The Official Website of Michael Corthell

In 'It's a Wonderful Life'  An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.  We are all on Earth for a reason  Think of your past and give yourself credit for the good you have done, the people you have influenced and the joy you have brought. This Christmas season, whenever you hear a bell ring, think of something good you have done for others.  by Michael Corthell "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." — Charles Dickens "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" may be the most famous phrase in the history of the United States. It is a God-given right protected by the Constitution. We are guaranteed the right to chase that happiness. How happy and joyful we become is entirely up to us. So, how do we pursue that happiness, that joyfulness? Let's take a look. Being sad, being disappointed, or facing severe challeng

Lizzie is not a complainer. Follow her on You Tube . by Michael Corthell We all choose to complain from time to time. We sometimes don't even know that we're complaining. Sometimes a common complaint can help bond two people, but too much complaining may just break down the relationship. Some people say, "Why do I complain, no one listens anyway.'' (I wonder why??) I like to tell people, ''The complaint department is on the 99th floor and there are no elevators.''   ''Instead of complaining that the rose bush is full of thorns,  be happy the thorn bush has roses.'' —Abraham Lincoln We've all known people who complain long and loud, they are the ones who constantly gripe about their health, their family, their relationships, their job, and the list goes on and on. They are never happy with anything. (because they are not happy with themselves) And every time you hang out with them you are left feeling drained.

by Michael Corthell Peace, love, and joy. How can everyone attain and keep them? First of all, I can tell you how not to find them or how to lose these three things once you have found them — by having a negative mindset. Be positive in thought and action always. There are certain things you have to do in order to create a positive mindset. Your new, joy-filled and happy life awaits you by discovering how to keep your thoughts positive, and by having a positive mindset. ''The fruit that the Spirit(God) produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.'' — Galatians 5:22-23 First, you must CHOOSE to think positively. Then have a look at these suggestions: 1. First, realize and remember always, that your thoughts create your life , in fact, they determine what your future becomes. Your life becomes what your thoughts make it.

''In a true democracy, every person can have all they need, all the basics of life plus the highest standard of living possible equal to their peers. If your nation (or global civilization) does not provide for you; the highest-quality universal healthcare, housing, education, transportation, or anything that allows you the opportunity for a safe, happy, and fulfilling life, you are not free and do not live in a true democracy. Why? Because morally and ethically all of the Earth's resources are the common inheritance of all the world's people and should be shared equally for the benefit of all the Earth's inhabitants.'' During wars and even natural disasters, even the most respectable people can be seen fighting over food and resources -- that's because when a person's basic needs are not met, they resort to whatever behavior is necessary to ensure the necessities of life for themselves and their families. By making the necessities of life available

 by Michael Corthell In every new day there lies a choice. A choice to change your life in a positive way by turning from negative thoughts and embracing positive ones. One of the things standing between us and the life we want is the good healthy habits we want but don't have, and the bad unhealthy habits we have but don't want. The best way to develop good habits is FIRST getting positive about life.  All good things flow from positivity. Then we start by identifying the bad habits (sometimes they're hidden). Then overwhelm the bad ones with good ones! ''It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.'' —Benjamin Franklin The following menu list is categorized to make it simple to read and easy to use. It is a MENU for you to pick and choose from. Just scan this list of good daily habits to find the routines that fit your life! Remember that the hardest part of change is the decision to change. Please note that we are not all th

by Michael Corthell There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path . Which means that the life given to you by God is 'good' always(but often in retrospect).  Being happy with the journey back to him and your spiritual existence is your happiness. The wise  make the best use of every episode in life, good or bad to experience the joy of oneness with creation.    Pilgrim's Progress, from This World, to That Which Is to Come by John Bunyan is about that path. Written in 1678, Pilgrim's Progress is purported to be the first novel penned in the English language. It is a story about the journey of awaking, and an interesting read. I highly recommend it. How do we, who are on this path through life, first come to the understanding that our life is a journey of learning and preparation?  This can be difficult and can seem complex—at first. (It is complex, but that is the 'backend of the business' and God's got you covered on that, so there is no need

by Michael Corthell Define happiness in terms of  living  a good life, or flourishing,  rather than simply as an emotion.  A happy life is a positive life. Life is both a serious business and a game we all play. Some of us play at it better than others, and they are the people you see smiling all the time - they are happy, and joyful in their lives. Do you want to be one of them? I believe that you do. There are some parts of life that are seemingly secret. I say secret because they are so obvious we often take them for granted sometimes. Some of us need to be reminded often, others are just naturally happy. ''The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.''   ― Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking What is the number one secret?   Choose to be happy! When you

