Avanti Kumar - The Science of Happiness: A 12-Step Guide to Personal Success

2009 Text and Illustrations by Avanti Kumar

2009 Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

(General & Reference Publishing)

Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions

An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International

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National Library of Malaysia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Avanti Kumar

The science of happiness : a 12-step guide to personal success / by

Avanti Kumar.

eISBN: 978 981 4677 073

1. Success--Psychological aspects. 2. Self-realization (Psychology).

3. Motivation (Psychology). I. Title.

158.1

Printed in Malaysia by Gains Print Sdn Bhd, No. 5, Lorong 7/3A, Kawasan Perindustrian Seri Kembangan, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

This book is dedicated to

my Father and Mother.

I wish to thank everyone who supported me with the book you now hold in your hands.

Deepest thanks to Shanta for her long suffering patience while a writer dreams up the words; to the wonderful team at Marshall Cavendish Malaysia, especially to my editors from heaven, Leowania Leow and Chang Yan Yi; to IceAce, illustrator extraordinaire; to Darshanni Raj for her counsel and to many unnamed others who know what it is that I thank them for, but what you dont know is how much esteem I have for each and every one of you.

Avanti was my first ever coach and mentor. He woke me up. He blew my mind. He opened my heart. He inspired me to get clear on the truth of my life, to choose love over fear, and above all, to follow my joy.

I first met Avanti in Birmingham, England. We were students on a 3-year programme called Communications. Avanti always sat at the back of the class, and he was always the last in and first out. Who is he? we all wondered. There was something intriguing and mysterious about Avanti. He was very quiet, like he was keeping a secret. He was always smiling. In fact, he was never not smiling. It was as if he knew of some joke that we did not.

I will never forget my first conversation with Avanti. The bell for the end of class had sounded. As usual, Avanti was first to leave. On this occasion, I was right behind him. I soon caught up with Avanti, and by way of making pleasant conversation, I asked him why he had chosen to study the programme we were on. His answer was, To meet you, of course. After a reply like that, I made sure we drank coffee together most days.

My conversations with Avanti were to change my life forever. Over the next few weeks and years, Avanti introduced me to his knowledge of psychology, metaphysics and spiritual wisdom. It was the most fantastic education. Everything that Avanti taught me became the basis for my future work with The Happiness Project and Success Intelligence. I can honestly say that barely a day goes by without a prayer of thanks to Avanti for being the one who got me started.

Much of what Avanti taught me is revealed in this book. I encourage you to read this book slowly. Savour each page. Read between the lines. Put the ideas into practice. There is an ancient science at work in your life. It is a science that is based on love and truth. And it has the power to clear away the blocks and release your immediate potential for greater happiness now.

Robert Holden, PhD

Author of Happiness NOW! and Success Intelligence

Good to meet you. It is a joy to talk with you. Firstly, forgive me for the quaint use of phrases such as Self-Coaching Technology. We live in a business world, which demands a certain amount of packaging.

A series of powerful techniques can be drawn together into a simple yet practical self-coaching framework. Concepts can be useful temporary crutches. Some people can make the leap. The rest of us need to choose our own moment to let go of crutches and realise that we have always been free and complete.

If you are happy, you probably will not need to read furtherunless you want to know how to remain in that state. If you are unhappy, stay on. InnerSpace Science is the name Ive given to help you push that button inside you to lasting happiness and success in different areas of life.

You may ask, Why another book on success and motivation? Surely, we have enough books on many of the major success tools. As you might know, there are generally acknowledged to be around eight main tools that successful people use: visualisation, affirmation, self-talk, positive thinking, self-hypnosis, motivational journal, spirituality, and so forth. Actually, they use four or more of these tools. Most books focus on material success and just a few of such tools.

What I would like to talk about is lasting happiness: a more rock solid state of peace and inner strength. This state includes material success and harmonious relationships at work and play. This plan uses most of the success tools available within us.

Rest assured, InnerSpace Science is not just about techniques, models and the like. Yes, the plan is structured as a personal self-coaching workshop in 12 Steps, yet the goal is clear: to help you form your personal winning foundation. There will be no new-age verbiage here. It is not about doing but being. This book is a conversation; a journey to find and release the magic within and I hope youll find some stopping places and ponder for a bit.

The InnerSpace Science journey is an adventureindeed the greatest journey any of us can makeinto deep dreams, lasting joy and creativity, and profoundly fulfilling success. When first developed and presented in England (Im from the UK), I noticed remarkable results straightaway.

The modules were built into a 12-month accredited comprehensive professional writers course. This ran for several years and I had the chance, often, to field-test the modules to audiences as young as seven-year-olds! (The toughest audience I have ever had by the way!) Along the careful development cycle, I also used the technology to energise and transform corporate leaders, company culture and operational teams. The magic within is infinitely flexible and practical.