ARTICLES & BLOG
A NEW HOPE? OR NO HOPE?
Sometimes with the restrictions of lockdown, the negative news, so many deaths and cold, dark winter we feel like there is no hope and at other times hope is all we have.
The original classic Stars Wars was titled Episode IV : A New Hope. In this blog article I share some recent positive news stories, resources and Happy Life Habits activities.
Sometimes with the restrictions of lockdown, the negative news, so many deaths and cold, dark winter we feel like there is no hope and at other times hope is all we have.
The original classic Stars Wars was titled Episode IV : A New Hope. In this blog article I share some recent positive news stories, resources and Happy Life Habits activities.
Everything is F*cked : A book about Hope
Sometimes it feels like the title of this book. This is a book I recently got hold of, still to be read but looks interesting and the author’s previous book I have seen mentioned.
““Why should I fear death? If I am, then death is not. If Death is, then I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?””
Wonderful Positive News about HelpVeerNow
Veer is a 4 year old boy, son of our friends and from the communities we are part of. He has low blood counts and desperately needs a stem cell donor. The family have set up HelpVeerNow to raise awareness and help campaign to get more people on the the donor lists so they can find a match for Veer and also help others in the same situation to find a match. The numbers of people registered to be a donor is very low especially in BAME. To find a match is like finding a needle in a haystack. It needn’t be. If everyone, including you and people you know registered then there would be plenty of needles to be easily found.
The wonderful news is that three 90% matches have been found. A few months ago there weren’t and the family had been told that Veer had months instead of years to find a transplant donor as his counts had dropped.
You can listen to the family’s journey on the BBC World Service recording. It is very powerful, positive, uplifting and funny with the mention of a stem cell donut! and Veer going out to look for his superhero donor. What comes through the the emotional and mental struggles, them leaning into their Jain faith and keeping focused on the positive. Even with Veer having a match, the campaigning continues as many more people needed on the registers.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct1fq8
I am privileged to say the family are part of the Happy Life Habits Community, attended workshops and training courses. In May 2020 when a Veer’s Virtual Extravaganza was held, Happy Life Habits was honoured to serve in opening the Extravaganza with a Happiness and Gratitude workshop.
Resource: Coping in a Crisis
Hansa Pankhania a new acquaintance is an author, coach and consultant who will be in a future series of the Inspiration Point Podcast. She has written a variety of books on Stress, Crisis as well as stories. Her most recent is title Coping in a Crisis and covers coping with loss, financial loss, grief, relationship and including coping strategies. The book is free to download from www.aumconsultancy.co.uk.
Hansa has been inspired by Deepak Chopra’s WellBeing Centre - more in future Inspiration Point Podcast .
JVB London: The Future of Wellbeing & Higher Consciousness by Dr. Deepak Chopra
Recently I was able to attend a zoom meeting with the world reknowned Deepak Chopra. It was organised by JVB London and titled The Future of Wellbeing & Higher Consciousness by Dr. Deepak Chopra. The recording is here and well worth listening to. It resonated on some many levels for me and I loved watching it.
Happy Life Habits Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course
Gratitude has been shown to increase the chances of psychologically surviving hard times. In the HLH Gratitude Workshops I share that gratitude helps :
Us feel less deflated
Gives Hope
Helps Heal
It certainly has done this for me through life’s various challenges and has helped over 50 people who have taken the 30 day Happy Life Habits Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course. It is a pro-social behaviour making use feel more connected.
I’ll share a recent testimonial:
“I’ve just completed the Happiness and Gratitude training programme that Shaileen hosted.
We all ‘know’ what to do and how to ‘be’ happy, positive and grateful but it’s not always something that’s at the forefront of our minds when we are in the day to day of our lives. I booked on this course back in November as something to look forward to for the start of the year.
Alongside Shaileens’ great questions and coaching support, there was a daily journal to complete.
The whole programme was really, really good. My mindset has grown stronger as a result of the course and for anyone who wants some MH (Mental Health) support, to be able to see the ‘wood for the trees’ or like me, just wants to spend a bit of time focussing on the ‘haves’ vs the ‘have nots’ - this is for you.
I highly recommend it to you and to anyone who supports MH in the workplace. It’s fabulous.”
If you want to know more, sign up or join waiting list go to https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/habit-immersion
Inspiration Point Podcast Series 2
We reach half way through series 2 with 2 fantastic episodes completed and the 3rd due in a few hours as I write. The sessions I have found and feedback received as being unique, inspiring, positive, uplifting and an hour well spent. Episode 5 is about my cousin Dr Ajay Shah who is the older brother of episode 3 Niraj Shah. Earlier we shared Veer was looking for a super hero to be his stem cell donor. Episode 5 is Dr Ajay Shah - Super Hero Doctor. In recent ITV news about the Covid19 vaccination programme, Ajay has been caught in action.
Past recordings you can find at https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/inspiration-point and if you would like or know one who may be great to take part in a future episode please fill out the simple form at https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/inspiration-point-form.
Happy life habits connected conversations
I have recently had wonderful conversations related to Happy Life Habits projects. One was with a friend, HLH community member and course graduate. They asked what is the difference between motivation and inspiration. I had a good think, some ideas, did research and confirmed my thoughts plus additional concepts. We had a great conversation sharing and deepening each of our understanding. I’ll share at a later date the ideas shared. That conversation, the HLH Book Club plus writings on connection, relationships, isolation shared over the last year help give more traction to the idea of Connected Conversations.
To help foster connection, reduce sense of isolation and pro-social behaviour plus its benefits we have a new initiative we are exploring: Connected Conversations. It is not a workshop, it is not a talk. It’s a conversation.
30-60 mins - join on time, leave at anytime
1:1 and 1:many conversations
Move to different conversation groups at will
Using wonder.me platform
Discuss, share, express, explore, listen, connect
Theme: Relationships and Connection
Date & Time: Sunday 14th Feb 10:30am -11:30am
Where: Wonder.me
Here are some links to previous articles and workshop recordings from 2020 on Happier Relationships that I am quite proud of and people have found useful. https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/news/2020/2/6/happier-relationships
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
LOOKING FORWARD
The 3rd Monday in January is known as Blue Monday, a day when many people feel low or more depressed due to various factors. This year is falls on Monday 18th January 2021. Previously, I wrote about Blue Monday and some ideas to combat it.
