and being inspired to apply the learning. We will initially commit to 5 sessions for the new year.

For more info see https://www.heroic.us/optimize/the-book?fpr=happylifehabits

Follow this link to join HLH Book Club WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DsELdIg3tQyIB6GC0cTs6q

Happy Life Habits rewires hearts & minds for better productivity, happiness and wellbeing in 10 minutes a day. We help you move out of the comfort zone and into the learning/growth zones. Our products and services help develop habits and continuous personal development.

If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list and join the Happy Life Habits Community WhatsApp Group

Facebook Group, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube etc links can be found at https://linktr.ee/HappyLifeHabits

Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.

Shaileen Shah 18/10/2022 Shaileen Shah 18/10/2022

What do you Value?

What do you value?

I am not talking about material/physical things but a deeper sense of what are your inner values that matter you most?

Each year organised by World Values Day there is a day dedicated for us to remember, reflect and consider values and their impact for us as individuals, schools, community groups, organisations, nations and as the human race.

World Values Day 2022 is on Thursday 20th October and has a variety of activities and events around the world for us to get involved with on the theme if community.

#WorldValuesDay2022

What do you value?

I am not talking about material/physical things but a deeper sense of what are your inner values that matter you most?

Each year organised by World Values Day there is a day dedicated for us to remember, reflect and consider values and their impact for us as individuals, schools, community groups, organisations, nations and as the human race.

World Values Day 2022 is on Thursday 20th October and has a variety of activities and events around the world for us to get involved with on the theme if community.

From World Values Day website:

"World Values Day is an annual campaign to increase the awareness and practice of values around the world.
Values are what matter most to us. They motivate and guide us. They are the passion in our hearts, the reason we do the things we do.
In a world that can feel increasingly divided, values help unite us. They are the glue holding together our communities and wider society.
Our theme this year is Values for Community. So on World Values Day let’s put our values into action, reaching across the growing barriers that divide us to build stronger communities and a more united world."

Happy Life Habits is supporting World Values Day.

Find out more about various activities and events plus get involved at https://www.worldvaluesday.com/valuesthon-2022/

#WorldValuesDay2022

Happy Life Habits Values

From when Happy Life Habits was started in 2018 we gave a lot of thought from the outset on why we exist, what our mission is and the values we want to live and work by. This you can read more about at Why, What and How. Here is a snippet.

WHAT WE DO & HOW WE DO IT

We positively impact happiness & well-being levels. Sharing and developing Habits to live a Happy Life.

This is so individuals, groups, communities & companies can engage in a happier, kinder, effective and meaningful way with the challenges that life unfolds. We combine Personal Development with The Science of Happiness & Spirituality to create and share uniquely creative, informative and valuable material through talks, workshops and coaching.

HAPPY LIFE HABITS = PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT + THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS + SPIRITUALITY

We share knowledge, skills, tools and experience to inspire, encourage, shift mindset to develop and integrate positive, empowering habits into our lives. We do this with a focus on core values at the heart of everything we think, say and do. We are a business for good.

OUR VALUES

Gratitude
Integrity
Kindness
Innovation
Focus
Effectiveness

Service
Making a Difference
Learning
Growth
Outstanding Value
Win-Win Relationship

In this blog article TO BE OR NOT TO BE? – THAT IS THE QUESTION OR IS IT A CHOICE? BE A CATERPILLAR, BECOME A BUTTERFLY I shared a poem that captures values, virtues and affirmations. Here it is (Taking enquiries for a beautiful printed poster version).

“To Be or Not to Be? – That is a question or is it a choice?
Be a Caterpillar, Become a Butterfly

By a Wanna Be Butterfly Shaileen Shah 26 Sep 2017

Dedicated to all the teachers and inspirers past, present and future; who have guided us to make this world better by making ourselves better. Lessons, values, guidelines, way of living learnt through family, friends, films, books, seminars, workshops, talks, teachers, TED talks, newsletters, articles, blogs, conversations and ponderings.

Behind you lies the past
Before you awaits the future
Be present, be here, now

Be blissful, joyful, happy and peaceful
Be conscious, conscientious, insightful and natural
Be energetic, be moving, be moved and be still
Be a seeker, aspirer, Divine, graceful and of service
Be wholesome, authentic, an observer and a witness

Be grateful, humble, generous and giving
Be charitable, donor, giver and receiver
Be compassionate, kind, caring and loving
Be forgiving, honest, straightforward and content

Be awake, alive, awesome, extraordinary and wonderful
Be careful, respectful, carefree and tolerant
Be a follower, leader, trailblazer and a guide
Be on The Path, be off the beaten track

Be the light, beacon, role model and mentor
Be a teacher, student, learning, teachable and sharer
Be growing, nurturing, developing and blossoming

Be listening, consoling, be consultative, and approachable
Be flexible, adaptable, open and perspective shifting
Be encouraging, supportive, dependable and helpful
Be proactive, responsible, accountable and resourceful
Be cooperative, patient, synergistic and part of the solution
Be going the extra mile, adding value, not giving up and keep moving forward

Be positive, enthusiastic, insightful and optimistic
Be focussed, steadfast, persistent, grounded and centred
Be brave, courageous, bold and fearless
Be creative, imaginative, visionary, daring and clear
Be connected, a team player, performer and game changer
Be prepared, planned, ready, organised and spontaneous

Be engaging, gregarious, humorous and funny
Be hospitable, welcoming, warm and big hearted
Be trustworthy, trusting, loyal, complete and full of integrity
Be mindful, aware, attentive, tuned in and be there
Be inquisitive, curious, and adventurous

Be healthy, wealthy and wise
Be better today than you were yesterday
Believe in yourself, have faith and move mountains
Be reflective, contemplative, introspective and meditative
Be the change, be transformative, evolving and a catalyst
Be the best that you can be, a masterpiece, unique and special
Be yourself, realise your potential and be free

Be a caterpillar, become a butterfly
Too busy to just be?
Be reminded it is a choice to be or not to be

Just Be.”