How to Make Yourself Happier
The Benefits of Being Unreasonable
Being Too Serious Can Drive You Crazy
Do People Trust You
How To Generate Power
How to Make Yourself Happier
In 1986, L. Ron Hubbard wrote a poem which is a guide to happiness.

The Joy of Creating”

orce yourself to smile and you’ll soon stop frowning.

orce yourself to laugh and you’ll soon find something to laugh about.

Wax* enthusiastic** and you’ll very soon feel so.

being causes his own feelings.

The greatest joy in life is creating.

Splurge on it!”

— L. Ron Hubbard

*wax: to increase in size, strength or intensity.

**enthusiastic: having or demonstrating enthusiasm

Four Recommendations for Using "The Joy of Creating"

1. “Force yourself to smile and you’ll soon stop frowning.”

Try this exercise.

A. Smile

B. Don’t smile

C. Smile

D. Don’t smile

E. Smile

F. Don’t smile

G. Repeat the above until you are cheerful.

Do this exercise whenever you are frowning, upset, depressed, angry, apathetic or resentful.

Try the exercise in front of a mirror for an extra boost.

2. “Force yourself to laugh and you’ll soon find something to laugh about.”

This exercise is useful when you are feeling stressed out or too serious.

A. Force a laugh.

B. If this is difficult for you to do, say, “ha ha ha ha ha.” Then say, “ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.” Then say, “he, he, he, he, he.”

C. Repeat the above until you find something to laugh about.

3. “Wax enthusiastic and you’ll very soon feel so.”

When you feel enthusiasm for a difficult task, you make better decisions, get more done in less time and produce a better result.

A. Write down a task you are avoiding or hate to do.

B. Ask yourself, “What about this task is interesting?” Write down the answer.

C. Ask yourself, “What could I be a little excited about regarding this task?” Write down the answer.

D. Ask yourself, “What could I be enthusiastic about regarding this task?” Write down the answer.

E. Repeat steps B, C and D until you feel enthusiastic about doing the task.

You might be surprised at how quickly this works.

4. “The greatest joy in life is creating.”

What are your greatest joys in life?

Being a parent? Starting a company? Finding new customers? Forming new relationships?

Notice how each activity creates something?

A. Write down three things you can create today.

B. Do them.

C. Notice if your day is more joyful.

The happiest individuals, families and groups are those that create things.

The most exciting goals you can have involve creating something.

In fact, all of your success is your creation.

Splurge on it!”

To hear musical versions of "The Joy of Creating" by Isaac Hays and Doug E. Fresh, click here.
The Benefits of Being Unreasonable
You succeed when you are unreasonable. You neither give nor accept excuses. You insist on success.

L. Ron Hubbard defines reasonableness as “faulty explanations.” When you agree with faulty explanations, you are too reasonable.

Examples of faulty explanations:

I can’t repair your furnace today as it might rain.” The truth is, the repairman is going to a basketball game.

None of the staff will work past 5:00.” The truth is, the manager does not want to work past 5:00.

I can’t pay you as I promised as my wife is sick and can’t fix our meals.” The truth is, he is spending the money on other things.

We’ll never get this project done today as we’ve never done it in one day before.” The truth is, they’ve never tried to get it done in one day.

Why Agree?

If you agree with faulty explanations, you agree to fail. Excuses, justifications and reasonableness produce nothing.

Yet disagreeing often helps you succeed.

If you can’t fix the furnace today because of the rain, no problem. I’ll see if I can find someone who repairs furnaces, despite the rain.”

I believe lots of people will work past 5:00. You are the manager and need to handle the schedules. Do you need me to show you how to do it?”

Well, I’m sorry about your wife, but don’t see how that’s related. You agreed to pay me today, so I’ll have to get the money from you right now as you promised.”

So what if we’ve never done a project like this in one day. We are better at this than ever before and I think we can get it done if we get going right now!”

The sun shines, the birds sing and everything improves when you disagree with faulty explanations. The lies disappear, the truth comes out and the solutions are obvious.