Blue Monday
The 3rd Monday in January is known as Blue Monday, a day when many people feel low or more depressed due to various factors. This year is falls on Monday 18th January 2021. Previously, I wrote about Blue Monday and some ideas to combat it.
On Friday I learnt that an ex-work colleague passed away. We worked in the same department and had been in India together briefly. This along with my own recent grieving as well as hearing on a daily basis of friend and family losing close ones is tough. Another friend recently lost his father, I shared the articles I had written about death and loss with him and also offered to host prayers over zoom. To be of help and service lifted spirits.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
On New Years Eve we shared the previous postponed Looking Back, Looking Forward workshop where a year compass workbook had been shared as well as various ideas on finding focus for the year. A particular idea shared was to look at 3 areas :
Self
Relationships
Career/business
and have a goal/intention in each of these. For my self this has helped to have clarity on what I am focusing on for 2021 in each of these areas and has let to actions/habits/goals in them.
A slide shared at the workshop
Corporate Services
For Business - the key this year is more impact in Corporate/company sector.
I can do with your help. If you have your own business, work for company or used to work for a company please do share the Happy Life Habits website and services with Directors, Owners, HR departments, Network groups , well being officers, event organisers, training teams etc.
Some of the services are at https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/services
In short it improves well being, productivity, effectiveness, confidence, resilience and resourcefulness and has an impact on the bottom line. This is through talks, workshops, coaching or training. Some of the areas are:
Happiness at Work
Work Life Harmony
Stress Management
Time Management
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Productivity and Effectiveness
Resilience and Positivity
Developing Habits
Mindfulness
Bespoke Training - just ask
Many thanks in advance. The Corporate work allows Happy Life Habits to offer free and low cost services to the community.
Current Happy Life Habits Projects
The 30 Day Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course
We are having successful impact on the January intake of the 30 HLH Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course with the trainees half way through the course. The course is running during UKs national lockdown and supporting the participants.
Each iteration of the course has some improvements added from feedback and experience. It is a very powerful course and experience for building positive habits and deepening your gratitude, positivity and happiness. The waiting list is open for future courses.
Here is a link to a pretty good Robin Sharma video on The Winning Habits. Much of this we also share in the course and in particular the first live session The 90 minute Journal Workshop.
https://www.robinsharmanation.com/the-winning-habits-masterclass-free1610190944909
Inspiration Point Podcast Series 2
I have enjoyed many wonderful conversions recently as we prepared the schedule for Inspiration Point Podcast Series 2. We in fact have enough episode potential for half of series 3 too. If you know of anyone who may want to take part and share their story of inspiration, positivity and turning points please ask them to have a look at : https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/inspiration-point and fill out the simple 10 question form to be considered for an episode.
Series 1 recordings are also available on the same link as is the schedule for Series 2.
We have sharing about:
a stand up comedian performing at the Edinburgh Fringe,
a mother who for her 40th ran the London Marathon and on crossing the finish line felt empty, unfulfilled and trapped leading to leaving her marriage.
Recovery from a sudden, serious brain injury at just 30 years old;
Exalted mediator with a firm focus on faith and family;
A doctor who is a senior partner in an innovative surgery who was told he would not get into medical school;
a lifewalla going from being a loner introvert to outgoing extrovert when needed.
The registration is open for booking the live session episodes.
We have a new VIP PASS For Whole Series: One registration for all 6 Live Episodes £20
+ 1 Gift invite to share to next episode
for details Email Shaileen@HappyLifeHabits.co.uk
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
Live, Love, Learn & Legacy
Twas the night before Christmas …
What a year 2020 has been - no understatement there. I have had highs and highers. The year started with a lovely party celebrating the 40th Birthdays of 2 of our friends. It is ending with us grieving the sudden and quick loss of my dad. What starts must end. Where there is life, there is death. How we live, spend our time, energy and attention between life and death determines our life. In most cases we do not know if we will die today, tomorrow, next week or years from now - therefore life and time is precious.
Twas the night before Christmas …
What a year 2020 has been - no understatement there. I have had highs and highers. The year started with a lovely party celebrating the 40th Birthdays of 2 of our friends. It is ending with us grieving the sudden and quick loss of my dad. What starts must end. Where there is life, there is death. How we live, spend our time, energy and attention between life and death determines our life. In most cases we do not know if we will die today, tomorrow, next week or years from now - therefore life and time is precious.
Two weeks today he went into hospital with an infection that we thought would be treated by antibiotics over a few days. As the day progressed the news worsened to the point we were told he is critical and not sure if he will make it through the night. Next day 3 of us are able to visit him in Intensive Treatment Unit where he is on last stages. Within 40 mins after we have left hospital I take the call to be told he has passed away - this is 36 hours after being admitted to hospital.
Have experienced the whole gamut of emotions and 5 stages of grief. What has helped is looking back at the articles and resources I have previously shared about dealing with grief and death. The support of family, friends and community has helped provide solace as we shared prayers, memories and his qualities. We focused on not what we lost but on what we had and celebrated his life and character. I share some of the funeral service speeches and poems below.
Lalji Shah - Rest In Eternal Peace (11 Dec 2020)
Lessons to Live, Love, Learn and Legacy
Where there is grief there is love
Life and time are the two best teachers. Life teaches us to make good use of time and time teaches us the value of life.
Soul has moved on in its journey, lessons shared
Lesson for Life and Love
How to treat people both young and old - time, attention, get know and feel special
Hospitable, friendly, warm, welcoming smile
sharing/generosity - time, advice
Smarties, chocolates, mangoes, fruit or beer
Commitment, dedication, patience - married for 57 years
Integrity, doing things right, finding a way
Loving, caring, kind and helpful
Service focused - working since aged 15 for 45 years and almost 25 years of those at John Lewis Partnership, Oxford Street
Resilience, persistence
Learning/growth mindset - adapting, learning, giving things a go
Zest for life, positive encouragement
Reminded and understand that his Soul has moved on in its spiritual journey
Life is not measured in years but in moments of happiness, kindness and consciousness
Created and shared many moments of happiness
Take a moment of silence to say prayer - 3 Navkars, remember his warm infectious smile
May the Soul of Lalji Raichand Mepa Shah Rest in External Peace
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
Thank you from the families
He Is Gone David Hawkins
He Is Gone
You can shed tears that he is gone
Or you can smile because he has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember him and only that he is gone
Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on
Farewell My Friends by Rabindranath Tagore
Farewell My Friends
It was beautiful
As long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets
Whatsoever said
The pain I’ll leave behind.
