Secrets to Happiness

SECRETS TO HAPPINESS

By Sally Forrest

BSc, MRPharmS, MBA
Managing Director, www.soulcentre.org
25^th July 2018

I ask people a simple question “What do you want from life?”

Have you ever stopped and reflected on this question for your own life?

If not, today may be a good time to do so.

The most common answer I get is “Happiness” followed by “Inner Peace”.

Why does happiness elude so many? Why do we feel unhappy and not at peace with life?

Allow me to share some of my top secrets that bring happiness to life on a daily basis.

1) You are your own enemy.

You are tough on yourself, you constantly compare yourself to others and you chase after externals to make you happy.

No one is perfect, no one lives a perfect life, we are all perfectly imperfect.

The sooner you accept your imperfect life, the happier you will be.

I have clients who constantly change jobs, year after year they report back that the job is causing them stress, unhappiness and so they quit.

Clients who are on their 3^rd marriage because the spouse caused unhappiness to them…. I am sure you have met people like this in life.

Wisdom from the ancient masters explains “Wherever you go, there you are”. This means that it’s not the externals that cause unhappiness to you, it’s YOU and your inner chatter that causes unhappiness. Put yourself in any situation and you are finding unhappiness, it’s that simple!

The sooner we can accept the fact that happiness lies in OUR hands and not in the hands of others, then the sooner we can become happy and content inside.

2) Negative Voice

Inside our heads we have 2 voices.
The positive voice that tells you everything that can go well, that you can do, achieve and have. That you deserve the best in life and that life is great.

The negative voice that tells you not to try new things. That you will fail, that you are not good enough, who are you to even try? That life is hard, unfair and that you are getting the worst deal from life.

The question is “Which voice is strongest in your mind and which are you listening to?”

Reflect on your day so far, which voice have you been listening to?

3) Focus on your Blessings

The solution to feeling down and depressed is to STOP and focus on your blessings.

We all have bad days, even the rich and famous with all the wealth in the world have bad days.

So how do we get out of them? FOCUS on the good in your life! It’s that simple….

·      I have fresh air to breathe

·      I have a healthy mind and body

·      I have a place to stay

·      I have friends who care about me

·      I have clothes to wear

·      I have freedom and security

·      I have a dollar in my pocket

·      I have food to eat

The list can go on and on and the best solution is to write down 10 NEW blessings each morning - and soon happiness will be with you every day.

We are all born originals, beautiful and unique with so much to bring to the world.

Feeling unhappy, frustrated and disappointed is wasted energy!

Stop focusing on everyone else and start to focus on yourself.

Happiness comes from within, you are responsible for your own happiness, so let’s start creating that together!

Sally is the creator of “The Life Success Method” where she combines Eastern and Western Methods to create lives of happiness, success, significance and legacy.

She conducts group coaching as well as private one on one consultations.

To connect with Sally, please send an email to: info@soulcentre.org

Meditation Class - The importance of a teacher

With the introduction of Google, we spend many hours researching and reading "stuff" on the web. We soon become an expert on any and every topic by reading second hand information in huge amounts.

So can we learn mediation on the web, and do we really need a teacher?

The simple answer is "Yes" you can learn meditation (to a certain extent) on the web and "Yes" you do need a teacher if you are serious about Meditation.

So why do I say you need a teacher?

First, the mind is a tricky little devil, and over 60,000 thoughts are whizzing through in any one-day. So you sit to meditate and some of the first thoughts that come in are;

• “ Am I doing this right?”

• “ What should I be thinking?”

• “ How do I stop thinking and have no thoughts “

This is natural and most of us start out like this on our journey with meditation. Having a teacher with you allows you the confidence and freedom to ask these questions and to be guided on correct answers.

Having no thoughts is one of the many myths of meditation; it's a little bit like expecting the heart to stop beating once you tell it to.

So a teacher also dispels these myths.

Having sat through 12 years of meditation classes I have heard so many myths ...

•  You have to sit cross legged to meditate

•  You have to shower before you meditate

•  You have to place your palms on your knees and make a lotus shape with your fingers to meditate

•  You have to meditate for over an hour to benefit

•  Meditation is religious

•  You cannot meditate during your menstrual period

These myths, and many more, are easily dispelled by a teacher and thus put the mind at peace.

A teacher will explain clearly what meditation is and what it is not.

A teacher will also listen to what you are saying and be able to guide you as an individual to experience the technique that is best for you.

After all there are thousands of techniques in meditation and it’s not a "cookie cutter" experience where everyone is precisely the same.

A teacher will also see your habits and challenge you a little to see them for yourself. After all meditation is all about getting to know yourself and to see how your own thinking and actions bring results in your life.

So sign up for a class today!

