30 personal insights from Med Yones, President of International Institute of Management

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Happiness Law 1: The Sheep

The sheep state of mind
About 20 years ago, a friend of mine told me that "we, people, are like sheep, the sheep goes through life following other sheep to discover at the end of its life that the other sheep were following it" 

Are you doing what makes you really happy? Or are you following the other sheep?

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Happiness Law 2: Change It.

Happiness is Change. If it is not working, change it.
I don't care what you have been told and what are your programmed values; If your job, relationship or lifestyle is not working for you then fix it If you are not able to fix it, change it. Life is just too short to do something or be with someone who is making you miserable. Don’t worry about your image or what others will think of you, it’s your life not theirs.

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Happiness Law 3: The Pursuit of Unhappiness

Happiness is not a Pursuit. Forget about the “Pursuit of Happiness” and you’ll become happy.
An Indian guru once told me that happiness is like a butterfly, if you chase it, it will run away, but if you relax and sit still, it will land and rest on your shoulders.

I’m not talking about seeking knowledge, money or fame, if that is what you like to do, then by all means feel free to pursue them...I’m talking about Happiness!

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Happiness Law 4: Happiness Is Not A Goal

Happiness is not a Goal.  Either you are happy or you are not.
It does not matter who you are, where you are or what you do, either you are happy or not. Happiness is a state of mind. Regardless of your goals in life or where you are going, you can travel your life's journey happy or unhappy.

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Happiness Law 5: Perfection

Happiness is Tolerance. Nothing and no one is perfect. To be happy let go of that idea and forgive yourself and others
If you join the perfectionist’s club, be ready to live most of your life disappointed, offended and lonely. Nothing is more conducive to your own happiness than tolerance. I’m not asking you to turn your cheek the other away, I’m advising you to let go and go on with your life, not for others' sake but for yours

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Happiness Law 6: Mistakes

Happiness is Learning. Live through your mistakes not with them
Do I need to explain this?

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Happiness Law 7: Attachment & Detachment

Attachment is the cause of all sufferings, so is detachment
Buddha was a great mind, but like all great minds, he was not always right. It is true that the more you invest your emotions, time and money in something (or in someone) the more you’ll feel the pain when you lose them. This is a great insight. He and his disciples realized that life is full of changes, so they chose to detach themselves from life to avoid the experience of pain. The other side of the coin, if you disengage from life you will miss most of life, the good and bad. What's ironic is that many Buddhists become attached to detachment

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Happiness Law 8: Action

Happiness is Action. Action is the most potent instrument of change
If you want a change, take action. Some people can help you find happiness, but keeping it requires practice. If you want to be happy practice being happy.

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Happiness Law 9: Inertia

Happiness is Momentum. Understand the mental law of inertia
The law of mental inertia follows the same dynamics as the law of physical inertia. It takes more effort and force to move an object than to keep it moving. Once the object picks speed, it becomes much easier to maintain the movement. In fact, once it is in motion, it will take more force to stop it or reverse its direction. The mind behaves in the same way, it will take a strong initial effort to move it in the direction of happiness, but once it picks up momentum, it becomes almost effortless and better yet, it will take more force to stop it or reverse its direction. If you understand this, it will help you not to quit too soon.

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Happiness Law 10: Modeling

Happiness is Modeling. Understand the law of mental modeling
We learn through imitation (modeling) when we are kids and even when we are adults.
If you want to become happy chose your role models wisely.

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Happiness Law 11: Mental Slavery

Happiness is a Freedom of Mind. Beware of mental slavery
Physical slavery is outlawed, but how about mental slavery? Even the most advanced societies are practicing mental slavery and their main tool is mind programming. Never underestimate the power of mental programming. How else do you think, suicide bombers blow themselves up believing that they are going to heaven? How else do you think, governments send their citizens to war killing themselves and hundreds of thousands of innocent people, while having them thinking that they are brave and patriotic? If mind programming can send people to their own deaths, it can be used to change your life. Set mind free!

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Happiness Law 12: Examine your mind

Happiness is a Program. Understand and use the power of mental programming.
Your government, media, parents and teachers are doing it all the time. It's used in everyday advertising, propaganda, church and schools. Whether we like to admit it or not, we are a product of our environment and its social programming. You think you are a free thinker? Think again! This is not some evil government conspiracy, they are doing their best they know how, but the key question to ask is; "Is their programming making you happy?” If not, then it’s probably time to re-examine your life. Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, said once, "An unexamined life is not worth living" He could not be more right. It's time to deprogram your negative mind scripts and re-write your own positive scripts to serve your best interest.

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Happiness Law 13: Association

Happiness is an Association.  Understand the mental law of association
Your actions, emotions and feelings (good or bad) are a result of your mental associations.
Advertisers and political media understand that best. They edit images and verbal messages to associate positive experiences with their products, people and agendas while associating negative images with their competition. If you are not happy, it is time to re-examine your mental associations. It’s time to reconsider changing your associations about the things, people and agendas that are making you and others unhappy.

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Happiness Law 14: Thinking Patterns

Happiness is a Pattern. Your mind thinks in patterns, therefore you behave and feel in patterns.
Have you noticed how many people repeat the same mistakes over and over again or change jobs every few years? Have you noticed how people attract friends of similar characteristics and behave the same way to most people? If your behavioral pattern is not working for you, you need to dismantle negative thinking patterns and build new positive ones.

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Happiness Law 15: Positive and Negative Feedback Loops

Happiness is a Cycle. Exit the vicious cycles and enter the virtuous cycles
Positive thinking leads to stronger motivation, which leads to hard work, which leads to success, which leads to more motivation. Get the picture?  The opposite is also true. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively, break the negative cycle by thinking and doing something positive. This way you get out from the negative-feedback loop and get yourself into a positive-feedback loop that keeps you going strong.  

