Doodling can make you rich, happy and look dumb!

"study reveals that doodling keeps your mind sharp"

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, "doodling while working can be benefical. I wish someone had told my sixth grade teacher that!

"you can't bore me into learning anything (but if you'll just let me doodle)"

It seems we retain more information when we are doodling. So if the boss is droning on....doodle. Your brain hates boredom, so the diversion of doodling alows the brain to entertain itself and still absorb more information than if you sat their bored to tears. Isn't that great....

Now I can just imagine what really happened on this research project...

The boss walked by some reasearcher's desk who was bored stiff with his assigned tasks. So he starts doodling. Boss growls and asks him what the hell he is up to. Our clever researcher says, "oh glad you asked Boss, I'm doing ground breaking research on the cognitive ability of the mind to resist distractions while completing two unrelated tasks at one time." The boss is impressed and looks for some other sap to harrass. Researcher gets paid handsomely and gets his work written up in a prestigous journal. He then returns to doodling.....

I suppose you think that I find this research stupid? Not so amigo. Actually what this does is confirm to me how to use your brain creatively. I've always found that I get my best ideas when I'm doing something mindless like driving or showering. My mind wanders and then poof, I'm onto something good. Doodling works like that, you daydream in your doodles and sometimes come up with good ideas.

Smile, all that bull you've been peddling for doing nothing, just might prove to true someday!

Eduardo

BONUS; When life gives you lemons....make a margarita!

How to read a book and profit from it

"I've long wondered how I could read so much and retain so little"

Yesterday out of curiosity I asked my friend Mr. Google what were the top selling self help books? Then I wondered how many are sold?

Billions of self help books have been sold. The Secret had sold 8 million copies. So then this left me thinking, why aren't there millions of people reporting success and happiness from reading these books?

Being a voracious reader, it also occurred to me....how come I'm not some kind of self help genius? I've read hundreds of books. I should be a lot smarter than I am. What am I doing wrong? Don't get me wrong, I am quite happy and content with my life, but with all of this research I should be jetting around the planet in my own jet and exchanging thoughts with the Dali Lama.

Well amigos I haven't found the answers....yet! But i will share one little idea that helps me retain the good stuff I've read. Of course it's simple...that's what I do best.

Ta dumm.....here it is

Always read a book with a highlight marker at the ready. See something you want to retain, highlight it. That's it. To illustrate my point, I grabbed 4 books at random from my collection. Here are 5 quotes I found in seconds...

"anonymity is the enemy of civility. Given total privacy and a cloak of invisibility, many people become course. They do selfish things--things that they would never do if a friend (or a video camera) were watching." from Small is the new big by Seth Godin

"social psychologists learned long ago that if you make a committment and then share it with friends you are more likely to follow through than if you simply make the committment to yourself. Better yet team up with someone who is attempting to make the same changes as you are" Influencer by Patterson, Grenny, Maxwell, McMilland and Switzler

"you literally own nothing and no one. All that is composed will decompose; all that is yours will leave and become someone else's" Change Your Thoughts Dr. Wayne Dyer

"jealousy has less to do with how a person feels towards you and more to do with how he feels about himself" You Can Read Anyone by David Lieberman

And this is the technique I use when I'm looking for something to write about. I quick scan for highlighted quotes and I have an idea to expand upon. (and you thought I was smart)

Smile, life is like being in school only you are given the answers first

Eduardo

BONUS; "the surest sign that there is intelligent life in the universe, is that it has never tried to contact us" Calvin Hobbes

FREE Aphrodisiac

"money is not an aphrodisiac. The desire it kindles is more for the cash than for the holder of it"

Lets eliminate drugs, witches brews and stuff that's not good for you..... what do you think is the best aphrodisiac available for free?

"laughter is the greatest aphrodisiac"

Looking for a little extra spark in the bedroom? The answer my friend may just be a giggle away. In a recent Canadian study they found that 96% of those surveyed said laughter is a key element in keeping the sex hot and the romance alive. And 92% say forget the oysters and all that other stuff, fun is the most important aphrodisiac.