As well as being unreasonable about problems with others, you must be unreasonable with yourself. For example, “I’m tired and want to go home early. Too bad! I need to disagree and WAKE UP! I'll take a brisk walk. Today should be a day I can be proud of.”

Statistical Justifications

The most important thing you must be unreasonable about is DOWN STATISTICS.

The one big god-awful mistake an executive can make in reading and managing by graph is being reasonable about graphs. This is called JUSTIFYING A STATISTIC.”

One sees a graph down and says `Oh well, of course, that's-----------' and at that moment you've had it.”

Never JUSTIFY why a graph continues to be down and never be reasonable about it. A down graph is simply a down graph and somebody is goofing.” — L. Ron Hubbard

At some point, we have all given or received excuses for stagnant or shrinking statistics. Because these are faulty explanations, no solutions are possible.

Reading skills are getting worse in the United States because we have too many television channels.”

Our business failed because nobody would buy our stocks any longer.”

No one buys cars from Pete because he’s too old.”

However, when you disagree with explanations and find the truth, the solutions are OBVIOUS. Examples:

Television has nothing to do with reading skills. What else could it be? Oh! Are children taught to use a dictionary?”

Your business didn’t fail because nobody would buy your stocks. It failed because you didn’t know what you were doing. Do you know how to make a profit? Did you test-market your product? Do you know how to advertise?”

People do buy cars from older sales people. Was Pete working every day? Has anyone trained him to sell?”

Exercises

In the examples below, decide which are reasonable explanations and which are the truthful statements.

I can’t lose weight because (I’m too busy) (I’m lazy and addicted to chocolate).”

ompany profits are soaring because (I’m very charming) (the new computer system doubled our efficiency).”

I have no money because (I don’t do financial planning) (of the economy).”

I’m single and lonely because (I don’t get out and meet people) (no one likes me).”

I can’t find a good assistant because I (have too many jobs) (am not taking the time to find one).”

I let people boss me around because (I’m kind and caring) (I don’t stand up to them).”
Being Too Serious Can Drive You Crazy
Are you having fun? Do you get a thrill from your work? Do you enjoy waking up each morning?

Certain myths about work can pull you down. "Work is not supposed to be fun." "You must buckle down and get serious." Perhaps the biggest myth of all: "People will think I’m important if I act seriously."

Yet getting serious creates problems: stress, worry, anxiety, emotional pain, drudgery and failure.

Resolving problems by getting more serious is like fixing a computer with a hammer. The harder you try, the worse the problem becomes.

"When life becomes serious, a man becomes less cause and greater effect. If life gets really serious, his value drops to practically zero. Driving a car can become such serious business that one can wreck the car. Running a business can become so serious as to make it fail. There is a direct connection between insanity and seriousness."

"It is only when an individual progresses in life to a point where much seriousness is attached to things that he begins to have a hard time. The ancient Italian really knew what he was about when he considered that the only psychotherapy was laughter." — L. Ron Hubbard

12 Ways to Lighten up

Approaching your life with a non-serious attitude gives you a clearheaded view of problems and the energy to deal with them. Problems are easier to solve, people are more cooperative and you feel more relaxed. You probably live longer as well.

Think of your life as a game. Give yourself permission to play the game, to have fun with the game, and to win.

Try these techniques until you find one that lightens you up.

1. Deliberately turn a molehill into a mountain. Make a big deal out of a little problem. "I would feel much better if these papers were stacked exactly like this! Not like that! Like this! Not this! This!"

2. Ask yourself, "Is getting serious about this situation really going to improve it?"

3. Focusing on the positives. Repeat these questions until you feel lighter, "What is right about this picture?" "What else is right?" "What else?"

4. Consider a complete, major change. Why not become an airline pilot? Why not move to Idaho? Why not retire for a few years and then begin a new career?

5. Ask yourself, "When I’m on my deathbed, will I be glad I was so serious about _______?"

6. A challenging game is much better than no game at all. So consider losing all aspects of the problem. Examples: You feel serious about family problems. You ask yourself, "Well, what if I had no family at all?" You feel serious about your investments. You ask yourself, "What if I had no money to invest?"

