Ziggy-isms: Life According to Ziggy

Here are some great and funny quotes on life, or “Ziggy-isms”, by Tom Wilson, creator of the cartoon character Ziggy:

It doesn't pay to live in the past ... there's no future in it.

Survival is the art of making the least of the worst and the most of the least!

We should enjoy here while we're here cause there's no here, there!

You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.

We should enjoy the here and now! ‘cause it’s only here now!

The only difference between the wrong way and the right way to reach your goal depends on where you’re coming from.

Many of us are more capable than some of us...but none of us is as capable as all of us!

These days an income is something you can't live without--or within.

Honesty is the best image.

If life seems like it's all uphill, you must be reaching your peak.

A smile is a facelift that's in everyone's price range!

A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose.

About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you're fighting temptation.

Happiness doesn't depend on how much you have to enjoy, but how much you enjoy what you have.

I try not to worry about the future - so I take each day just one anxiety attack at a time.

I wouldn't mind the rat race - if the rats would lose once in a while.

If I ever had an out-of-body experience - I'd try to come back to a different one.

Friendship is to be purchased only by friendship. A man may have authority over others, but he can never have their hearts but by giving his own.

The best thing you can do is get very good at being you.

Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. Sometimes age just shows up all by itself.
Mosquitoes remind us that we are not as high up on the food chain as we think.

Try not to worry... take each day just one anxiety attack at a time.

How come ''fat chance'' and ''slim chance'' mean the same thing?

Don’t measure yourself by the problems you face…measure yourself by the problems you’ve faced up to!

Flowers help make up for all the ugly in the world.

Sometimes I feel like life is a black tie affair…and all I’ve got in my wardrobe is t-shirts.
My reality check bounced!

There’s a thin person inside me screaming to get out. …But he’s outnumbered!

Basically, everything is subject to change without notice.

I don’t have a spending problem. I just have a ‘paying for it’ problem!

I just ate six happy meals and I am still depressed!

Go Ahead and Laugh! It's Good for Your Heart.

Research shows that laughter actually protects the heart.  researchers don't know exactly why, but studies show that when we're stressed, the endothelium - the protective layer in our blood vessels - decreases, thus allowing cholesterol to build up in our arteries.  Heartfelt laughter can lower the serum cortisol released during a stress response and can, therefore, lower the risk of hardening of the arteries.

It has also been linked to lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes; it increases antibodies and killer cells in our bloodstreams, thus helping us fight off disease; and it increases blood flow.

So how do we use laughter in our daily lives? How do we turn the tide of negativity and stress that so often makes up the bulk of our days?  

We simply make a choice.

Decide in your head that you're going to seek out the positive - the humor - in any given situation. Granted, not all situations warrant laughter or smiling. But the next time you see another person, anywhere, smile at him or her. Not only will you feel better, they will too; and it's fun to watch people's reactions.

Flood your mind with thoughts that make you smile - a good joke, a friends you haven't seen in a while, a great trip you once took, a goal you reached or are going to conquer - anything positive that will bring a smile to your face or make you laugh. That's half the battle; the body naturally takes over from there.

When you're confronted with a stressful situation, smiling actually reverses the stress-induced chemical response in your body. And chances are that if you smile, the situation will be diffuses before you can even think about stressing out.

In every aspect of your daily life and interaction with others, a smile goes a long way in getting people to do things you may need or want. We do make a conscious choice over what emotions we allow to flood our bodies. Laughter and smiling are natural physical responses to those emotions. 

And now that you know laughter ans smiling can actually make you feel better and live a longer, healthier life, well, there's no other choice - laughter really is the best medicine.

"Laughter is an instant vacation." - Milton Berle

See more laughter quotes at:
Laughter Quotes

Storms Bring Out The Eagles by Helen Steiner Rice

When the "storms of life" gather darkly ahead,
I think of these wonderful words I once read
And I say to myself as "threatening clouds" hover
Don't "fold up your wings" and "run for cover"

But like the eagle "spread wide your wings"
and "soar far above" the trouble life brings,
For the eagle knows that the higher he flies
The more tranquil and brighter become the skies...

And there is nothing in life God ever asks us to bear
That we can't soar above "On the Wings of Prayer,"
And in looking back over the "storm you passed through"
You'll find you gained strength and new courage, too,

For in facing "life's storms" with an eagle's wings
You can fly far above earth's small, petty things.

by Helen Steiner Rice

How To Be Happy: Be Unwilling To Be Sad

Stop trying so hard. The message came to me in meditation. I was trying so hard to reach a specific goal, but fell short of my expectation. I fell into a deep sadness. I thought reaching that goal would make me happy.