(insert small equipment joke here)

Lest you get the impression that us Canadians are all having laughing sex every night, sadly only one in four report something to laugh about with each other, two to three times a week. However, in my home province 61% say they crack up with their mate every day. It's good to be here!

You know everywhere I look, I keep coming up with this ....life was meant to be fun, easy and abundant (even in the bedroom).

Smile, and you just might get lucky more often!

Eduardo

BONUS; Men are so much better than women at reading maps. After all only a man could conceive the idea of 1 inch equals 100 miles (Rosanne Barr)

My friend the Cosmic Jokester

Did you ever get the feeling that this life is just one big joke, being played out at your expense?

Here is a short list, that I've been contemplating...

*The best way to conquer your enemies....is to love them.

*To find God....stop looking.

*To gain insight....stop thinking.

*To feel wealthy....give it away.

*The dumbest person in the room....is the 'the know it all'.

*To gain more influence....place other people's interests first.

*The more we try to impress....the more we diminish oursevles.

*Complicated isn't as difficult as simple is.

*The best way to help someone...is to let them solve it for themselves.

*You are not who you think you are!

At times life just doesn't seem logical and maybe that's why so many people struggle. But what if it's all just a big joke? What if there is a God (or Goddess, women like to have fun too) and he or she gets together with their amigos, every once in awhile to have some fun with us little people down here? Now things would start to make sense to me!

For instance...some years ago, I was listening to a speaker promoting his memory course. He demonstrated his craft by memorizing the names of every person in the room (there were about 50 of us) plus some details about each of us. And this was just for starters, the guy was amazing, he had all kinds of memory tricks....I was impressed! So I plunked down my 100 bucks. After all, as my friends know I tend to have a suspect memory. If I get really involved in something I can forget seemingly small details, like to pick up my son after school.

Anyway, I was conjuring up in my mind all the benefits and how I would impress my friends with my new impressive display of memory skills. They were going to impressed next week after I graduated from the course. There was only one problem....I forgot to go!

This little story has entertained many over the years and always at my embarassing expense. I can't begin to count how times I've heard lines from so called friends like, how many times did he resell the same course to you? A cosmic joke? I think so.

It's things like this that have led me to believe that life is not meant to be taken so serious. If it's one big cosmic joke, then I want to be in on it. And if my head is full of hot air as many have long suspected...so what? When my life on this planet is done, the least they will say of me is...the fool sure had a good time!

Smile, and people will think you are in on the joke!

Eduardo

BONUS; It is possible for a man to be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married.

The awe and wonder of surprise

"the moments of happiness we enjoy, take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but they seize us" (Ashleigh Montaqu)

There is a sudden joy that hits without warning with a happy surprise. That joy finds us feeling young, vibrant and alive if only for moments. Even an unpleasant event can be softened in our memory by one small pleasant surprise.

It is in these too infrequent moments that we rediscover our inner child. Moments when we can once more feel the awe and wonder that a child experiences daily. That everyone should be so lucky to have more happy surprises.

"surprise is a gift to both the recipient and the giver"

We can't purposely set out to surprise ourselves anymore than we can tickle ourselves. What we can do is give the gift to others at little cost or effort to ourselves. And what a beautiful gift a pleasant gift is. By being the giver we can share in the awe and wonder it brings.

"you can't bore me into loving anything"

When life becomes boring and predictable it starts a downward cycle to nowhere. Relationships deteriorate with predictability without the essence of surprise. The successful romantic always keeps an element of surprise up his or hers sleeve.

"life is best lived as play" Plato

The best jokes, the most beautiful cherished memories are born in surprises. It's the jet fuel of relationships. And think how easy it is to suprise someone? You could clean the house, cook a special meal, buy a present for no reason, pay a visit unannounced or show up naked at the door when your sweetie comes home from work. (ok, I don't want to hear about that last one).