Those dear hearts
Who love and care...
And the strings pulling
At the heart and soul...
The strong arms
That held me up
When my own strength
Let me down.
At the turning of my life
I came across
Good friends,
Friends who stood by me
Even when time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell My friends
I smile and
Bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears
For I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad
Do think of me
For that’s what I’ll like
When you live in the hearts
Of those you love
Remember then
You never die.
No Ordinary Human
Dear God,
How can someone be so giving?
Asking for nothing in return but your happiness. I guess you gave us, no ordinary human.
How can someone make you feel so comfortable? Where a moment in his space has a profound effect on yours.
I guess you gave us, no ordinary human.
When in his presence you forgot the worlds pressures And we laughed out loud like children.
I guess you gave, us no ordinary human.
When I can see his quality in the eyes of his children, so full of kindness & joy.
I guess you gave, us no ordinary human.
So God, I ask one favour, take good care of this soul. As I can definitely confirm.
You lent us for a while, an extraordinary human.
Tony Herbert 14th December 2020
Written by a friend of the family after a prayer and memory sharing zoom meeting
Looking forward to serving you in 2021
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
GIVING THANKS ON THANKS GIVING
Thanks Giving is a traditional time when many people reflect on gratitude and give thanks for what they already have. Traditionally Thanksgiving started as a harvest festival to give thanks for the harvest collected.
WHAT CAN YOU GIVE THANKS FOR, BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR LIFE?
Could it be for hot running water? shelter, family, friends, food, heating, transport options, work, study, community, hospitals, etc?
Thanks Giving is a traditional time when many people reflect on gratitude and give thanks for what they already have. Traditionally Thanksgiving started as a harvest festival to give thanks for the harvest collected.
WHAT CAN YOU GIVE THANKS FOR, BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR LIFE?
Could it be for hot running water? shelter, family, friends, food, heating, transport options, work, study, community, hospitals, etc?
The beauty of gratitude is that it amplifies the good we already have, it helps rescue us from negativity or struggles and fosters connection. It heals, gives hope and helps us not feel deflated.
““Always start with thanksgiving; be thankful for what you already have and see the miracles that come from this one simple act.” ”
Thank You
Happy Life Habits takes this opportunity to thank all the people and organisations that have supported it during this year either by hosting and event, investing in a service or product, being a speaker, a sponsor, attendee, sharing / liking/encouraging social media posts and reading the articles.
Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course Attendees
June, July, Sept and Nov graduates - 45+
The graduates who have gifted or recommended the course
HLH Book Club members
Happiness Booster, workshop, Inspiration Point attendees
Sponsors :
Lightside Financial (Priti Shah)
Raymond James Stanmore (Kamal Haria)
Balance Consultancy (Shandip Shah)
Aegis Life Financial (Yogesh Nagpal)
Drop Me Limited (Khilan Shah)
Vision One to One (Nehul Shah)
Speaker Workshop
Uday Shah
Inspiration Point Podcast speakers
Nick Williams
Anuj Shah
Chantal Coady OBE
Sanjay Shah
Beejal Coulson
Shandip Shah
Companies and organisations hosting events or investing in services
BVJ
HB Accountants
David Phillips
Xerox
Will Writers Society
Shree Chandana Vidhya Peeth (SCVP) Jain School
Shishukunj
Oshwal Association UK
Young Jains
Help Veer Now
Podcast hosts
Malini Shah - Mind, Body Heart podcast
Camden Boyd - The Happiness Question Podcast
Together in Isolation article contributors
Bhavik Haria for his 5 day video challenge
Happy Life Habits Community
Happy Life Habits Team: Harshna and Priti
https://www.awakin.org/read/view.php?tid=2465
Half A Pomegranate Brian Conroy
Early one morning, the Buddha and his disciples set off on an alms round. He announced that on that day all of the offerings they received would be given to the poor.
The community sat beneath the red blossoms of a sala tree and waited. Soon all of the most important dignitaries from the surrounding area came to make offerings.
First to arrive was King Bimbisara. He offered lavish gifts of gold coins, gilded lanterns, and necklaces sparkling with precious gemstones. The Buddha accepted these offerings with one hand.
Next to arrive was Prince Ajatashatru. He extended offerings of intricate carvings, mouth-watering foods, and sticks of fragrant ox-head sandalwood incense. Again, the Buddha accepted these offerings with one hand.
These were followed by offerings from minor kings, brahmins, elders and laypeople. The Buddha accepted all of their offerings with a single hand.
Late in the day, a dishevelled old woman appeared before the Buddha. She bowed respectfully and said, "World Honored One, by the time I heard you were accepting offerings, I had already eaten half of this pomegranate. I am just a poor old woman. The only thing I have to offer is the other half of this pomegranate. I hope you will accept it."
Those gathered looked on in embarrassment at the old woman's meagre offering. But the Buddha extended both of his hands and gratefully accepted the half a pomegranate.
When the old woman was gone, the Buddha's disciple Aniruddha asked, "Why did you accept the old woman's offering with both hands, but all of the others with only one hand?"
The Buddha replied, "This woman gave all she had without expecting reward. I needed both hands to accept such an abundant offering."
Here is a podcast where I share about gratiude
Some useful Thanksgiving/ Gratitude resources
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_do_we_celebrate_thanksgiving_in_a_pandemic
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
NO MAN IS AN ISLAND
With this article I am continuing the idea of community. Community has been a great support for me over the years and in particular during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I share two stories shared to me by members of the community and a poem. Use these as reflection points in conjunction with the previous article on community. They remind us we do not achieve things on our own (poem), that what/who we are surrounded by (our community, environment) has an impact on us (corn story) and we have an impact on others; and finally that real wealth, happiness and life satisfaction is in being kind, giving and making a difference to others.
Horseshoe Bend, Utah
With this article I am continuing the idea of community. Community has been a great support for me over the years and in particular during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I share two stories shared to me by members of the community (Ashik and Nilesh - thank you) and a poem. Use these as reflection points in conjunction with the previous article on community. They remind us we do not achieve things on our own (poem), that what/who we are surrounded by (our community, environment) has an impact on us (corn story) and we have an impact on others; and finally that real wealth, happiness and life satisfaction is in being kind, giving and making a difference to others.
No Man Is An Island
“No man is an island entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less,
As well as if a promontory were,
As well as any manor of thy friend’s,Or of thine own were.
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.”
