How To Stay Happy livethe8...

(and get more stuff done)

Created by a bunch of happy people at Ascendi Training & Consulting ascendi.com

...how to be happier, healthier, and more productive.

What does it mean to be happy?

cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly, jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted, smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented, content, satised, gratied, buoyant, radiant, sunny, blithe, joyous, beatic; thrilled, elated, exhilarated, ecstatic, blissful, euphoric, overjoyed, exultant, rapturous, in seventh heaven, on cloud nine, walking on air, jumping for joy, jubilant; informal chirpy, over the moon, on top of the world, tickled pink.

Okay. But how do we stay...

cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly, jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted, smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented, content, satised, gratied, buoyant, radiant, sunny, blithe, joyous, beatic; thrilled, elated, exhilarated, ecstatic, blissful, euphoric, overjoyed, exultant, rapturous, in seventh heaven, on cloud nine, walking on air, jumping for joy, jubilant; informal chirpy, over the moon, on top of the world, tickled pink.

Thats the hard part. Its easier to get happy, than it is to stay that way.

Especially when we all...

...are inundated with decidedly un-happy messages everyday.

Doesnt it just make you want to...

Years ago, people identied one symbol with happiness...

If only we could just wear those buttons, and feel

again.

Ahhhhhhhh..the good ole days.

Well, at Ascendi, we have the privilege of partnering with cheerful, jolly, grinning, radiant, ecstatic people everyday; individuals at organizations like...

...to name a few. And this has made us very...

We have trained and coached them (but not this way)...

(I see dead people.)

...we help our clients feel this way...

...designing & delivering innovative, cost-effective programs on topics like...

building on strengths

communication skills

stress management

teamwork

and...

time management

...to name a few. And, you guessed it, this stuff makes us very...

The people we work with feel because at Ascendi, we

And heres some of what weve heard over the years, summed up in 8 key points...

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths. 3. We dont always say what we mean.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths. 3. We dont always say what we mean. 4. Were primarily concerned with whats in it for us.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths. 3. We dont always say what we mean. 4. Were primarily concerned with whats in it for us. 5. We tend to focus on the negative.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths. 3. We dont always say what we mean. 4. Were primarily concerned with whats in it for us. 5. We tend to focus on the negative. 6. Many of us feel disconnected.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths. 3. We dont always say what we mean. 4. Were primarily concerned with whats in it for us. 5. We tend to focus on the negative. 6. Many of us feel disconnected. 7. Many of our true beliefs are asleep.

1. We rarely start our days on a positive note. 2. We dont typically play to our strengths. 3. We dont always say what we mean. 4. Were primarily concerned with whats in it for us. 5. We tend to focus on the negative. 6. Many of us feel disconnected. 7. Many of our true beliefs are asleep. 8. We dont usually memorialize our victories.

Ouch.

So what happens when we try to live a full life - while juggling all of this negative energy everyday?

Yeah. Thats not good.

So here are 8 tips designed to help your family, help your workplace, help your team members, help you stay...

cheerful, cheery, merry, joyful, jovial, jolly, jocular, gleeful, carefree, untroubled, delighted, smiling, beaming, grinning, in good spirits, in a good mood, lighthearted, pleased, contented, content, satised, gratied, buoyant, radiant, sunny, blithe, joyous, beatic; thrilled, elated, exhilarated, ecstatic, blissful, euphoric, overjoyed, exultant, rapturous, in seventh heaven, on cloud nine, walking on air, jumping for joy, jubilant; informal chirpy, over the moon, on top of the world, tickled pink.

1
initiate

Begin your day with purpose, set aside 15 minutes every morning for yourself, create a gratitude list, read something inspirational, sleep-in when you can, write out your plan for the day (and stick to it), meditate, be quiet, watch the birds, run, walk, workout, connect with your higher power (whoever or whatever that is),visualize what makes you happy, commit to right thoughts & right actions for the day, rock your power song, drive slow, play nice with others on the road, listen to a funny audiobook in the car, go to work with a smile.

2
activate

Identify the specic activities you do very well, write them out, own them, be proud of what you have accomplished so far in your life, acknowledge (today) those that have helped you along the way, make your strong activities habits, know your weaknesses, stop them, share what makes you unique (and be humble doing it), speak up about your shortcomings (and be fair to yourself when doing it), discover what is stopping you from being truly happy, eliminate all obstacles.

3
communicate

Understand the impact your words can have, use words that celebrate and afrm life, listen more, if youre not sure what to say - be quiet, paint verbal pictures, think of the top 5 words that have changed your life (for the better), use each of those words at least once a day, remember that you cant take your words back, dont brag, dont gossip, sleep on an angry email, watch out for theReply All button, when you say something wrong then quickly make it right, speak from the heart, remember that our words are our choices.

4
appreciate

Give people credit (they rarely forget it), send hand-written thank you notes, mail one to yourself every month, be specic and be genuine with praise, accept compliments, know that appreciation doesnt have to mean agreement, catch someone in the act of doing something good, make others feel important, be open to feedback, have an attitude of gratitude, perform acts of service, spend quality time with people, hug problems out, text the love, smile and say thanks, be a good friend, support your coworkers.

5
illuminate

Help someone win, teach what you know, be generous with your time, forgive, be patient, practice compassion, help someone become more independent, be a coach, be a mentor, inspire others, encourage a child, practice the golden rule, remember that lifes truths are revealed through steady awareness, kindness to others (and hard work) will take you further than intelligence.

6
associate

Know who your friends are, buy them a cup of coffee this week, know who your friends arent, buy them a cup of coffee this week, spend time with people who share your talents, spend time with some who dont, sign up for that class youve always wanted to take.

7
integrate

Identify your core values, write them out, align everything you do each day with those values (even the tasks you hate), act in accordance with your beliefs.

and...

8
celebrate!

Keep a Victory Journal, remember that just showing up is a victory sometimes, reward yourself, point out others victories, choose to be happy, remember that you can start your day over at anytime.

Or as we say around here...

live the 8.

Do these things. You will nd more energy than you thought you had. You will recapture your joy. You will be living life on purpose, and you will get more accomplished every day.

You will be happier, healthier, & more productive.

Just like them...

So....

Are you ready?

Ready to stand out from the ...

Ready to rise above all of the ...

Ready to stop ...

stop investing in...

and enjoy a heaping plate of...

Connect with Ascendi livethe8...

(and get more stuff done)

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Ascendi Training & Consulting 9010 SW 137 Avenue, Suite 238 Miami, FL USA 33186 800.558.4308 solutions@ascendi.com ascendi.com

...how to be happier, healthier, and more productive.

Many thanks to: All of our clients, colleagues, family and friends. All of you make all of us want to be better. David, Isabel, Lourdes, Vernon, Eddie, and Marilyn.
How To Stay Happy (and Get More Stuff Done) Copyright 2009 Ascendi Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Created by: David Vittoria, Founder & Chief Inspiration Ofcer (...and in case you were wondering, Davids power song is Lose Yourself, by Eminem)