"remember, the bigger the surprise the bigger the benefit"

This reminds me of a surprise birthday party my amigos had for me in Mexico. Since my birthday was actually in November, I didn't see this one coming. Nor would I have ever expected to be mocked and teased that much. I'm guessing they got more pleasure out of the surprise than I did. (maybe that was part of their evil plan, hmmmm)

Smile, a good surprise can cost little and will be remembered forever!

Eduardo

BONUS; What is the hosts purpose in having a party? Surely not for her guests enjoyment. If that were true, they'd simply send wine and women to my place! (P.J Rourke)

Elvis and Celine

This video was on American Idol awhile back. It's just so good you might want to watch it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agZTP7I0994

amazing what technology allows us to do.

"dreams tells us what we've got to be smart enough to interpret" (Elvis Presley)

"I think that life has a secret, and children they hold that secret." (Celine Dion)

Smile, it looks good on you!

Eduardo

BONUS; Paridise is seldom recognized until it is taken away (Eduardo)

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

OK, I'm back in business, computer problems solved that would not let me publish for a few days! Now I can get back to annoying you again. YAHOO!

A little good news

"everything is not as it seems....it is much better"

I don't know about you but I'm getting more than a little tired of bad news. Not only is it annoying to fill our heads with negative messages but it's dangerous to our happiness and prosperity. This negative crap sinking into our little brains can become self fulfilling if we aren't vigilant.

"god was just showing off when he made you"

It's too darn easy to forget how good most of us have it. This is the perfect time to remind ourselves of everything we have and enjoy. I doubt anyone reading this is starving or has people with guns trying to kill us. If you are reading this, then you either have a computer or access to one. Lucky you!

"everything is possible, if you can have fun doing it"

Right now more than ever before, I'm thinking what this world needs is a few more goofballs and off the wall thinkers. The great gift these days is someone who spreads a little sunshine and hope. And as Emerson said, 'you can not do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late'.

"the fun, easy and abundant path is the one that is shared with people who care"

So go forth my amigos and tell a joke, play a prank, do anything you want but remember to make someone smile or laugh. It's the least and the most you can do today.

And remember that old Golden Rule....do unto others as you would have done unto you. Forget that and try the Truthteller Golden Rule...."treat others as they would like to be treated"

My last bit of advice for the day...."never pick a fight with an ugly guy...he has nothing to lose"

Smile, it cost nothing and never stops giving

Eduardo

BONUS: This one is from my favorite philospher Robin Williams...."see the problem is that God gives man a brain and a penis, but only enough blood to run one at a time"

Happiness is just a simple pleasure away!

"one the greatest returns on investment is that which is invested in genuine friendship"

Where you spend your money has a direct effect on your happiness. It's not surprising to me that researchers have found that spending our money on material things like flat screen TV's and fancy cars doesn't make us happy long term. Eventually we get bored with things. That new car that we loved so much becomes just another possession with the passage of time. So then where can you spend your money and get long term happiness in return?

"happiness is found in satisfying our higher psychological needs"

Researchers at San Francisco State University found that we get greater happiness by spending our money on simple pleasures. Simple pleasures such as holidays, dining out with friends or family, going to movies or theatre or giving to charities give us more more lasting happiness than purchasing things (no matter how expensive).

Once again less is more!

We never get bored with happy memories but we do with material things. Good memories give us a greater sense of vitality and the feeling of being alive. This in turn satisfies our higher physcological needs. So spending your money in the right places can in deed make you happier. And the real bonus is that many of the simple pleasures don't cost much and sometimes they are even free.

"societies and cultures that wish to deny pleasure are always the most aggressive and consist of the unhappiest citizens"

In John Gray's book 'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus' he said that a gift to a woman counts for one point, no matter how expensive. So a gift of a fancy dinner out was equal to a gift of a new car. Now of course the new car will create more short term happiness but in the long run they will equal out. So he suggested many little unexpected gifts were better than one big one. I'm thinking the best gifts then would be the one's that bring little pleasures and better memories.

