Five Rules of Happiness

I got these five rules of happiness from a book by Jose Silva and Burt Goldman “Silva Mind Control Method of Mental Dynamics”.

Five rules of happiness:

1. If you like a thing, enjoy it.
2. If you don’t like a thing, avoid it.
3. If you don’t like a thing and you cannot avoid it, change it.
4. If you don’t like a thing, cannot avoid it, and cannot or will not change it, accept it.
5. You accept a thing by changing your attitude towards it.

If you like a thing, enjoy it. It sounds simple, but sometimes it is one of the hardest things to do. I think it is about being present, fully aware about what you are doing and enjoy every moment of it. For me, it is enjoying a cup of coffee mocha in the morning, reading a good book or writing journal.

If you don’t like a thing, avoid it. If you don’t like a thing and you can avoid it, just avoid it. It is something under your control, but sometimes it also requires courage to say no. For example, if you do not like clubbing and your friends ask you to go, just say no.

If you don’t like a thing and you cannot avoid it, change it. If you do not like something and you are the one who needs to do it, then change it. For example, if someone is overweight and there is no one else who can shed the weight except that person, then change it through better eating habits and doing exercises.

If you don’t like a thing, cannot avoid it, and cannot or will not change it, accept it. You accept a thing by changing your attitude towards it. An excellent example for rule no 4 and 5 is my previous post The Value of Rp. 300,000. I didn’t like to pay that Rp300,000, I couldn’t avoid it because I’ve taken the test, I couldn’t change it, so I accepted it. I accepted it by changing my attitude and perception. Instead of looking at it as a loss, I am now able to see it as a valuable lesson and a great learning experience. By changing my attitude, my perception, I feel happier.

Learn and Grow!

Pay Insurance Premium Monthly and Get Double Protection

A few days ago I attended an interesting presentation from an insurance company (Sequislife Indonesia). Some details of the illustration:

• The sum assured for life insurance is Rp.100,000,000 (USD 10,000) and there is an additional investment in mutual fund managed by Schroder. It is assumed that the return of the investment is around 17% a year.
• There is also a health coverage for critical illness, hospital expenses up to Rp.220,000,000 per year.
• The annual premium is Rp.15,000,000 (around USD 1,500)
• The payment premium period is 8 years

Although it is a very good program, the considerably high annual premium payment may deter some people to take this program. The insurance company offers a monthly payment program but there is better alternative.

The solution is to use an automatic saving plan offered by some banks. In this case, I’ll use Mandiri Tabungan Rencana (MTR) offered by Bank Mandiri. Some details of MTR:

• The minimum term is one year (it can be up to 20 years)
• The minimum monthly saving is Rp.100,000 (USD 10)
• The interest is 0.5% higher than the bank saving rate. At the time of writing, the interest is 4.25% p.a
• There is an insurance coverage from PT AJ Manulife up to Rp.5,000,000 (USD 500) per month in case of death or total permanent disability. The insurance premium is basically free because it is paid by the Bank.

How can you use this?

1. If you decide to take the program illustrated above this month, you need to pay the first annual payment, Rp.15,000,000 in full.
2. In the same month, open an account in Bank Mandiri and start an MTR program.
3. Choose one year term and monthly saving of Rp.1,250,000. It will be automatically debited from your account every month so you do not need to worry about missing any payments.
4. At the end of the one year term, use the collected amount of Rp.15,000,000 to pay for the insurance premium.
5. Repeat Step 3

What are the benefits of using this method?

• Pay monthly instead of annually
• Get additional protection for free
• Earn interest on your monthly saving that’s even higher than the interest in regular saving account

You may be able to use this method with any insurance company or banks of your choosing that may offer similar programs. Please check thoroughly with your insurance company or bank before making any decision.

Learn and Grow!

Disclaimer:

All information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. This blog post is not meant as a financial advice. I’m only sharing my experience.

What Is Your Spending Weakness?

 

What is your spending weakness? For me, it is books. I usually find it hard to go into a bookstore without buying a book. I have two rooms just to keep my book collection. The bookcases that you see above are already full although I have already arranged two rows of books per rack.

I realize that I splurge on books and sometimes I buy  because I am afraid that I will not be able to find it again when I need it. Now I do not worry so much because of Amazon.

In the last few months, I’ve cut back my spending on books and I only buy books that I really want to read straight away. I also start to read those books that I have bought but not read yet.

I think we all have our own spending weakness. As you can see in the photo below, my sister’s weakness is clothes.