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Happiness Law 16: Information

Happiness is a Decision. Wrong decisions are based on lack of information or misinformation
Ask yourself, do I have all the information before I take this particular decision in my life?
Did I validate my information? If you are unhappy now, then either you have been misinformed or you do not have the necessary information to make the right decisions. Always examine the evidence, take time to evaluate your actions and reactions.

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Happiness Law 17: Instincts

Happiness is Awareness. Contrary to the popular opinion, don't trust your instincts
Your instincts are as good as your programming and the information you are fed. You think your instincts and emotions are good for you? Then explain why many people are suffering from AIDS, because they acted on their instincts and had unprotected sex with untested partner. Explain why a husband spends the rest of his life in jail, because he got angry and killed his wife. Realize that your emotions are not always right and your logic can be faulty. Need evidence? How is your life doing so far? Are your instincts making your life a happy one?

I’m not asking you to lose spontaneity or be inhibited, on the contrary I’m asking you to be aware and dare. I’m asking you to develop your awareness and install a healthy mental programming, so that your instincts and emotions serve you better

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Happiness Law 18: Open Mind

Be Aware! Happiness is an open mind. The more you open your mind the more you'll enjoy life.
Beware of stereotypes, prejudices and narrow thinking about things, experiences and people, they can trap you in a box and make you miss out on much of what life has to offer you.

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Happiness Law 19: Friends

Happiness is People. If you want to be happy, associate with happy people.
Because we learn by association and imitation, whether we like it or not, we adopt similar characteristics of our family members, partners and friends, especially after long periods of companionship. So choose your companions carefully. If you want to become happier, I recommend you befriend supportive, successful, optimistic and cheerful friends. This does not mean that you drop or leave good friends if they suffer from a misfortune, on the contrary your role is to support them. The more support you give the more allies you'll build.  What I'm saying is to avoid harmful people with continuous negative thinking patterns. You know them by the constant criticism of everyone and everything, they tend to have hate, resentment or anger towards other people. You see them on TV, at school, work and even churches, mosques and temples.

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Happiness Law 20: Gratitude

Happiness is a Gratitude. Adopt an attitude of gratitude
You probably heard this before and it’s so true.
Remember that you did not come to life on your own merit, it was an act of love from someone else. You did not stay alive by your own merit, you are alive today because of the acts of love from so many other people. You are just lucky to have a chance to experience life. No matter what others say or do to you, you still have so many of life's gifts to experience. Just having this attitude will help you see things brighter and make you happier.

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Happiness Law 21: Media

Happiness is Information. Choose your sources of information carefully
I mean mainly your TV, books and newspapers. I'm not advocating a closed mind, it's OK to explore or research different points of views, even when they are negative, but make sure that negative information sources are not most of what you watch. Avoid negative media, horror movies, court shows, hate authors, war voices and religious programs prophesizing the end of the world. They'll poison your mind and destroy your trust in the goodness of other people. They will build fear, anxiety, hate, resentment in your heart and incite negative reactions. All of that for their own commercial gain or worse they are so deep in the negative thinking cycle they can't see the good side of life and other people.

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Happiness Law 22: Have Fun

Happiness is Fun. Exercise, listen to happy music, watch sitcoms and have fun
Make sure to treat yourself a few times a week (if not every day). Don't let work exhaust you and takeover your life. Prolonged physical and mental exhaustion can lead to severe stress and depression. Taking a break, not only helps relax your mind, but keeps you healthy, energizes you more and makes you look better.

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Happiness Law 23: Focus on Your Strengths

Happiness is Focus. Focus on your strengths
It helps and it pays higher returns on investment. Write down what you are good at and what people tell you that you are good at, then leverage your strength in your career and hobbies for a better and more enjoyable lifestyle.

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Happiness Law 24: Manage Your Money

Happiness is Money. Take care of your Money
Money provides you a comfortable lifestyle, and affords you more time and opportunities to do what you like. Take care of your money and your money will take care of you.

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Happiness Law 25: Be Realistic

Happiness is Reality. Be realistic, no one has it all
While some people are more successful than others, no one has it all. When someone succeeds phenomenally in one area, there is usually a heavy price to pay and most probably it will be at the expense of another area. What is the use of working all your life to become the richest person in Babylon, if you have lost your youth and time at the office? By all means go after your dreams, but always remember, the most rewarding success is leading a happy and balanced life. Let go of the unrealistic ideas (such having it all) and you will become happier.

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Happiness Law 26: Lifecycles

Happiness is Adaptation. Understand the law of lifecycles and adapt to it.
Everything in life goes through cycles, the four seasons, the plants, businesses, economies and countries. The same is true for your relationships. Do not hold on to unrealistic or romantic notions such as "forever" or you'll suffer unnecessarily. Traditions, people, families and relationships change and sometimes grow apart. Do not resent them or resent yourself, change is life and life is change. While it is ok to fight for what you believe in and hold on to those you can, do understand that when this is not possible, the best way is to let go, so you do not miss the benefits of the new cycle.

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Happiness Law 27: Say No. Say Yes

Happiness is Yes & No. Learn to say No. Learn to say Yes.
Learn to say no to demands that pressure your life without a fair reward in return. Learn to say yes to yourself and to people who love you and care about you.

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Happiness Law 28: A Smart Heart!

Happiness is a Smart Heart.
Think Smart! Think Heart!

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Happiness Law 29: Wisdom

Happiness is Wisdom.
To be wise analyze, do not blame, sympathize.

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Happiness Law 30: Now!

Happiness is Now.
You've heard it before and it's right. Do not waste now, by thinking about the regrets of the past or worrying about the future. Enjoy your life now.

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