If you want to be happy, and fulfilled, choose goals that command your thoughts, liberate your energy and inspires your hope! by Michael Corthell Do you like setting goals? Many people set a goals for themselves and rarely achieve them because the goals are either too unrealistic or the time-line for reaching them is too short or there are too many goals in play at one time. Top-level athletes, successful business-people and achievers in all fields all set goals . Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses your acquisition of knowledge, and helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life. ''A Goal is a dream with a deadline.'' —Napoleon Hill Trying to ignore needed goals and objectives is like ignoring a hungry cat or crying baby. It just shouldn't be done. They both have to be fed and nurtured. There is a 'smart' way to go about it. Specific, M

by Michael Corthell [Short answer: Yes, by and through giving] Shining a light and talking about money management in any moral context such as creating wealth, controlling the weight of debt, and investment income can be like lighting a match next to a case of dynamite. Money is like any other tool— it can be used for good, to create something good, or used to destroy—the use depends on the mindset of the user. It is very easy to let a healthy interest in asset/money management become an unhealthy obsession with materialism. ''The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have turned away from what we believe because they want to get more and more money. But they have caused themselves a lot of pain and sorrow.'' — 1 Timothy 6:10            Today we will explore the ways God wants us to view money as a means of exchange and investment, plus our attitude toward material goods. As with practically everything in life good management is all about b

“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” ― Robert Frost There really is a fountain of youth. It is contained within your mind, and resides with your talents, and the creativity you bring to life. “The wisest are the most annoyed at the loss of time.” ― Dante Alighieri

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” ― Abraham Lincoln Your actions create either happiness or sorrow. 

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Laughter is a preventative medicine, and as such a religion that inspires kindness and compassion.

“Thoughts Become Things... Choose The Good Ones!” ― Mike Dooley When you experience a beautiful moment as you go through your day memorialize it, honor it so you don't forget it. That's true gratitude.  Give it a try and the world will take on new meaning.

  Love yourself enough to live a healthy, happy lifestyle. “I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health.”  – Voltaire

Not everybody is super-smart, but every body is. And it will heal itself if you let it. “Everything is within your power, and your power is within you.” ― Janice Trachtman,   Catching What Life Throws at You: Inspiring True Stories of Healing  

  ''For every day that you are angry, you lose 24 hours of happiness.'' When you are peaceful and happy, when you say yes to your life, when you are having fun and projecting positivity, you become a bright star at the center of your universe. “A flower blossoms for its own joy.” ― Oscar Wilde

by Michael Corthell We all complain. We sometimes don't even know that we're complaining. Sometimes a common complaint can help bond two people, but too much complaining may just break down the relationship.   ''Instead of complaining that the rose bush is full of thorns,  be happy the thorn bush has roses.'' —Abraham Lincoln Again, a positive mindset. Thank you Mr. Lincoln. We've all known people who complain long and loud, they are the ones who constantly gripe about their health, their family, their relationships, their job, and the list goes on and on. They are never happy with anything. (because they are not happy with themselves) And every time you hang out with them you are left feeling drained. No matter what you say or do, it never seems to help. There may be no arguing that they are going through a tough time, but their negative attitude certainly makes matters worse and is probably the cause of their cycle of ''bad luck

Having all that you need, as well as  recognizing that you have all you need, equals happiness. “I've found that the less stuff I own, the less my stuff owns me.” ― Nathan W. Morris

The secret of a blissful happy life consists of practicing laughter, silence, breathing and meditation  

“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It's your masterpiece after all.” ― Nathan W. Morris In the practice of minimalism I intentionally promote the things I most value in my life and remove anything that devalues it. “The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don't.” ― Joshua Becker