Cohen - A Daily Dose of Sanity: A Five-Minute Soul Recharge for Every Day of the Year

Also by Alan Cohen

Are You as Happy as Your Dog?
Dare to Be Yourself
A Deep Breath of Life*
Dont Get Lucky, Get Smart
The Dragon Doesnt Live Here Anymore
Handle with Prayer*
Happily Even After*
Have You Hugged a Monster Today?
I Had It All the Time
Joy Is My Compass*
Lifestyles of the Rich in Spirit*
Lindens Last Life*
Looking In for Number One
Mr. Everits Secret
My Fathers Voice
The Peace That You Seek
Relax into Wealth
Rising in Love*
Setting the Seen
Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do about It
Wisdom of the Heart*

*Available from Hay House

Please visit Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com;
Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au; Hay House UK:
www.hayhouse.co.uk; Hay House South Africa: www.hayhouse.co.za;
Hay House India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Copyright 2010 by Alan Cohen

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in theUnited Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published anddistributed in the Republic of South Africa 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

Editorial supervision: Jill Kramer Design: Julie Davison

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 author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. 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.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cohen, Alan.

A daily dose of sanity : a five-minute soul recharge for every day of the year /

Alan Cohen. -- 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-4019-2588-8

1. Conduct of life. 2. Life skills. I. Title.

BJ1581.2.C537 2010

204.32--dc22

2009015220

ISBN: 978-1-4019-2588-8

13 12 11 10 4 3 2 1
1st edition, February 2010
Printed in the United States of America

To Louise L. Hay,
whose life and teachings
have immeasurably blessed me
and many millions.
The world is closer to heaven
for you being here.

If you judge the world by newscasts, economic indicators, talk radio, and conversations at the watercooler, it looks pretty insane. People are worried about paying their bills, politicians are being indicted, global warming is raising sea levels, health care is not helping people who need it, education is faltering, and the news is far more depressing than encouraging. If there is one thing we need as individuals and as a world, it is a good dose of sanity.

If you step back and view life on Earth from a higher plateau, however, you will come to several significant insights:

1. There is nothing new about weirdness in the world. Practically every epoch has been colored by fear, mistrust, and dissension.

2. Somehow we always seem to figure things out, move ahead, and parlay our challenges into assets.

3. There is a small group of people who refuse to be ruled by fear; who infuse vision, passion, and a sense of hope and confidence into the world; and who help it progress by holding a broader awareness than that of the masses.

If you would like to be one of those who maintain a clear mind and open heart while others do not, this book will give you inspiration, insight, and tools to do so. And if you have no aspiration to be a world-change agent, but simply wish to keep your head on straight and find a sense of inner peace to carry you through your day, all the better. The messages that follow will show you that you are far bigger than the news, and you have the power to live the life you choose regardless of what others say or do.

Every day your life is renewed upon awakening, and you have an opportunity to head in a new direction. Starting your day with a positive, empowering thought can make a huge difference in all that follows. The passages in this book will uplift you and help you make wise decisions at the crossroads you face during your day. If you read the message before you get into your activities, your day will surely go better. And if you read it at another hour, you will find refreshment, respite, and energy to carry on and make the latter part of your day effective and enjoyable.

Each entry contains a theme, a quotation highlighting the theme, a real-life story or parable illustrating a practical lesson, a question for you to consider, and an affirmation. The entries do not seek to provide you with answers as much as they point you to find your own. Ultimately, the mastery of your life lies in your own hands. As you take these messages in and use them, you will own them and their benefits for the rest of your life.

The principles of A Daily Dose of Sanity are spiritually based. They acknowledge the presence of a Higher Power behind and beyond the appearances of daily life. Call this power God, Source, Great Spirit, Life Force, Pure Love, Universal Intelligence, Well-being, the Tao, or any other name you likeit is the same. If you are uncomfortable with any term you find here, feel free to substitute your own, or just pass by it until you come upon language more to your liking. We do not need to get hung up on words; the essence of the message is far more important.

This book is not associated with any particular religion, organization, or spiritual path. It is offered to everyone in any religion or no religion, group member or solo flier, who wants to grow, make more sense of his or her life, and be happier and more successful.

All of the stories you will read are true, except for several parables passed down through a long oral tradition, which may not be literally true but represent life principles based in truth. The true-life anecdotes occurred to me personally or to someone in my firsthand experience. To honor the privacy of some of the individuals, I have changed names or identifying details.

When outer times seem dark, inner light shines the brightest. If you are experiencing a difficulty, these principles will bring you relief, healing, and a significant positive shift toward the happiness and success you seek and deserve. If you are already doing well, these messages will take you to an even better place. If that happens, or any portion thereof, I will take delight in knowing that my efforts are founded in a sanity that heals.