"it's not the things that we crave, it's the feelings we get from possessing things and most of the feelings we crave are to support our ego"

This also reminds me of a card an old girlfriend once sent to me, it read.....Edward you appreciate the simple things in life, and us simple things appreciate it! As usual the answer is once again fun, easy and simple.

So remember to look for opportunities to create some simple pleasures for yourself and others. In case you are drawing a blank at this moment, I have a suggestion. If you happen to be in my postal code, I suggest you take me out for lunch. It is a simple pleasure that should bring you happiness (and me to). I'm here for you...

Smile, it's time to plan that next holiday!

Eduardo

BONUS; "the know-it-all is always happy to tell you everything about which he knows nothing" (Eduardo)

Who do you have influence with?

"we influence most when we aren't trying to. We are just doing what we know is right for us" (Eduardo)

We all have a 'sphere of influence'

That would be the people in your life that you have some influence over. The people that if you had a good idea, would be receptive enough to listen with a relatively open mind.

"we learn more from what you do than from what you say"

So my question to you is; do you have a responsibility to use your sphere of influence when you know about something (a book, a video or an idea) that you honestly believe could help in some way improve the other persons life? I don't know about you but my answer would have to be 'of course'.

So this is why I write this blog. I sincerely intend that what I write might help someone in some small way. It might just stir the thinking process enough to get someone to make a change or help someone else. And hopefully, it will expand my own personal sphere of influence.

So think about your own sphere of influence and who you might help in whatever way you deem proper and helpful?

Smile, it looks really good on you!

Eduardo

BONUS; Curious people are the most interesting people. I wonder why that is? (Bill Maher)

FREE ENERGY

Another great secret is about to be revealed right here and right now! I'm going to share with you, an absolutely free source of energy, that you can tap into right now. Please don't tell the government or they may want to tax it!

ta dum....drum roll please....

"if you are looking for an immediate energy boost, look for the happiest person in the room"

It's amazing the energy you can pick up from a happy person. It's like they have so much that they don't care if you take a little for yourself. In fact if they see that you are picking up some positive energy from them, then they just want to increase their energy output and give you more.

One caveat, don't bring negative energy around that person or he will flee with his good stuff. You'll be left all by your lonesome with only the others, with negative energy. You know, that 'like attracts like' thing. Hanging out with the negative energy crowd will make everyone feel lower than a snake's belly in a wheel rut pardner! (a little western humor).

Bonus tip.....I'm giving out positive energy everyday at this site, so stop by often and top off your tank (no charge)

I'll leave you with some wisdom from some dude named Will Rogers...

"the best way to make fire

from two sticks, is to make sure

that one of them is a match"

Eduardo

P.S. I wrote this article 2 years ago, but thought it relevant after reading a study that concluded that happiness is contageous. Who knew...I was ahead of my time!

I think therefore I laugh

"God was just showing off when he made you"


I just returned from a holiday with my amigos to Mazatlan Mexico. And 2 weeks previous to that I spent 10 days in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Lucky me. You might be thinking; that lucky dog got to lay in the sun doing nothing but watching the pretty senoritas strutting down the beach while consuming buckets of cervesa. Ok, that's partly true....but I was doing more than that!

As always I had a notebook or index cards as my constant companion, ready to jot down any epiphany's or ideas. To prove it wasn't all sun, sand, surf, cervesa and seroritas, here are a few of the brilliant thoughts that crossed my holiday mind.

"the devil never made you do anything...greed and selfishness did"

"never trust a person who lacks humility"

"the best way to help someone is to let them do it themselves"

"we have too long worshipped the false gods of greed and arrogance...it's time to repent"

"when enough is never enough, real happiness is not possible"

"if it's too damn hard, you are doing it the wrong way"

"over-efforting leads to chronic buzyness, which in turn leads to wasted efforts"

"what would it matter, how fast you are going, if you are going in the wrong direction" (someone else said that, but I can't remember who)

There was lots more, but I was just remembered reading this....the point of good writing is to know when to stop!