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation

Our next program is on 16/17/23/24 August

We have 10 am and 7 pm classes

Meditation Classes in Singapore

MEDITATION CLASSES IN SINGAPORE

2016 has seen a sharp increase in the number of people turning to Meditation. The pace of life is speeding up; we are all multitasking more often and for longer periods and also the opportunities for distraction have never been greater. It all results in excessive thoughts and a mind that feels as if it is spiraling out of control and has no peace.

I caught up with the latest batch of students who have learnt Meditation Made Simple, a beginners guide to meditation at SoulCentre.

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation and Mindfulness and under the guidance of Vikas Malkani, students are taken through a 4-session beginners program.

I asked them how has Meditation benefitted them and here are some insightful replies.

• Meditation has really benefitted me, I have learnt to see the positive in all situations and to focus on the good in my life.
• Meditation has given me simple tools to use throughout the day and in life to quiet my mind and to be in tune with myself.
• I changed how I view my life!
• It has opened my eyes more to my surroundings and helps me see the negatives that I have let affect me.
• Now I really understand meditation, its simple and the tools are helpful and work.
• How beautiful to get the tools for a happy life.
• It was a truly great course!
• I am more conscious of the good in my life.
• Made me understand that it is me that can bring good things into my life.
• It was so simple – powerful and easy to apply into daily life.
• I am already calmer at home with my children and more understanding with my husband.
• I had learnt meditation earlier but this course was so different – it taught techniques that can be used anywhere! It was so beneficial.

Students leave after 4 sessions like a new person…it was so inspiring to see. And as for Vikas himself, the teacher, this is what they say:

• He is very accessible, calm and clear, I love his style of teaching.
• No words can describe him – thank you Vikas!
• He is inspirational, interesting, informative and encouraging.
• He is an ocean of wisdom; I am so blessed to be able to learn from him.
• He is fun, an excellent storyteller, authentic, clear and direct.
• Lovely, gentle, warm natured and so approachable.
• He vibrates calmness, compassion, acceptance, wisdom and is such an amazing teacher.

SoulCentre holds classes each month and they are in the morning (10 am – 12 noon) and again in the evening (7pm – 9pm)

Check out the website – www.soulcentre.org for dates and for on line bookings.

There is also an On-Line program for mediation on the website – for those who want to learn in their own space and time and for those who simply want to stay connected to the wisdom at all times.

Wisdom and Vikas on demand - any time - any where and in any location! Now you have the ultimate freedom !

Wisdom and Vikas on demand - any time - any where and in any location!

Now you have the ultimate freedom !

•  Take Vikas home with you...

•  Listen to him over coffee...

•  Munch on a sandwich watching him...

•  Take him along for a jog with you... 

•  Listen to him in the car...

•  Listen to him in the bath tub...

•  Listen to him in your pyjamas…

•  Get your spouse , your kids to listen to him … even your Dog !

•  Multi-task whilst listening to him...

•  Switch him on and off as often as you like...

•  Zoom him forwards...

•  Reverse him...

•  Freeze frame him...

•  Agree or even argue with him …its all up to you :-)

Such POWER !!!

And for a limited time we are also giving you a special discount as well.

Does life get any better than this?

Wisdom is now "as cheap as chips" as one Irish friend likes to say.

It's simple - click on the link - our programs are hosted on Udemy - and just register on line. 

Happy learning …and I forgot to mention - Vikas is also now yours to keep !!!

OPTION 1: Meditation with Vikas - Click on the link below the image.

https://www.udemy.com/meditation-with-vikas-5-simple-techniques-to-use-anywhere/?couponCode=SCA001

OPTION 2: How to be Authentic. Click on the link below the image.

https://www.udemy.com/happy-being-me-how-to-be-authentic-and-happy/?couponCode=SCA8-3

OPTION 3: How to Develop a Happy Mind. Click on the link below the image.

https://www.udemy.com/wisdom-from-vikas-how-to-develop-a-happy-mind/?couponCode=SCA+-6

8 tips to find your purpose in life

8 Tips to find your Purpose in life 

I know many of us often ask "How do I find my Life purpose?”

So I tracked down Sally Forrest, Managing Director of SoulCentre to find out some answers.

Sally always encourages those she meets to "Have the courage to follow your heart"

I took time out and met up with Sally to ask her “ How do we actually find our passion and purpose in life?”

Sally gave us some great tips:

1) Never get too busy that life just takes over and you have no time to stop and plan what you want from life.

2) Know yourself - the best way to do this is to meditate!

3) Stop doing things that deplete you .

4) Do not engage in toxic relationships or hang out with negative people. 

5) Plan in “me” time.

6) Do new things - try something different and remain childlike and playful as you pass through life.

7) Really live each day! Participate fully and with awareness.

8) Simplify life - by living a simpler life, you are happier and have more time for you!