The A-maize-ing story of excellent quality corn
"There was a farmer who grew excellent quality corn.
Every year he won the award for the best grown corn.
A newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned an interesting fact about how he grew it.
The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours..
How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year…the reporter asked.
Why sir.. said the farmer,
Didn’t you know.. The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbours grow inferior corn.....cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn.
So is it with our lives.. Those who want to live meaningfully and well… must help enrich the lives of others for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches.
Those who choose to be happy must help others find happiness…for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
Call it POWER OF COLLECTIVITY.
Call it a PRINCIPLE OF SUCCESS.
Call it a LAW OF LIFE.
The fact is…NONE OF US TRULY WINS…UNTIL WE ALL WIN."
I want to remember you face so that when I meet you in heaven…
"I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I will be able to recognize you and thank you once again"
In an interview, the Radio Jockey asked his guest, a millionaire, "What made you most happy in life?"
The millionaire said:
I have gone through four stages of happiness in life and finally I understood the true happiness.
The first stage was to accumulate wealth and means. But at this stage I did not get the happiness
Then the second stage of collecting valuable items. But I realized that the effect of this is also temporary and the lustre of valuable things don't last long.
Then came the third stage of getting big projects. Like buying a football team, buying a tourist resort, etc. But even here I did not get the happiness, which I had imagined.
The fourth time a friend of mine asked me to buy wheelchairs for disabled. I immediately bought them... But my friend insisted that I accompany him and hand over the wheelchairs to the disabled children. I got ready...
I gave these chairs to the needy children with my own hands. I saw the strange glow of happiness on the faces. I saw them all sitting on chairs, moving around and having fun... It was as if they had arrived at a picnic spot.
One of the kids grabbed my legs while I was leaving the place. I gently tried to free my legs but the child stared at my face...
I bent down and asked the child: Do you need anything else?
The answer of the child not only made me happy but also changed my life completely. The child said "I want to remember your face so that when I meet you in heaven, I will be able to recognize you and thank you once again"
Over the remaining part of this year we have a few events detailed on the events page.
These include:
Last Episode of Inspiration Point Series 1 : 24th November
Manage Your Mindset and Money Workshop : 1st December (in collaboration with Priti Shah from LightSide Financial)
Remaining Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course sessions for November (you can secure place for £60 instead of £75 via crowdfunding)
Looking back, Looking Forward Workshop : 13 Dec (TBC) (sign up via crowdfunding)
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
WHAT DO WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON? COMMUNITY.
This article I am exploring the idea of community. Community has been a great support for me over the years and in particular during the Covid-19 Pandemic as previously written in Together in Isolation. There are many ideas and resources in that article that have helped me and can help you as here in the UK we go into a 2nd national lockdown. The themes covered are:
CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES NATURE ROUTINE SPIRITUALITY & FAITH
HEALTH HUMOUR & FEEL GOOD CONNECTION MINDFULNESS & PRESENT MOMENT
LEARNING KINDNESS REFLECTION, GRATITUDE AND JOURNALLING
3 of the Inspiration Point guests have contributed to that article before the 1st national lockdown in March 2020.
Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash
Happy Diwali and Happy World Kindness Day
The team at Happy Life Habits wish a Happy Diwali and Happy World Kindness Day to those celebrating.
In this short article I am exploring the idea of community. Community has been a great support for me over the years and in particular during the Covid-19 Pandemic as previously written in Together in Isolation. There are many ideas and resources in that article that have helped me and can help you as during 2nd national lockdown. The themes covered are:
CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES NATURE ROUTINE SPIRITUALITY & FAITH HEALTH HUMOUR & FEEL GOOD MINDFULNESS & PRESENT MOMENT CONNECTION LEARNING GRATITUDE AND JOURNALLING KINDNESS REFLECTION
Three (Nick Williams, Sanjay Shah and Beejal Coulson) of the Inspiration Point guests have contributed to that article before the 1st national lockdown in March 2020.
Being Part of Communities
Being parts of various communities has been a huge support to me. Recently over a 7 or so day spell in my calendar almost each day was community related activities including Happy Life Habits (HLH). This was :
Thursday : Attending a talk organised by Shishukunj
Sunday : HLH Gratitude & Journal Habit Training Course workshop
Monday: HLH BookClub
Tuesday: HLH Inspiration Point
Wednesday: Diwali meeting for celebrations planned on 14th November by SCVP and Young Jains
Thursday: Co-Facilitating Young Jains Enriching Conversations on these of Diwali: Shine the Right Light
Friday : Teaching at SCVP Jain School
Happy Diwali to those celebrating. Happy World Kindness Day - 13th Nov.
I enjoy and learn from being part of those communities and feel connected.
We also received good news that the HelpVeerNow campaign shared. Through their efforts to get more people registered on donor databases to increase the chances of finding a bone marrow match for Veer; a registrant in India has been found to be match for another person - saving a life. Without the HelpVeerNow campaign and community the donor may not have registered. This gives hope that a match can be found for Veer. Register and tell others to register, details at www.HelpVeerNow.org
What is Community
From wikipedia
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, town, or neighbourhood) or in virtual space through communication platforms. Durable relations that extend beyond immediate genealogical ties also define a sense of community, important to their identity, practice, and roles in social institutions such as family, home, work, government, society, or humanity at large. Although communities are usually small relative to personal social ties, "community" may also refer to large group affiliations such as national communities, international communities, and virtual communities.
The English-language word "community" derives from the Old French comuneté (currently "Communauté"), which comes from the Latin communitas "community", "public spirit" (from Latin communis, "common")
From the Jain faith we have the concept of interdependence shared as …
Parasparopagraho Jīvānām (Sanskrit) is a Jain aphorism from the Tattvārtha Sūtra [5.21]. It is translated as "Souls render service to one another". It is also translated as, "All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence." These translations are virtually the same (by virtue, that is), because Jains believe that every living being, from a plant or a bacterium to human, has a soul and the concept forms the very basis of Jainism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasparopagraho_Jivanam
On reading the chapter on Ego from Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty in preparation for the next HLH Book Club session he quotes the Dalai Lama as saying
Under the bright sun, many of us are gathered together with different languages, different styles of dress, even different faiths. However all of us are the same in being human beings, we all uniquely have the thought of “I” and we’re all the same wanting happiness and in wanting to avoid suffering
Happy Life Habits (HLH) has been working hard to serve and cultivate a community of people who want to positively impact happiness and well-being levels. When we are happy, kind, optimistic or hopeful by contagion the people around us also feel that. An act of kindness done to one person ripples out to 6 others and then with each of those 6 rippling to another 6 for three further levels.