Adios amigos

Eduardo

BONUS; An optimist is a guy who after he marries his secretary, believes he can still dictate to her.

The beauty of silence

"all of man's misery derives
from not being able to sit
quietly in a room alone"

Blaine Pascal

We live in a noisy world and for most of us, we have been conditioned to accept the constant din. If its not the TV or the radio, its IPODs and people who won't or can't stop talking. About the only time most people get any quiet is during a holiday that includes being in nature.

So conditioned are we to noise that when we do experience silence, we have the urge to create some noise by turning on the TV or radio. Some people even buy machines that create 'white noise' so that they can sleep at night.

Silence is frightening to people who are constant and compulsive talkers. They have no idea what they are missing or the benefits that come with silence. I'm convinced the reason for this is that when they are silent, they are forced to listen to their own thoughts. Since most people let thoughts enter unfiltered into their heads, they are inundated with negative thoughts and images. Best not to think!

There is in nature, no such thing as empty space or empty time. Whenever silence occurs, thoughts rush in to fill the void. Through meditation you can learn to control the flow of thoughts. But greatness and achievement are lost by rushing to fill the void with noise. In the stillness you can find serenity and connection with a higher intelligence. It is in the silence that the thoughts that can change a life are born.

It takes practice but if you try being alone with your thoughts and control them by only permitting the positve energy thoughts, you will soon become additcted to the silence. The ideas and inspirational thoughts that follow will lift your spirit. You then have the opportunity to become what only you can be..

And if what I said doesn't convince you, remember these words from Mark Twain...

"it is better to keep your mouth closed

and be thought a fool, then to open

your mouth and remove all doubt"

Eduardo

A special moment

"Life is to important to be taken seriously"

One of the most effective ways to improve your mood is to remember a special moment. I've always taken a lot of pictures and occasionaly some videos on holidays and at other special times. I've gotten great memories by looking back at those pictures and videos.

This past winter while on vacation in Mexico I did something else that actually serves to help me recall a particular moment that was even more memorable...
One morning I was sitting by myself absolutely enjoying the scene in front of me and thinking to myself, I've just got to make sure I never forget how beautiful and special this moment is....
Not having my camera with me, but having a notepad and pen I made this entry....

I am sitting here on a picture perfect morning, by myself at the resort I am staying at. Although it is early morning the sun has already warmed me so that I am enjoying the shade from two palm trees. A very gently breeze is coming towards me off the ocean and the cooling effect could not be more perfect. I can taste the ocean on my lips and feel the clean air on my skin.

It is still early morning and there are no tourists around, I have the the terrace to myself. In front of me is the white sands of the beach and a spectacular view of a big blue ocean with sunlight sparkling on the water. This is 'postcard perfect'.

I am soaking up the sounds of the ocean waves, rolling into the shore and splashing against the beach. I've never really noticed the rhythm of the ocean before. And I'm not sure if I have ever heard a more pleasing and calming sound.

Far out at sea, I can see a shrimp trawler and two jet skis flying across the water. I can also see several of the rental sailboats with their colorful sails and the para sail boats. This is a most peaceful and serene moment.

As I look overhead and above the palm trees, a formation of large birds (Pelicans ) are gliding by. Occasionaly, I am joined by a few pigeons, always on the look out for anything that might make a morning meal.

This has to be, one of those times that later on, I will say..."this is as good as it ever gets". I have never felt more connected to my surroundings or more at peace with myself. Who knew that I could find such contentment sitting quietly by myself and doing nothing!

When I read that, it puts me back to that exact moment in a way that pictures and even videos can't do because it includes my thoughts and feelings. This is what I call 'happiness on demand'. You should try it when you have one of those memorable moments. I wish I had done it when my son was growing up!

Eduardo

P.S. Please don't accuse me of journaling..... that just wouldn't be manly!

Cosmic Jokester

Did you ever get the feeling that this life is just one big joke, being played out at your expense?

Some things just don't seem to make sense. Here is a short list, that I've been contemplating...

