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The Life-Altering Power of Gratitude to Make You Happy

Do you sometimes dream about the things you wish you had, or things you wish would happen, because you'd be so much happier if only...? Maybe your list of wishes includes winning a lot of money...being cured of an ailment...looking better than you do.

Surprise: Even if your wish list were granted, it probably wouldn't make you as happy as you think—because only a small portion of our happiness stems from improving life circumstances, research shows.

Rather, it’s how we view those circumstances that really determines our happiness. Keys: Looking at how your life is right now and savoring every good moment...seeing the bright side of your setbacks...focusing on where there is abundance—in short, cultivating a sense of gratitude. It doesn't mean pretending that things are better than they are...it means really seeing what is good.

No matter what your circumstances, there are things to be grateful for. Learning how to focus on those aspects of your life helps your whole life become happier. Don't believe me? Give it a try...it takes as little as two minutes a day. And there's no better day than this Thanksgiving day to get started...

Click here to read more...

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I was watching the "Voice" when this happened and my thoughts at the time were they had gone too far in being politically correct. This is a hymn many of us have heard and sung since childhood and I have also heard it sung many times at funerals. Well, the network is certainly getting a lot of attention but I don't think it was the type of attention they had in mind. In my opinion, if you're going to sing a hymn, sing the words like they're written and quit attacking Christianity.

‘The Voice’ Viewers, Blake Shelton Furious After ‘Lord’ Removed From Gospel Song

November 30, 2013 8:58 PM

Sometimes, a slight change in lyrics — especially when it’s only one word — isn’t a big deal. But on ‘The Voice’ Tuesday night (Nov. 26), the show’s viewers and coach Blake Shelton got all riled up when the word ‘Lord’ was removed, changed to simply ‘oh.’

The Top 8 contestants performed the gospel song ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken?’ backed by Seattle’s Starbucks Chorus, a vocal group that raises money for local charities. But in the midst of their performance, the words were swapped, which caused the Twitterverse to explode with complaints from riled up viewers.

But those watching weren’t the only ones questioning the decision — Shelton himself also voiced his concerns on the matter. “I don’t know what, uh — how it happened, or — I’m learning about it just like you guys are,” Shelton tells Zap2it. “I was sitting in my chair singing that song how I grew up on it, with ‘in the sky, Lord, in the sky.’ I sang it as loud as I could. And that might be why I didn’t realize until after the fact that ‘Lord’ was either taken out, or it was just performed some other way.”

“I’ve heard — you know, in the twenty minutes I’ve had since the show ended to come in here — a lot of different reasons why it was that way,” the country star explains. “I know it was performed — and it’s meant for a good cause, and they’re trying to raise some money. And that’s a good thing. But I will say, that’s not the version I grew up on. And that’s not the version I was singing sitting in my chair, if that clears up anything [about] where I stand on this thing.”

The show’s participants also skipped the verses that mention ‘Savior’ and ‘Heaven,’ and although they may have been trying to appeal to all beliefs, it really rubbed many viewers the wrong way.

It’s unclear why the lyrics were changed and who made the call. Executive producer Mark Burnett explains: “Especially for those of us who know this song from church so well … I realized immediately what had happened. I thought I’d misheard on the sound. Then came the next chorus, and I’m like, ‘OK, it’s live TV, so I’ve got to wait until the next commercial break. I’m running over there and asking the question.’”

Well, ‘The Voice’ will definitely know what not to do next time they have the contestants sing a hymn. Even this weekend, Shelton is still busy fielding Twitter comments fueled by the lyric changes.

“Be our voice Blake and let the bosses know how disappointed we are,” one tweet read. Shelton’s response? “Will do.”

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Here's a few of my thoughts on this.

First of all, I resent someone who has it made trying to tell me to thankful. For one thing they don't know that I am not thankful.

The people who write these kinds of things are those who are doing quite well financially. They may not be rich but they have never been poor either.

I say money does buy happiness if you know what to buy ...like the product I distribute, ie., Laminine, which takes away depression and makes people happy. :)) A lot of people who need this stuff don't have the money to buy it because it is a bit pricey. Money would let them buy my happy pills and it would make us both happy :))

These people who write this often say, "Money can't buy health." Well, I say money often can buy health at least to a large degree if you know what to buy.

Money let's you help the starving ... to first get fed, then to get a means of livelihood and then to help them help others. Money helps to educate these people about God and about making a living. Surely that would bring some happiness and contentedness, if we could do some of that.

Although I am very thankful to have a roof over my head, I am not happy with my landlord. Enough money would let me move to wherever I want. And that is not all ...just when it looked like I might be able to save enough money to see my daughter, my rent went up by 22%.

I have not seen my daughter, in person, for about 12 years and it looks like I may never see her again all because I lack money and so does she. This is no one's fault except hers because she didn't need to move so far away so I am not looking for pity but I'm just saying ...about what money can do.

With the new costs of Obamacare, there are many people in the US who are in my shoes.

I agree with this article in that I have much to be thankful for and I thank God everyday long before I read the article. I've always tried to keep myself upbeat regardless of my circumstances but I have no idea if I would be more contented or not and nor have the people in the research because we never got the chance to experience more money.

Yes, I may not be much more content than I am if I had more money, but surely money would buy a lesser form of misery.

Helen

Quote:

The Life-Altering Power of Gratitude to Make You Happy

Do you sometimes dream about the things you wish you had, or things you wish would happen, because you'd be so much happier if only...? Maybe your list of wishes includes winning a lot of money...being cured of an ailment...looking better than you do.

Surprise: Even if your wish list were granted, it probably wouldn't make you as happy as you think—because only a small portion of our happiness stems from improving life circumstances, research shows.

Rather, it’s how we view those circumstances that really determines our happiness. Keys: Looking at how your life is right now and savoring every good moment...seeing the bright side of your setbacks...focusing on where there is abundance—in short, cultivating a sense of gratitude. It doesn't mean pretending that things are better than they are...it means really seeing what is good.

No matter what your circumstances, there are things to be grateful for. Learning how to focus on those aspects of your life helps your whole life become happier. Don't believe me? Give it a try...it takes as little as two minutes a day. And there's no better day than this Thanksgiving day to get started...

Click here to read more...

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