Through the HLH Community FaceBook group, the workshops, Inspiration Point, Book Club, Habit training courses we seek to bring people together, have a sense of connection, share inspiration, support each other and build a positive community.
If this resonates with you, you can help us with the crowdfunding campaign running for a few week. You can donate, claim a reward such as a journal, workshop or a place on the Gratitude and Journal Habit Immersion Training Course starting 4th January 2021. If we reach our target and meet some other criteria, the Mayor of London will give us additional funding which will allow us to do more for free or low cost.
https://payitforward.london.gov.uk/hlh-sharing-positivity-resilience
Many thanks to those who have already supported and shared the campaign.
Over the remaining part of this year we have a few events detailed on the events page.
These include:
Last Episode of Inspiration Point Series 1 : 24th November
Manage Your Mindset and Money Workshop : 1st December (in collaboration with Priti Shah from LightSide Financial)
Remaining Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course sessions for November (you can secure place for £60 instead of £75 via crowdfunding)
Looking back, Looking Forward Workshop : 13 Dec (TBC) (sign up via crowdfunding)
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
HELP HAPPY LIFE HABITS KEEP HAVING POSITIVE IMPACT
During the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, Happy Life Habits (HLH) is crowdfunding via the Mayor of London’s Pay it Forward crowdfunding platform. If we reach our funding target and other criteria we will get some extra funding towards the work we do of “Positively Impact Happiness & Well-being Levels” through free or low cost, high value services and products that have helped many, maybe even you.
https://payitforward.london.gov.uk/hlh-sharing-positivity-resilience
https://payitforward.london.gov.uk/hlh-sharing-positivity-resilience
Happy Life Habits is Crowd Funding
During the month of November, we celebrate Thanksgiving, Happy Life Habits (HLH) is crowdfunding via the Mayor of London’s Pay it Forward crowdfunding platform. If we reach our funding target and other criteria, we will get some extra funding towards the work we do of “Positively Impact Happiness & Well-being Levels” through free or low cost, high value services and products that have helped many, maybe even you.
The Mayor’s platform is called Pay It Forward.
Here is a brief reminder of some of the services and events shared in 2020:
2 Free workshops on Happier Relationships for SCVP - Feb
Free talks at community groups
Together in Isolation article to support during the pandemic.
3 Free Happiness Boosters on International Day of Happiness - Mar 20
Many Free Happiness Boosters through the lockdown
Videos to support during Mental Health Awareness Week -May
Free Daily Happiness Boosters during Mental Health Awareness Week -May
Free Live Workshops on Happiness / Gratitude : HelpVeerNow Extravanganza (May), Day 6 of Mental Health Awareness Week (May), October Workshop
Oshwal Mental Well being Seminar - Helped as part of team to develop and deliver
Launch of Low Cost, High Impact - HLH 30 Day Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course (June - 2 sets, July, Sep, Nov)
Talks/workshops to companies : Xerox, David Phillips, HB Accountants, Will Writers Society
Free Manage Your Mindset and Money workshop with LightSide Financial at Shishukunj Bethak (Sep) , HLH (Dec)
Launch of Happy Life Habits Book Club
Launch of Free Inspiration Point live sessions and Podcast - Series 1 , 6 Episodes
Regular article/post sharing on Social Media : Facebook Happy Life Habits Page , Facebook HLH Community group, LinkedIn, YouTube, Anchor Podcast, HLH website, EventBrite
Providing Happiness Journals/books
Coaching formal/informal
5 Free 21 Day Challenges to support mindset during lockdown on : Simple living, Reverence for Life, Kindness, Gratitude and Mindfulness
We are a business for good we have given a book or 365 days access to a book to those in need in India via Buy 1 Give 1 (B1G1) for each place booked on the Gratitude & Journal Course.
This is your opportunity to help SUPPORT HLH continue to SERVE WITH free and low cost high value services and products
There are various rewards you can apply for as an individual, group, company or corporate.
In the line from the film Jerry McGuire (adapted)
HELP ME TO
HELP YOU &
HELP OTHERS
Click here to go to the crowdfunding page
https://payitforward.london.gov.uk/hlh-sharing-positivity-resilience
With THANKs, gratitude and kind regards for your support
Shaileen Shah - The Happiness Coach
Happy Life Habits- Positively Impacting Happiness & Well Being Levels
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
TAKE MY BREATH AWAY : THE INEVITABLE - DEATH, THE END OF LIVING - ONE YEAR ON
The theme of death and loss is back in my awareness. Over the months we have explored it in Young Jains Enriching Conversations. Many friends, family and people in the community over the last 2 weeks have lost a close loved one. I shared with them an article I wrote last year upon the death of a close friend, Bobby Shah, on 15th October. The article has my thoughts feelings and also some resources that may help. Since originally writing it almost exactly a year ago I have shared it with many and edited to include a wonderful podcast from commune. Really do check out the article and resources - share with those who you may know are dealing with the loss of a loved one.
The theme of death and loss is back in my awareness. Over the months we have explored it in Young Jains Enriching Conversations. Many friends, family and people in the community over the last 2 weeks have lost a close loved one. I shared with them an article I wrote last year upon the death of a close friend, Bobby Shah, on 15th October. The article has my thoughts feelings and also some resources that may help. Since originally writing it almost exactly a year ago I have shared it with many and edited to include a wonderful podcast from commune. Really do check out the article and resources - share with those who you may know are dealing with the loss of a loved one.
https://www.happylifehabits.co.uk/news/2019/10/17/the-inevitable-death
As shared in a recent post I celebrated my 50th birthday and covered connection and time as themes. Over the birthday weekend I have great zoom catch ups with a variety of people from the different communities I am part of. It was lovely. Last year when thinking about planning celebrations for my 50th, I had seen Bobby as part of the celebrations as we continued to share milestones in our lives.
In the Happy Life Habits Book Club we are reading Jay Shetty’s Think Like A Monk. In the first section “Letting Go” chapter 3 is titled Fear. The quote for the chapter is:
Fear does not prevent death. It prevents life. - Buddha
At the start of the book it shares that at the start of life we breathe and at the end of life we take our last breath. Important to be aware of our breathing as it is connection to our emotions.