*The best way to conquer your enemies....is to love them.
*To find God....stop looking.
*To gain wisdom....stop thinking.
*To feel wealthy....give it away.
*The dumbest person in the room....is the 'the know it all'.
*To gain more influence....place other people's interests first.

(that list looks like future articles for me to write...hmmm)

At times life just doesn't seem logical and maybe that's why so many people struggle. But what if it's all just a big joke? What if there is a God (or Goddess, women like to have fun too) and he or she gets together with their amigos, every once in awhile to have some fun with us little people down here?

Now things would start to make sense to me! For instance...some years ago, I was listening to a speaker promoting his memory course. He demonstrated his craft by memorizing the names of every person in the room (there were about 50 of us) plus some details about each of us. And this was just for starters, the guy was amazing, he had all kinds of memory tricks....I was impressed!

So I plunked down my 100 bucks. After all, as my friends know I tend to have a suspect memory. If I get really involved in something I can forget seemingly small details, like to pick up my son after school.

Anyway, I was conjuring up in my mind all the benefits and how I would impress my friends with my new impressive display of memory skills. They were going to impressed next week after I graduated from the course. There was only one problem....I forgot to go!

This little story has entertained many over the years and always at my embarassing expense. I can't begin to count how times I've heard lines from so called friends like, how many times did he resell the same course to you? A cosmic joke? I think so.

It's things like this that have led me to believe that life is not meant to be taken so serious. If it's one big cosmic joke, then I want to be in on it. And if my head is full of hot air as many have long suspected...so what? When my life on this planet is done, the least they will say of me is...the fool sure had a good time!

Smile, and people will think you are in on the joke!

Eduardo

Things I wish I knew when I was younger

Wouldn't it be nice if we hadn't made so many mistakes in our past?

Some things it seems we just have to learn the hard way. But others we learn through experience and we can pass it on to our kids or others. Here are some of those things that I wished I'd known earlier in my life....

1. Everything is easier than you think.

2. Everything takes longer and costs more than you think.

3. Whatever you want to do, has probably been done by someone successfully before, so if you can get their advice in person or from a book you will save time, money and grief.

4. No matter how complicated something is, it can be broken down into simplier parts.

5. Always ask yourself....who can help?

6. Small gradual improvements (Kaizen theory) can lead to big and impressive results.

7. Spend less than you make (enough said)

8. Take more risks. I'm not talking about betting the family farm on the stock market. Doing things like public speaking can be a terrific high and worth the risk. Or how about starting that business you've dreamed about. We all would benefit from getting outside our comfort zone occasionally.

Ok, now its your turn to pass on some wisdom! Tell us what you wished you had learned years ago.

Eduardo

P.S. And when your sweetie asks you if she looks fat in that dress....suck up your courage, look lovingly into her eyes and...... LIE!

I have everything I need

Did you ever have one of those thoughts you just couldn't get out of your head? Me too!

Lately, I keep thinking....I have everything I need.

This is a strange thought for me because, I know there is no beer in the fridge and the new BMW convertible, that I've been dreaming about is no where to be seen. So amigo, what can this mean?

I have noticed lately, something different is happening in my life. At times, I'll be doing something and need a tool or I'll be writing and need an idea; then poof, I get the idea or I'll think of some way of improvising for a tool I don't have. Sometimes I need help and out of the blue, help appears.

So I'm thinking is it because I'm holding this belief that I'm seeing and finding possibilities I just might not have noticed before? Was everything I needed there, but just below my level of awareness?

What if I decide that I need 10 million dollars? Well, I'm pretty darn certain that baring a computer glitch, I can go to the bank and it won't be there.

However, if I assume that I have everything I need, then maybe I already have the ideas to manifest it? This is getting interesting!

For those of us who believe that what we concentrate on becomes real, this might be a really valuable thought. Whatever it is, I'm thinking this is a pretty good belief to have. So I'm keeping it.

Anything that makes my life; fun, easy and abundant has to be a good thing!

Eduardo