7. The size of your problem may match the size of your game. So get a bigger game. For example, if you get uptight about paper clips being in the wrong drawer, your game size is tiny. Double your amount of responsibility. Set some huge goals. Think much, much bigger.

8. Stop trying to solve the problem that is making you so serious. Certain types of problems solve themselves if you leave them alone. Your problem may be one of those.

9. Compare what you are doing to other careers. Imagine being a septic tank drainer or an IRS agent.

10. Make everyone around you lighten up. You will soon feel more cheerful.

11. Look at bizarre solutions. What is the craziest way you could solve your problem? What solution, if it worked, would make you laugh out loud?

12. Act stupid for a minute. Let down your hair. Stop being so darn important for a while. Be a goof!
Do People Trust You?
You will not succeed if no one trusts you. People need to believe you, have confidence in you, depend on you.

Losing trust is easy. You forget a promise you made. You fail to do what you said you would do.

If you break someone’s trust, you can pretty much expect they will not support you.

When business owners, executives and managers cannot be trusted, no one will buy from them or work for them. Bankruptcies, lawsuits and government investigations start with broken agreements.

Governments also run into trouble when they break their word. When its citizens or other countries expect one thing and get another, they demand new leadership.

Trust is essential to marriages. In fact, you could reduce most divorces down to broken agreements. “She agreed to not have an affair!” “He was going to treat me well!” “I thought I was going to be getting a husband/wife who ________.”

One's regard for another is based, in no small degree, on whether or not the person keeps his or her word. Even parents, for instance, would be surprised at the extent they drop in the opinion of their children when a promise is not kept.”

People who keep their word are trusted and admired. People who do not are regarded like garbage. Those who break their word often never get another chance.”

One should never permit another to give his or her word lightly. And one should insist that when a promise is made, it must be kept.”

Keep your word once given.” — L. Ron Hubbard from The Way to Happiness
_______________________________

10 Benefits of Earning Trust

1. You earn an excellent reputation

2. You spend less time convincing people to do what you want them to do

3. You are selected for opportunities as you are dependable

4. You have more pride as you trust yourself

5. Even if someone disagrees with you, he or she will respect you

6. Your business dealings are smoother

7. You set an example that others like to follow

8. People have less reason to attack you or criticize you

9. Trustworthiness is an essential part of a successful personality

10. People are more willing, even happy, to give you money
Five Recommendations

1. Make firm promises.

When you know you can do something or provide a specific result, don’t hesitate to say so. Look people in the eye and tell them the truth. “I will complete that project by Friday, without fail.” “If the car won’t start, call us and we’ll send a tow truck within an hour.” “You can deposit the check today.”

Never promise anything you are not positive you can deliver.

2. Keep your small promises.

People often think small promises are unimportant. For example, you say, “I’ll call you Tuesday” but then you don’t call until Thursday. You say, “I won’t tell anyone about your wife’s drinking problem,” but then you tell a few people anyway. You say, “I’ll pay you back tomorrow,” but then completely forget.

If you don’t take small promises seriously, you damage your reputation. You appear disorganized or irresponsible. You make the other person feel unimportant which makes him or her treat you the same way.

On the other hand, you can build a trustworthy reputation by starting small.

People will say things like, “Thanks for remembering to send me the file this morning.” “You’re the only one who paid me for yesterday’s lunch.” “You stopped by on Saturday, just as you said you would. Thank you.”

When people see that you keep your word on small things, they are more likely to believe you can keep your word on big things.

3. When keeping your word is difficult, do it anyway.

If you can’t hold up your end, don’t rationalize or excuse your failures. “He won’t care that my payment is late.” “She knows I usually arrive on time.” “They don’t treat me with respect, so I don’t need to honor their contract.”

Asking to change the agreement is a better idea. “I said I would take you to the movies tomorrow night, which I’m still willing to do, but could we change it to the following night?” “I really thought I could deliver that printing job to you on the 15th, but the press broke down, so I’d like to ask you for another day.”

However, if you really want to be a success in life, never miss a deadline, always keep your word and never fail to keep a promise. No excuses.