But the real lesson is that happiness doesn't teach us how to be happy. Sadness does.

The pursuit of happiness focuses on only one side of the equation. It skips over sadness, grief, frustration, disappointment and failure. All of the tough emotions that shape our daily lives. Happiness is a nice thing to feel, but trying to keep it gets us into trouble.

We place this unspoken pressure on ourselves to be happy. If we have a bad day, or something unexpected happens, we feel like we have to force ourselves to cheer up and see the positive lessons in the situation.

The problem is that we don't allow ourselves to be true to who we are in each moment. We feel an enormous amount of pressure to get — and stay — happy. We see self-help mavens pumping out mantras and positive posts (myself included) that make their lives look super glossy, as if they have it all figured out.

But the thing self-help teachers and wellness experts don't seem to talk about? Our struggles. And they're a prerequisite to being human, so whether we talk about them or not, they still happen.

When those teachers and experts only show one side of the equation, the rest of us fall victim to thinking we are the ones broken, unfixable, and others have it figured out. We stay stuck, forcing a smile to exclaim we are happy, when inside we're confused, lonely and sad. Whenever you look outside of yourself for happiness, you will set yourself up for unhappiness.

Comparing yourself to others is the fastest way to stay unhappy, so do yourself a favor and just stop thinking you need to be like them or that you need to have it all figured out. The problem is not with you. The problem is in the pursuit.

When we put others on pedestals, we separate ourselves and feel disconnected. This also prevents us from feeling happy. Don't let the positive posts fool you: there's always more to the story. I have a best-selling book on happiness and I've been called the joy guru, but none of this would have been possible if I didn't embrace my shadow side.

I use to think that sharing my struggle would somehow discredit me, that I would become irrelevant, or disregarded. After all, as seekers, don't we want to learn from people who have already made it? The ones who have it all figured out?

But the more vulnerable I became with my writing, the more connected I felt to my readers.

The secret is that no one has it all figured out. We're all living the best way we can, and for today that's enough. We're all mirrors reflecting one another so we can learn more about our own selves.

If you're struggling to be happy, maybe it's your belief about happiness that's keeping you from being happy.

Here are five beliefs to break up with if you want to be happy:

1. If you're sad, you can't be happy.

Give yourself permission to be real. Be honest with yourself and express your true nature in each moment. If that means you're sad, let yourself feel it. Fully embrace the emotions in each moment. That's the true essence of a happy life.

When you can be in your life fully, moment to moment, you will rise above any challenging setback unscathed and proud of the little victories.

2. Positive thinking will make you happy.

Each second of life is an opportunity to learn, discover and embrace a piece of you yet to be nourished. You don't have to power through it with positive thoughts. Sometimes positivity can blind you from the lessons you need to learn.

Although I consider myself a happy person, I have moments of sadness, fear, depression and insecurity. I can't think my way out of those moments. I have to address the emotions and feel my feelings. Overshadowing them with positive thoughts would do us a disservice and prevent us from learning the lessons.

3. Happiness is a destination.

Life will do its part, and will present opportunities to help you grow. Your part is to show up for the lessons.

Yes, happiness is exciting and joyful, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. If we were happy all the time, we wouldn't know what we truly have. We actually need sadness, depression, tears and vulnerability to be able to appreciate the joy-filled moments.

When we can fully go into our loneliness, grief, sadness and pain, we can come out stronger, smarter, wiser and more connected to our true selves. So instead of trying to be happy, be present.

4. Rock bottom is bad.

What I've learned is sometimes we get knocked down lower than ever, so we can rise up higher than ever. I've hit rock bottom and it was the biggest blessing. It was a wake up call and opportunity for realignment to my true self.

The pain, addiction, sadness and grief we experience are nothing to be ashamed of. It is an opportunity for personal growth and self-understanding. If you're going through a difficult time right now, you are not alone. You are being groomed for greatness. Don't miss the opportunity by forcing yourself to be happy. Instead give yourself the ultimate gift of living a fulfilled life by being present in your journey.

5. Other people don't struggle as much as you.

Have you ever noticed your favorite song lyrics, the best-selling book or the memorable movie are drenched in emotion and epic battles of self-discovery? There is always pain, but there can be beauty in breakdown. And that is the real happiness.

If you're alive, you will struggle. Take comfort in knowing that part of being human is understanding and feeling all range of emotions. You can live your life fully by going into each moment and embracing it. That is real happiness and how to live a fulfilling life.

by Shannon Kaiser