THERE IS A THIEF IN THE CITY
Below is a Kabir Cafe T-shirt I have based on a poem by the legendary 15th Centuary mystic and poet Kabir. It has been made into a lovely fusion song by Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe. The title is “Be alert there is a thief in the city”. It is referring to death. Listen to the song in the video below and read the translation.
Kabir Cafe T-Shirt - Be Alert, Death is in the neighbourhood
Here is a great video from karmatube on the idea of a death walker : https://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=8662
WHAT SEEDS ARE YOU PLANTING?
Many a time I have contemplated on that each day we live we get closer to death. The true deadline. What we have to do is keep this in our awareness from time to time so that we can truly live, be fulfilled instead of deal with the mundane. Each moment counts and the more moments shared with happiness, kindness and love the happier our lives. From the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr Stephen Covey, Habit 2 is Begin with the End in Mind. There is a great exercise where we do begin with the end in my and contemplate our funeral and consider what we want people to say about us at that time. This helps us see what is important in our live and the values we want to cultivate.
This week on a small pot plant on the window sill emerges signs of life. It is either chillis or capsicums - those we the seeds planted.
Seedlings growing
Check out www.HappyLifeHabits.co.uk for Inspiration Point episodes to book tickets and watch recordings as well as book Gratitude Workshop and Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course.
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
Happy Birthday - Time to Connect
I write this on the eve of turning 50. What to say? These birthday celebrations are way different from what we had in mind last year or even at the beginning of this year. We were making plans to have family from USA and Kenya come visit during the summer and arrange a few get togethers with both sides of the families - both in terms of mine and my wife’s as well as both in terms of my dad’s and mum’s side. This is a lot of people. The celebrations would be for my son turning 16, completing GCSE exams and me turning 50. With the pandemic issue we can’t have more than 6 people meet.
I remember before I turned 24, I had just started my first real job and career out of university. I was a junior consultant in a US based technology consulting firm. I had been to Cambridge, Massachusetts for month long orientation training. During one weekend we had driven to New York, the Big Apple. I was then back in the UK working on projects, work then had become quieter in the UK. During September they shipped a few of out to projects in the USA. I ended up in Lansing, Michigan for a good few weeks. One weekend we took off to Lake Michigan - more like am ocean than a lake. I ended up spending my birthday weekend driving with a friend to Toronto, Canada where he had his family. I was away from family and friends. Being with my friend and his family was fine but I felt alone and did not enjoy that birthday experience. I enjoy being around people, especially family and friends and I enjoy celebration birthdays. Happy Birthday - I has HAPPY in the phrase and it has Birth - Life, so a Happiness Coach calling his company Happy Life Habits loves celebrating birthdays be they his own or others.
I was reminded by Facebook of a post from a few years ago which is a real treasure and I share here which share the difference between a contact and connection.
A Monk of the RamaKrishna Mission was being interviewed by a journalist from NY.
Journalist - "Sir, in your last lecture, you told us about Jogajog (contact) & Sanjog (connection). It's really confusing. Can you explain ? "
The Monk smiled and apparently deviating from the question asked the journalist:
"Are you from New York?"
Journalist - "Yeh..."
Monk - "Who are there at home?”
The Journalist felt that the Monk was trying to avoid answering his question since this was a very personal and unwarranted question. Yet the journalist said: “Mother has expired. Father is there. Three brothers and one sister. All married..."
The Monk, with a smile on his face, asked again: “Do you talk to your father?"
The journalist looked visibly annoyed...
The Monk - “When did you talk to him last?"
The journalist, supressing his annoyance said: "May be a month ago."
The Monk: “Do you brothers and sisters meet often? When did you meet last as a family gathering?"
At this point, sweat appeared on the forehead of the journalist. Now who was conducting the interview, the Monk or the Journalist? It seemed that the Monk was interviewing the Journalist.
With a sigh, the Journalist said: “We met last at Christmas two years ago."
The Monk: “How many days did you all stay together ?"
The Journalist (wiping the sweat on his brow) said: “Three days..."
Monk: "How much time did you spend with your Father, sitting right beside him?"
The journalist looking perplexed and embarrassed and started scribbling something on a paper...
The Monk: "Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother's death?"
Drops of tears coming out started to flow from the eyes of the journalist.
The Monk held the hand of the journalist and said: “Don't be embarrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt you unknowingly... But this is basically the answer to your question about "contact and connection (Jogajog and Sanjog)". You have 'contact' with your father but you don't have 'connection' with him. You are not connected to him. Connection is between heart and heart... sitting together, sharing meals and caring for each other ; touching, shaking hands, having eye contact, spending some time together...You brothers and sisters have 'contact' but you have no 'connection' with each other...."
The journalist wiped his eyes and said: "Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson"
This is the reality today. Whether at home or in the society everybody has lots of contacts but there is no connection. No communication... Everybody is in his or her own world.
Let us not maintain just "contacts" but let us remain "connected"; caring, sharing and spending time with all our dear ones.
*****
The Monk was none other than Swami Vivekananda
Lessons Learned at 50
There are many people who have come into my life, there are many mistakes made, lessons learned, many inspirers, many joyous moments and continue to do so. Some of these lessons relate to a few themes.
TIME is our most precious resource. We don’t know how much we have left so use it wisely.
CONNECTION is central to our existence. The much loved and shared Brene Brown quote says it all. Check out this awesome blog on connection.
We have 3 main relationships or connections:
with our self
with others
with our higher self, nature, universe, God
The Happy Life Habits logo is all about connection, it is a connected pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
The below quote was share on HLH Community group when within a few days we developed the HLH Book Club. Thanks Mary T for inspiring it.
“‘Time is our most precious resource. We should not waste it. If it fits with my mission, serves, feels right, positively impacts, makes me smile, adds to the greater good, enthuses and inspires me and have the opportunity to be with wonderful like minded people - why wait? ”
Manage your TIME, ENERGY & ATTENTION
I am hoping to share sessions on this in 2021
HABITS OF THE HEART & SOUL : GRATITUDE, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, MINDFULNESS
return wonderful returns when developed - they are all about connection.
“Our life is made up of a series of moments. We live moment to moment. The more happy moments we can have and create the happier our life will be. ”
All the current Happy Life Habit projects and activities relate to these themes : The Happiness Boosters, The Gratitude Workshop, The Gratitude and Journal Habit Immersion Course, The HLH Book Club and the newly launched Inspiration Point. I look forward to connecting with you and being part of the Happy Life Habits Community with you.