 

Some other things that I can think of:

• DVDs, CDs
• Soft toys
• Shoes, bags, accessories
• Fridge magnets and other souvenirs

What about you?

Learn and Grow!

Whistle While You Work – Heeding Your Life’s Calling

I have just finished preparing for my presentation which will be held at GSJA Injil Sepenuh tonight. The topic is “Whistle While You Work, Heeding Your Life’s Calling” based on a book with the same title by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro.

Last week, I prepared the presentation on different topic “Living a Positive Life” but two nights ago, suddenly I felt that the topic of heeding life’s calling was more appropriate.

The objective of the seminar is to understand the importance of motivation and to have a motivation to serve. I believe that living our life’s calling is the ultimate motivation because when we do what we are called to do, what we are good at, what we love to do, then the motivation is automatically there.

While preparing for this topic, I did the exercise of finding my calling card. The exercise really helped me to clarify my calling. My calling is to put things together and to advance ideas that empower others to discover and develop their potential through performing events.

When I asked my family and friends to do the exercise, they also found it very valuable. It can be an eye-opening experience for some people because they can see how everything seems to fit together. I’ve also seen people having an A-HA moment when they realize what their calling is, sometimes for the first time in their lives.

I have the desire to help more people to discover and heed their callings through seminars and coaching so that I can take part in making this world a better and happier place.

Learn and Grow!

What is the Meaning of Life?

In Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Man’s Search For Meaning”

…the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.

…Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked… each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.

I often ask and ponder “What is the meaning of my life?” I often search for the magic formula that states “My life is ….”Until now, I still do not know the answer to that question and I haven’t found the magic formula either.

After reading Viktor E. Frankl’s book, I realize that the meaning of life changes from time to time. It is not just one thing, one meaning, nor a magic formula. It is how I respond to a specific situation that gives meaning to my life. I am the one and only who can give meaning to my life by answering life’s gifts and challenges.

Once again, being responsible for our lives gives it meaning!

Learn and Grow!

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

I’ve heard rave reviews about Viktor E. Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning” for years. Yesterday I finally read the book. I was captivated and I read it in one sitting. There were so many gems inside the book. If you have not read it, I really recommend this book for you to read. One passage that I’d like to share with you today:

“…everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. And there were always choices to make. Everyday, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you would become the plaything of circumstance,…”

If the last of human freedom that can’t be taken away is the freedom to choose our attitudes in any given circumstances, then we will have no excuse for not being responsible for our own lives.

“I AM RESPONSIBLE”

How often do we try to avoid taking this responsibility? How often do we blame other people for our circumstances and our feelings? How often do we look to the outside instead of inside ourselves?

Personal growth starts when we accept that whatever happens, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE. “I AM RESPONSIBLE”  is the starting point because it gives us complete control of our thoughts, our attitudes, our feelings, and finally what kind of person we become.

Today, let us take responsibility of our own lives! Take back what is truly ours…the last human freedom…the freedom to choose our attitude!

Learn and Grow!

Winning Again! The Law of Attraction in Action!

Yesterday I went to Sekawan to buy three books for PMK Rhema 12th Anniversary door prize gifts. When I paid for the books, I was told that last month’s winning date was May 5th. Sekawan bookshop has a program that every month, they will draw a lottery to choose a winning date of the month and whatever you buy on that winning date, you will get 100% discount! You get a voucher that you can use before the 16th of the following month. When I got home, I went through my receipt and YES,I WON!

This morning I was so enthusiastic going back to Sekawan bookstore to get my free voucher. I used the voucher straight away because it would expire on June 16th. I bought a best seller book "Laskar Pelangi" with it.

It’s really amazing. The law of attraction is working in many aspects of my life.

Learn and Grow!

Uncluttering and Organizing My Books

Yesterday I spent the whole day uncluttering and organizing my personal library.

My book collection has grown considerably over the years. At the moment I have more than 1000 books excluding fiction and comics. I really love books and I rarely go to a bookshop without buying at least one book.

I’ve been crazy about reading since I was small and able to read. My reading habit is mostly shaped by my parents who encourage me to read as much as possible since I was very young. I remember how my parents only allowed me to use my pocket money to buy books. They also gave me unlimited budget to buy books when I was at school. They even taught me how to open and manage my own book rental when I was in primary school. I believe that parents have a very big role in shaping their children’s reading habit.

Lessons:
1. Develop your children’s love and respect for books and knowledge

2. Become a role model for your children, have a reading time together instead of watching TV.

3. Have a personal library at home and encourage them to take part in growing and organizing the library

Learn and Grow!

Inge Santoso