This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

The results are in, and yes, just as you suspected, the world really does revolve around you.  All this time the scientists were wrong, trying to convince us that the word revolves around some big ball of burning gas in the sky.

In fact, your world does revolve around you.  Every action you take will be calculated on how it affects you and your environment, even if that calculation is subconscious.  Every action anyone you see takes, every word they speak, will be judged through your eyes and ears, and again its value will be calculated based on how it affects you and your environment. 

Your friends matter most.  You may love people, but a stranger will never hold the same esteem in your eyes as your friends do.

Your family matters most.  You may adore others' children, but it's your family that will get special attention beyond what you would every consider giving to other children.

You species matters most.  Even if you are an animal lover, at the end of the day your actions will serve first and foremost the good of the human species.

Your world matters most.  No matter what, your friends, your family and your species are bound to this planet, so we have no choice but to preserve it.

You see, the world really does revolve around you.

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

I read this in front of a church recently:
"Having trouble sleeping?  Try counting your blessings."

It's true.  If you count your blessings, suddenly everything is a little easier to bear.  Suddenly everything is a little less stressful.  Suddenly you have a little more strength to face your challenges.  And, of course, we all sleep best when our joys are many and our worries are few.

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

POSITIVITY

What can be better than waking up and saying, "Today is a beautiful day!"

Not much, except perhaps waking up and saying, "Today is a beautiful day and I am going to keep it that way."

It's not always easy to keep our spirits up.  You get to work and there's a grumpy coworker, and the boss wants to see you in his office  like yesterday about the latest crisis and the cursed computer just won't boot up - just on the day when your IT helper calls in sick - and ...

Stop.  The world can get to you, that's for certain.  But only if you let it.  I know, I probably sound like that Kit Kat commercial from a few years ago (or is it still playing?) where everything goes into blissful slow motion when biting into the chocolate bar.  Yes, in fact that's what I mean.  Not the chocolate part, but the break part.  Take a moment in the washroom if you must to pull yourself together, gather your composure, determine that you will remain positive (even if everyone around you are pulling what's left of their hair our), smile and return to reality fully armed to ride the waves of life like an expert surfer.

Surf's up!

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

Cock-a-doodle-doo.

This is your wakeup call.  Each day that passes marks another day that you either made your life what you want it to be...or you did not.

It's not too late.  Today is a brand new day.  So is tomorrow.  So is the next day.  Make each day what you want your life to be, and that is what your life will be in the end.

What do you want your life to be?  Cock-a-doodle-doo.

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

Batteries not included.

Yes, that's a great description of your life. You have to create your own energy, your own momentum, your own drive. You have to power your own dreams. You have to take your plans into your hands and make them happen. Don't wait around for someone to lift you up on his shoulders and take you to your castle, because it won't happen. You have to supply your own batteries.

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

Some people are overwhelmed with a busy schedule; others struggle with boredom.  Some suffer from both, which is like getting hit with a double whammy.

One of the best solutions to boredom is to socialize.  Sure, you might love to spend hours in front of the TV or the computer, but for the most part it is just a distraction from being bored (yes, sometimes it is entertaining, but mostly it is a mindless way to forget how bored we are).  When we socialize, we engage our minds and our hearts.  We act and react.  We connect to other people, which is never boring (unless someone drones on and on and on and on, which is not a two-way interaction).

You don't have to carry on complex discussions about obtuse topics like the role of the African dung beetle in the fall of the Roman Empire (although that counts as socialization, too).  A game of darts or bowling or golf or cards or just sitting around a camp fire chatting about the weather, the stars and the garden will do.

The best part about socialization is that by stamping out your own boredom, you can stamp out other people's too.

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

PRIORITIES

What is the best way to improve your kids' lives? My wife and I, during our planning weekend, came up with a list that included more patience, more play dates with friends, more care not to express disagreements in their presence, more punctual bedtimes, better quality playtime with them, etc.

Nothing on our combined list costs a penny - no programs, no toys, no trips, no pool, no sandbox, no food, etc.

It was a poignant and even surprising reminder to us - life is about experiences, not about "things".

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This week, we post a new personal growth tip or inspiration drawn from a recent Daily Dose of Happiness mailing.

TIME

Sometimes it feels like there just isn't enough time.  I am sure you know what I mean.  But, of course, that's not true.  There is exactly the right amount of time, not a minute more nor a minute less.

However, our expectations of time are often unrealistic.  Given 24 hours in a day, we often try to cram 26 hours (or more!) of activities.  Don't blame time; we simply don't plan well.

What we need most is to schedule time to enjoy time, time when we are not rushed, time when we can slow down...even if time won't slow down with us..

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