Many thanks to all the attendees, participants, partners, supporters and sponsors.
With Love, Warmth, Gratitude and Kindness
Shaileen Shah - The Happiness Coach - 50 Years Old - still got a long way to go.
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
Opportunity for a Win-Win Partnership
Happy Life Habits is running a Free 90 min Gratitude Workshop in October. I have run Gratitude Workshops for the last 6 years during the Autumn.
The win-win opportunity for companies or individuals to partner in supporting / sponsoring the event workshop
Happy Life Habits is running a Free 90 min Gratitude Workshop in October. I have run Gratitude Workshops for the last 6 years during the Autumn.
The win-win opportunity for companies or individuals to partner in supporting / sponsoring the event workshop
What you get :
* Logo on flyers which will be shared via various social media (LinkedIn, FaceBook, WhatsApp, HLH email)
* Logo, name and web link on HLH website page for event
* Logo on Event Title Slide
* Chance to support HLH in positively impacting Happiness & Well Being levels
If interested and you would like to discuss above or other related ideas please get in touch before Wednesday 9th Sep.
Inspiration Booked & Opportunities
This blog post article looks at:
Recent Inspiration
Work Life Harmony
Some Opportunities
New Ideas
This blog post article looks at:
Recent Inspiration
Work Life Harmony
Some Opportunities
New Ideas
Recent Inspiration
Reminiscing, this time last year about a family road trip of lifetime visiting the Canyons. Amazing experiences and views of natures beauty. In Bryce Canyon we did a morning sunrise trek to Inspiration Point.
I reflected on my current week and observed the following regarding books and webinars as inspiration points.
The first was learning about the amazing teachings of the book the Hindu text the Bhagavad Gita in our Jain School. Our true nature is separate from the body we identify with. Later, organised by JITO and JVB organisations where Shiv Khera shared on "Turning Setbacks into Turnbacks". I read his book, "You Can Win", a while back. In the talk he shared
"Success is a series of positive choices"
and reminded that
"Direction is more important than speed".
I Took part being interviewed in my first podcast, This was with Camden Boyd, The Happiness Question Podcast. I enjoyed the podcast and the questions asked about Happy Life Habits.
I attended Action for Happiness webinar with Mo Gawdat interviewed by Mark Williamson sharing on the topic "Silver Linings". It was another fantastic session. The books related were "10 Keys to Happier Living" an "Solve for Happy" (to be read).
What has inspired you recently?
Work Life Harmony
Recently I was invited again for the 3rd year to Xerox to share a session with their Group Accounting team. Previously I had been invited to share on Happiness at Work ideas and implementation at the Annual Accounting Conference for Chief Group Accountants of various countries.
This time with many working from home and the challenges due to the virus situation I was asked to share ideas and practical tips on Work Life Balance or Work Life Harmony/Integration as I like to consider it.
The Group Accountants for various countries were asked
“Apart from work what are the things that are important to you, you enjoy doing, make you happy?” List at least 8.
They gave answers which included: Time with family or friends, reading, exercise, meditation and cooking.
For you “Apart from work what are the things that are important to you, you enjoy doing, make you happy?”
Some Opportunities
Following the success of June and July Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course; registration is open for the September Course.
Happy Life Habits has a Resilience & Positivity Training Course for employees facing uncertainty, furlough, redundancy or need of a positive change. Please do share the resources from Lightside Financial and Happy Life Habits on Money & Mindset with HR teams and leaders in your place of work or network. Also have a Free Happiness Booster available for companies, networking or community groups.
New Ideas
I’ve been sharing some posts recently on LinkedIn, you can connect if you want to see them.
Happy Life Habits is going to launch a series of inspiring talks inviting individuals /speakers to come and share on a few questions about their journey, challenges faced and how overcome, daily habits, lessons and advice from parents etc. If you would like to take part or have suggestions please get in touch.
I am taking part in a 14 day The Happiness Challenge by Mo Gawdat - Ex Google and author of Solve for Happy. This starts on 10 August and looks interesting. Come join me, get in touch if you are taking part and want to share the experience together.
There is a talk by Nick Williams on Discovering the Work You Were Born to Do NOW: Find and Follow Your Calling. This is on Tuesday 11th Aug 5 pm UK time.
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
Happy Life Habits WhatsApp Group
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
To Be or Not to Be? – That is the question or is it a choice? Be a Caterpillar, Become a Butterfly
This article is about learning, change growth, development and transformation.
This article is about learning, change growth, development and transformation.
“Until you value yourself you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. ”
The Success People Vs Unsuccessful people graphic I remember seeing many years ago, I loved it the moment I saw it and printed a few colour copies and had put up in bedroom and books. Does not need any more comment. Have a read and see what resonates and where gaps are for you.
Not sure of source - had seen many years ago
“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”
This fabulous video from Master Shi Heng Yi sharing about Self Mastery is steeped with so much wisdom and insight. I have watched a few times and each time gained something. It really resonates with me and I see connection to my faith and spiritual path.
“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.
”
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
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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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.
LOCK DOWN LAB: LIFE BY DESIGN - YOU THE ARCHITECT
This and the few related articles are about the golden opportunity we have for learning, change growth, development and transformation. Moving from a caterpillar to being in a cocoon to become a butterfly. They blend ideas and snippets on needs, mindsets, zones and actions from Stephen Covey, Tony Robbins, Abraham Maslow, Carol Dweck, Nelson Mandela, Robin Sharma, Forrest Gump and a few others.
This one looks at the idea of a Lockdown Lab and moving from a zone of fear to learning to growth and to contribution.
This and the few related articles are about the golden opportunity we have for learning, change growth, development and transformation. Moving from a caterpillar to being in a cocoon to become a butterfly. They blend ideas and snippets on needs, mindsets, zones and actions from Stephen Covey, Tony Robbins, Abraham Maslow, Carol Dweck, Nelson Mandela, Robin Sharma, Forrest Gump and a few others.