"You know once you find your passion as it is a deep driving desire that is burning within you. It leaves you on a natural high and you simply want to follow it" said Sally.

It sounds great, so I am going to go and look for mine now ..........

What is really certain in Life?

Have you ever stopped to really think about what is certain in life?

You only need to switch on the news and you can see that the unexpected happens each and every day. We could say that each moment is uncertain and indeed there is uncertainty in each and every moment. Do you really know what will happen in the next day or even in the next 10 minutes?

The goal to a stable mind is to embrace uncertainty. 

Become wise as those with wisdom know that "you do not know it all."

Understand the space around you. Simply observe and see the constant flow of change that happens all around.

Once you know and accept that life is always about change, then you become secure, confident and safe.

If you fight change or fear it - then you become insecure and have a disturbed mind.

Focus your efforts on your own self growth - develop your self esteem, know yourself and focus your efforts on understanding your thoughts/emotions and actions.

Do not put all your energies and focus on the external world - For you have no control there.

-------------------------------
To connect with Sally :
Tel : +65 98752372 

www.soulcentre.org

info@soulcentre.org

SoulCentre is proud to be featured in a Special Edition SG 50 Coffee -Table book recently launched by the FLA ...

SoulCentre is delighted to be included in the Special Edition SG 50 Coffee -Table book recently launched by the FLA (Franchising and Licensing Association). Stylish and elegant - with 200 pages in full colour. It lists Singapore's most successful Franchisors and Licensors. As SoulKids won "Licensor of the Year" last year  - then of course we were delighted to be featured. 

One of our SoulKids Ambassadors is also featured under a full page announcing SoulKids. 

Exciting times ahead !

Be Authentic … Follow your heart …

We are all born with pure potential, and a promise of being able to be the best we can be. This promise is the reason we took birth, yet as we grow we move further away from this promise and actually forget what it is..

Imagine that the day you are born, you came with a bright white, clean, blank piece of paper; there is nothing written upon it. You have to write what you wish to be and what you want to become is totally up to you and is possible!

However once we are born, others begin to write on this piece of paper. They are people who have your best interests at heart – like our parents, teachers, leaders of communities etc… They write things from their viewpoint, what they feel is right for you

Things like :

“Sally should be a lawyer when she grows up”

“Sally should get married and have children”

“Sally should play the piano, as I always wanted to do that as a child”

“Sally must get good grades in school and go to University”

“Sally should always put others needs before her own”

The list goes on and the expectations that others impose upon us continue throughout life. Eventually we lose sight of our natural gift and begin to live a life of continuous futile attempts trying to fulfill other people’s hopes, dreams and expectations.

How others see the world is not how we see the world, we see the world from our own conditioning and experiences.

How can the generations before us even begin to comprehend the unlimited opportunities of the future generations?

Take something as obvious as technology … it is the youth who are creating the technology of the future … not the previous generation.

Soon we begin to lose sight of the promise we are born with and the natural passion we have for life.

At this moment – STOP and ask yourself the following questions :

• Am I happy with life at this moment?
• Am I passionate each day as I wake up? 
• Do I rise each morning excited to start a new day – or full of dread and moans?
• Are you in a relationship that fulfills you emotionally and physically?

If life is great then congratulations! Continue doing what you are doing and enjoy! However if you are not happy with some aspect of life, first identify what that aspect is and then decide to change.

The secret is to become authentic!

Live a life where you bring out the best from inside you and be what you want to be. Find that special gift that you were born with and follow your heart. Forget about trying to fulfill the expectations of others – they have their own life to live and in which to fulfill themselves.

As you walk in this direction you will naturally manifest Happiness and Passion for life.

Top Tips to become Authentic

• Know yourself and what you want from life.
• Know what makes you happy and keeps you passionate.
• Stop doing anything that depletes you or makes you negative.
• Stop living to make others happy – start by making small changes, ,e.g. do not accept invitations to activities or events that you do not want to go to.
• Take time out for “ME” – connect again with nature and feel balance and harmony in life.
• Do new things! Especially those things you have always wanted to do.
• Loosen up - be child like and stop fitting in!
• Do not simply watch each day pass you by – take action and participate fully in life!
• Live today as if it was your last day on earth ... you never know it may really be so ...

The Universe does not make mistakes, you came here for a reason and you are full of special talents. You owe it to yourself and to the world to BE AUTHENTIC.

Having walked the path it is clear that those who have courage can give courage to others, just as the flame of the candle can light up another… I urge you to take a step towards your authentic self ... one step leads to another and you will soon discover your passion and purpose in life!

You are born an Original. So bring that gift to the world … Do not die a copy!

Sally Forrest

BSc, MRPharmS, MBA

Managing Director

SoulCentre Academy

www.soulcentre.org

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