Dear Readers,

“How can I be happy when my home is losing its value, my 401k is going down, and the price of everything else is going up?”

That’s a question I hear a lot lately. It seems that as the economy becomes more depressed, so do we.

So what can you do about it? How can you build your happiness bank account amidst tough economic times?

Top happiness researcher Robert Biswas-Diener shared some new insights with me during a recent conversation. While writing Happy for No Reason, I often called upon Robert for his expertise. Known as the “Indiana Jones of positive psychology,” his research has taken him to the far corners of the earth — from the Masai in Africa to seal hunters in Greenland to the poor in Calcutta.

Robert and his father, Ed Diener, one of the preeminent scholars in the field of positive psychology, maintain in their wonderful new book, Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth, that our net worth is comprised of much more than our bank accounts. It includes our psychological wealth, our spiritual connection, our health, and the quality of our social networks.

One surprising finding of Robert’s research is that the homeless in Calcutta are happier than the homeless in America, simply because they have stronger networks of social relationships, which help buffer them against the dire effects of poverty. We get more happiness dividends from our relationships than we do from our dollars.

While the value of the dollar may be in flux, the value of your personal relationships and spiritual connection can always gain equity — if you take the time to nurture them. Robert says the way you spend your discretionary money — and time — affects your happiness level.

Here are two things you can do to add equity to your happiness account:

Whenever possible, choose experience over material things. Investing $100 to take Tango lessons with your partner will provide more bang for your buck than spending that same money on a new pair of shoes.

Spend your money on social activities rather than solitary ones. If you’re going to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks or splurge for a pedicure, do so with a friend rather than by yourself. Researchers were surprised to find that even introverts are happier when they’re in social situations.

My parents thankfully understood the importance of these concepts. For instance, they have taken our entire family (three generations) on annual vacations together for the last 20 years. I have memories galore of these fantastic holidays — from watching my parents (in their 80s) play a hilarious game of ping-pong for the first time in 50 years to all of us careening through the jungle on zip lines.
Like the TV commercial says, experiences like these are “priceless”…and they add immeasurable equity to your happiness account.

Happily,

Marci

Whew — what a ride!

We’re in the midst of dramatic change on this planet — personal, political, environmental, and economic. Whatever your political leanings, the presidential election in America this week shows there’s no doubt that “the times they are a-changin’.”

While there are challenges and uncertainties, I am so excited to be alive at this time.
Many ancient traditions have prophesized that these years (through 2012) will be a period of major shift and transformation — often referred to as a change in global consciousness.

I recently had the honor of speaking during a worldwide teleconference on “How to Be with Change — Ten Tips to Go from Fear to Love in Transformational Times.” The conference featured three of my friends and most respected heroes (all of whom are members of my Happy 100): Lynne Twist, co-founder of the Pachamama Alliance and author of The Soul of Money; Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles; and Hale Dwoskin, author of The Sedona Method.

If you weren’t able to be with us live on Saturday, you can listen to a free recording by clicking here.

I had chills (I call them God bumps) throughout this inspiring and thought-provoking dialogue. As Lynne so profoundly pointed out, although the crises we face may seem scary, every crisis creates a unique portal of opportunity — an opening that helps us bring the world back into balance.

Haven’t you noticed in your own life that the most valuable and important changes you’ve experienced were preceded by some kind of a major challenge or crisis?

These are wake-up calls begging us to pay attention, listen more deeply to our inner voice, and make course corrections where necessary.

The world needs our own individual shifts and healing. Our personal journeys are the basis of our global transformation.

As Hale said on the call, “The best way you can start contributing to the solution is to be part of the solution internally. Let go of your fear, anger, and frustration. Simply, gently hold in mind what you choose for the planet…. The more willing you are to take responsibility for what you’re thinking and feeling, the more naturally responsible action flows.”

Rather than getting caught up in a whirlwind of fear and anxiety, we’re being asked — individually and collectively — to stay connected with our highest ideals and vision for ourselves and the world.

So whenever you find yourself facing uncertainty, use it as a cue to keep your eye on where we’re heading. As my advisor Bill Levacy says: Onward and upward.

Happily,

Marci Shimoff

On Friday, November 7th I’ll be talking to Wendy Roob of Synergy Coaching. We met at an eWomenNetwork Conference last summer in Dallas Texas and I’m thrilled to connect with her again. She’s read “Happy For No Reason” and we’ll be discussing:

* What the connection is between happiness and the Law of Attraction!

* What a formula is for applying the Law of Attraction

* Myths that block or sabotage our happiness

* How we can shift toward greater happiness to improve the lives of those
around us and the world!

Come one, come all! This is a Free Teleinterview.

To Register go here: http://www.wendyroob.com/marcishimoff.html

Friday Nov. 7th
1:00 – 2:00pm CT
(2-3pm Eastern, 11-12pm Pacific)
Cost: No Charge! (your phone rates will apply)

I hope to see you there!

Happily,

Marci