IT TAKES 21 DAYS TO CREATE A HABIT,90 DAYS TO CREATE A LIFESTYLE
LOCKDOWN LAB
Many of us have we have already had 21 days of lock down and another few weeks are in progress and there could be many more weeks. This is a golden opportunity to step out of our comfort zone and grow. This is the cocoon phase of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. An incubation/transformation period. We have an explorative lab where we are both the subject of that lab as well as the experimenter. We are both the architect and the product of the design. We can come out at the other end, when ever that will be, as a better, improved, more resilience, capable, productive, effective, compassionate version of ourselves or we can choose to maintain the status quo and stay as just it. We can choose to improve areas of our physical, mental, social/emotional and spiritual dimensions. This great little video by Jean-Pierre De Villers (JPDV) is about Being Like Nelson Mandela shares how Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years (we are in lock down for a few weeks or months, hopefully not years!). He shares
“I wasn’t in prison, I was preparing” - Nelson Mandela
What can you prepare for during the time in lock down? JPDV also shares a focus on Contribution Vs Consumption and about showing up in love, gratitude and service.
The graphic shows some of the potential zones we can operate from and spend time in during a crisis/challenge such as COVID-19. As I was writing about comfort zones I found some more graphics which this one is based upon and adapted from where the far left circle “Who do I want to be during COVID-19” actually says “Comfort Zone”.
We can choose to be in the fear zone and express the behaviours that are fed by fear including complaining and victim mode. This is a very reactive zone. We all probably spent some time in that zone when the pandemic broke out where we were. How long we spend there is our choice and some will spend most of the pandemic time / lock down period there while others will choose to transition to the learning zone. In the learning zone we observe, reflect, think contemplate, seek reliable information and make choices on how we want to respond. In continuing to do this we step into the growth zone where we have expanded our knowledge, skills, attitude, capabilities and impact. We have expanded our comfort zone, we have made it grow. The learning and growth zones are where we are choosing our response. We are becoming more. Personally, I would split the growth zone and move some of the items from there to the zone of contribution/service.
I don’t have any medical qualifications, not even a scouts badge for first aid (might be to do with the fact I never went to the scouts!) or any training in neuroscience. However, how the brain works, the potential we have and how we learn has fascinated me for a long time hence my interest in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), accelerated learning, habits, emotions, behaviour, psychology and such like areas. Here I share what I have understood, caveat, it may not be medically accurate! What I have understood is that the theory about different parts of the brain have different functions. Brain functions are complex and some of the models describe that we have the left (logic, reasoning, intelligence etc) and right (creative, emotion, intuition etc) sides as well as another model about the 3 brains: (1) The Reptilian (housekeeping) , (2) Mammalian/Limbic (Emotion) and (3) the NeoCortex (thinking/reasoning). The Amygdala, a part of the brain in the Limbic brain has a key role in fear response, our survival mechanism / threat /stress system to instigate our fight, flight or freeze response to a situation. It sends a distress signal to the hypthalamus in a chain of reactions that result in the release of hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These are part of our stress response. What happens is that anything such as a loud noise, an unfamiliar object or situation can activate the threat system and release these stress hormones getting us ready at a perceived threat which may not actually be a threat. We keep doing this and not dissipate the stress chemicals we will suffer prolonged stress and all associated with it such as anxiety, worry, sleep disorder, food disorder, chronic pain, depression, lack of connectivity etc. What we want to do is learn practices that help shift control to the neocortex the thinking /reasoning brain to actually assess and decide if it is a real threat. If it is a threat the neocortex can give control to the limbic brain and the Amygdala and let them do their stuff. If it is not a real immediate threat no need to be anxious, fearful or releasing the stress hormones. Instead it can focus on a response as opposed to a reaction.
Source Swissotel Hotel and Resorts
With learning and practices such as mindfulness, meditation, gratitude and such what we are doing is move control to the neocortex to choose a response. We are moving from the Fear Zone to Learning, Growth and Contribution Zones. In short we are using the higher capacities of the evolved brain. Moving from reflex reaction to choosing response. Taking more control of our circumstances as opposed to the circumstances controlling us.
Robin Sharma in Winning in Hard Times shares lots of great ideas for both personal and business. He shares:
Heroes are built in times of storm
The old must fall away for something better to be created
Enjoy the world but don’t be of the world
He cites that Churchill became Churchill, Nelson Mandela become Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks become Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King become Martin Luther King and Gandhi became Gandhi when they dealt with and overcame an adversity or challenge. That challenge gave them the opportunity to grow and become who they became. They did not act as victims but instead saw opportunity. The Lock Down is an opportunity, it is a reset a reboot. Focus on developing character, skills, qualities and habits. It is the Quadrant II (QII) area of Habit 3 First Things First from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The stuff that is important but not urgent; what we often struggle to create time to do as we are so busy on urgent (but maybe not important things); the QII space for reflection, planning, values review and asking and contemplating the big questions.
"Unlike your fingerprints that you are born with and can’t change, character is something that you create within yourself and must take responsibility for changing." - Jim Rohn
“Making space for growth.
I was sitting on my balcony one recent morning, enjoying a cup of tea, when I looked over at our jasmine plant and realized that it hadn’t yet flowered this season.
The leaves had been reddish brown since the winter, but they hadn’t fallen. I don’t have much of a green thumb, but something felt off. So last week I decided to prune the plant, carefully removing all the non-green leaves.
The next day I came outside and there were already a dozen new sprouting leaves. The day after that, I glimpsed a handful of teeny-tiny flower buds.
This whole time I was waiting for the jasmine plant to flower, I was wondering what more it needed — more fertilizer, more water, or perhaps more sun. Turns out, the only thing holding it back from growing was its past self.
It made me wonder — how much of our growth relies on first trimming what no longer serves us?
What do we need to release so that we can flourish in the next season?
What if we were to prune all the preconceived notions of who we are?
All the regrets of the past and the anxieties about the future.
All the outside influences telling us who we should be.
The pride, the ego, the baggage — snipping and letting these things fall away.
What new season of life can we step into after we make space for our own growth?”
WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE TO DESIGN & CREATE?
RESOURCES
Great article by Greater Good Science Centre on daily checklist questions to ask yourself during quarantine. The questions we ask help us focus, and decisions determine our destiny.
How To Not Go Crazy Under Quarantine Charles Duhigg Podcast (The Power of Habit).
A request dear friend and reader.
(1) If you have enjoyed some of the articles I have shared and found useful please reply to shaileen@happylifehabits.co.uk and let me know.
(2) If you are not a subscriber to the Happy Life Habits email list - please sign up.
(3) If you think someone else might benefit from this please share with them.
(4) If you want to engage my services for coaching, speaking or training get in touch and lets see if we can create a win-win result.
If you want to receive articles, information on events and support Happy Life Habits sign up to the join the email list.
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Community Group
Happy Life Habits FaceBook Page
Happy Life Habits WhatsApp Group
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; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.