Praise for Happiness Now!
If you could do just one thing that will immediately enrich your life and improve the world at large, it would be to take the advice of this book. I recommend it wholeheartedly!
Paul Wilson, the author of The Little Book of Calm
Happiness Now! offers a passport, map, and compass to true joy. It teaches us it is never too late to be happy and to recognize that happiness is actually our true state of being, our natural inheritance. This excellent book really can help you to transform your life.
Jerry Jampolsky, M.D., the author of Love Is Letting Go of Fear
Full of Robert Holdens own anecdotes and humor, this book is about living in the moment, being what you want, and allowing yourself rightful happiness. Happiness Now! sets the record straight on true happinessgo get it now.
Stuart Wilde, the author of Life Was Never Meant to Be a Struggle
I think the most revolutionary act a person can commit today is to be Tom Carpenter, the author of Dialogue on Awakeningpublicly happy. Roberts new book offers great insight, encouragement, and vision on how to do just that. The idea is that happiness is not some prize that comes after lots of work, suffering, or sacrifice, but rather, happiness is a choicea choice made with gratitude, love, and a desire to help others. Bless you, Robert, for your example and for your willingness to add to the dialogue!
Patch Adams, M.D., the author of House Calls
If you only buy one book on happiness in your life, then make it this one! Robert Holdens profound work offers a ray of hope and a beautiful guiding vision for all who want to be happy, peaceful, and free.
James Twyman, the author of Emissary of Light
Happiness Now! is a wonderful guide to living joyfully.
Colin Turner, the author of The Eureka Principle
Brilliant! Profound wisdom neatly packaged. Robert Holdens Happiness Now! is a clearly written treatise of what most people consider a complex, unreachable goal. Happiness is our birthright. Robert puts it right!
Eddie and Debbie Shapiro, the authors of Meditation for Inner Peace
More than a feel good guide, Happiness Now! offers a whole new way to see yourself and the world. It can bring more than a smile to your life!
Tom Carpenter, the author of Dialogue on Awakening
ALSO BY ROBERT HOLDEN,PH.D.
Success Intelligence
Shift Happens!
Hello Happiness
Balancing Work & Life (with Ben Renshaw)
Living Wonderfully
Laughter: The Best Medicine
Stress Busters
What Number Are You? (with Lilla Bek)
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Timeless Wisdom
for Feeling Good FAST
ROBERT HOLDEN,P H .D.
HAY HOUSE, INC.
Carlsbad, California New York City
London Sydney Johannesburg
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Copyright 1998 by Robert Holden
Revised copyright 2007
Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in the Republic of SouthAfrica by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for "fair use" as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
First published in 1998 by Hodder & Stoughton, a division of Hodder Headline PLC, London: ISBN: 0 340 71308 9
Library of Congress Control Number:2007932219
ISBN: 978-1-4019-2039-5
10 09 08 07 4 3 2 1
1st Hay House edition, October 2007
Printed in the United States of America
Dedicated to those
who dare to sprinkle kindness,
radiate love, and scatter joy.
"No one who comes here butmust still have hope, some lingeringillusion, or some dream that there is somethingoutside of himself that will bring happiness and peaceto him. If everything is in him this cannot be so. Andtherefore by his coming, he denies the truth about himself,and seeks for something more than everything, as if a partof it were separated off and found where all the rest of itis not. This is the purpose he bestows upon the body; thatit seek for what he lacks, and give him what would makehimself complete. And thus he wanders aimlesslyabout, in search of something that he cannotfind, believing that he is what he is not."
- A Course in Miracles
Author's Note:
Every case history in this book appears with the approval of the people involved. Names have been altered where requested.
Picture the following scene:
I am at my friend Jane's house. It is midafternoon, and we are having tea. Jane and I are engaged in a deep and meaningful conversation when her two boys run into the room. They're young, full of energy, lively, and noisy. Tom is four years old, and Ben is three. Ben follows Tom everywhere.
Jane and I continue to talk, but soon we can't hear
each other speak because the boys are in a dispute.
"What's the problem?" Jane asks.
Tom throws Ben off him, takes a deep breath, and says, "It's my turn to play on my bike, but Ben won't leave me alone, and he's already ridden my bike once today." A few more things are said, but no agreement is reached. "Go outside and sort this out. Robert and I are talking," says Jane. The boys are dismissed.
After only a minute or two, the boys run into the room again... with the bike! Before Jane can chastise the boys for bringing it into the house, Tom says, "We've worked it all out."
"Good," we both say.
Tom continues, "Today the bike belongs to me all day, and tomorrow the bike belongs to Ben all day." Both boys nod their heads with great enthusiasm.
"Are you both agreed?" asks Jane, sounding quite surprised.
"Yes," they both say.
"Good, now go along and play," says Jane.
The boys turn around to leave, and just before they do so, Ben pipes up at the top of his voice, "I knowlet's pretend it's tomorrow!"
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