Stay up late, break a sweat, push youself, find solutions, work harder, persist, push, demand, get your hands dirty and make it go right despite the cost. The cost of failing is much higher.

You can say, “Even though my car had to go to the shop, and even though someone bounced a check on me, here is your payment, as promised, on time.” Even better, simply say, “Here’s your payment.”

4. Make others keep their promises to you.

Never take agreements you make with others lightly. Repeat back their promises while looking into their eyes. “As you said, you'll be here on Wednesday at 11:00, right?” Or “If we sell the car, we’ll split the money 50/50, correct?”

Fortunately, most people keep their word. You can assume the best in people.

But if someone breaks a promise, don’t let it slide. Be blunt. Without smiling, tell the person, “You said you would pay me by last Wednesday.”

Don’t trust that person in the future without proof he or she has changed.

When you surround yourself with people who you can depend on, you can focus on more important issues.

5. If the agreement includes details that might be difficult to remember, put it in writing.

Most business or partnership lawsuits stem from verbal agreements or vague contracts. One side or both sides are certain the other is breaking an agreement.

While you and others may have every intention of keeping promises, your memories can be faulty.

Do not agree with statements like, “All I need is your handshake” or “We can remember everything” or “Don’t worry, we’ll work it out if there’s a problem.”

Instead, get the details in writing, especially when money is involved.

When the details of a complex agreement are clear, in writing and signed it’s easier for everyone to keep their word.
How to Generate Power
Why do you produce twice as much just before a vacation? You make a list of tasks and get them done in record time.

Why do some people seem so lucky? Everything they do seems to magically turn out well.

What makes you perform at your peak? When are you at your best?

Here’s a power tip you won’t learn from any of the motivational “experts.”

Happiness is power and power is being able to do what one is doing when one is doing it.” — L. Ron Hubbard

When you drive a car while thinking about other things, your reaction time is slower. You are less alert. You fail to see potential problems. According to police, inattention is the primary cause of auto accidents.

Daydreams and distractions ruin your job performance. You go on automatic and make mistakes. Because you are not giving your best, you produce less.

The ability to devote 100% of your attention to a task is difficult at first. Yet when you start to live your life in the immediate present, in this exact moment of time, with little or no attention on the past or future, you feel more alive.

Concentrate on the period at the end of this sentence and nothing else.

Can you do it for five seconds? Fifteen? Can you do it with absolutely no other thoughts? Imagine being able to focus all of your attention on everything you do as you do it. This is power!

Staying in present time unleashes extra amounts of natural ability. For example, just before you leave on a vacation, you zero in on specific accomplishments and quickly get them done. When you only daydream about a vacation, you slow down and become less effective.

You handle conversations much better if you stay in the present. People feel you truly understand them when you are doing nothing but listening with no other thought. When you are fully in the present, you think better, react faster and make better decisions.

The stronger your focus, the greater your power.

Five Exercises

Practice doing what you are doing when you are doing it in all your activities.

1. Do a simple task at your desk such as clear off some paper. Do this right now. Do absolutely nothing else when doing it. Practice this until your attention is more in the present than ever before.

2. The next time you are talking to someone, give him or her 100% of your attention. Really focus on what they have to say. Think of nothing outside of the conversation. Notice the person’s reaction.

3. The next time you drive your car, do what you are doing when you are doing it. Don’t listen to the radio, talk on your cell phone, eat a snack, think about work or do anything besides drive. Extend your focus all around your car. Notice the difference.

4. Next time you kiss or hug someone, think of nothing else besides giving the kiss or hug. Really do what you are doing and give the person 100% affection. Try this with your spouse or family member to see a great reaction.

5. At your job, spend a complete hour doing absolutely nothing but work. Do exactly what you are doing when you are doing it. Ignore other thoughts, other acts and other tasks. Take no breaks. Do nothing but work. Zero in on the job at hand and see how much you can accomplish.

Whenever you want to feel happier or more powerful, do what you are doing when you are doing it. Your time at work will be more productive. Your love life will be more satisfying. Your driving will be safer.

And if concentrate on doing nothing but having fun during your free time, you will have the time of your life!
Copyright © 2003 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. Programmed in the United States.