Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine (sm)

"Positive Psychology to the Rescue"(sm)
September 2006

Published by Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D., CMC
Founder & CEO, Patten Coaching & Consulting
www.pattencoaching.com

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In This Issue:

1. Preview

2. You Can Be Happier Now

3. Getting into Action

4. Looking Ahead

1. Preview

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine explores how to progress rapidly from dreams to action.  It is a free monthly email newsletter written by Maurine D. Patten, life/business coach and clinical psychologist.

Using Positive Psychology, topics are presented from the perspective of Maurine Patten and are provided to help you get the results you want.  It will help you manage change, improve your Emotional Intelligence and make better decisions with less effort. 

Summer is quickly drawing to a close.  My hope for you is that you have had some fun times during the last three months which you can deposit in your "happiness account". 

This issue focuses on what we can learn from Positive Psychology that will increase our happiness without having to make major life changes. 

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2. You Can Be Happier Now

Richard Layard, a British economist says that we have been living on a happiness plateau for the last fifty years.  In spite of the fact that during this time in the U.S., there has been spurts of positive income growth, purchasing power and an unbelievable increase in luxuries.  This disconnect between what we have and what we feel has created much interest among social scientists, psychologists and writers which has led to a significant amount of research in the area of happiness. 

From the ongoing research and publications on happiness, we know money does not make us happy once basic needs are met.  Things that do make us happy are: family, friends, meaningful work that we enjoy, community involvement, less getting and more giving, gratefulness for what we have, and less watching television. 
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3. Getting into Action

We also know how we choose to think about things can affect our level of happiness.  The article "Sweet Remembrance" in the July issue of Psychology Today, points out how positive memories can increase our feelings of happiness and help us be healthier.  To do this as an exercise, take fifteen to twenty minutes a day to think about happy experiences.  Replay them in color in your head as if you were watching a movie.  Capture the feeling that goes with it.  You can do this before you fall asleep at night.  In addition to decreasing feelings of depression and improving your health, it can:

  • Motivate you.
  • Give you a sense of meaning and purpose.
  • Boost your mood.
  • Decrease stress.
  • Increase self-esteem.
  • Improve friendships and close relationships.
  • Help you cope with problems more effectively.
  • Increase your sense of well-being.
When doing this exercise, be sure to focus on how positive it was then rather than focusing on the event being over now.  To imporve your mood, it is important to see each good event as permanently enriching.  

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4. Looking Ahead

As we move into fall, my challenge for you is:
  • Make a list of your favorite summer memories.
  • Find some photos or mementos to reimind you of your positive memories.
  • Choose one and use visual imagery or a mental snapshot to savor the experience and feeling.  Enjoy.
One of my special memories to savor this summer was trying to guess what my birthday present was blindfolded.  This was to the delight of my two graddaughters, daughter and husband who had gotten me a kayak - and yes, I did guess it.

What challenges lie ahead for you this fall?  Positive Psychology can hellp you move forward confidently.  Using Positive Psychology, I can help you be successful.  I look forward to hearing from you, mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com

Maurine Patten
mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com

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Contact Information

Patten Coaching & Consulting

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Fax: 630-584-8868
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E-Mail: mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com
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With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue to fit your space requirements. Republication also is encouraged under other circumstances. However, the advance permission of Patten Coaching and Consulting must be obtained in the event that changes in the text are desired.

Mission

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is dedicated to inspiring and expanding your perspective in order for you to move forward in your personal and professional life.

Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine is a publication of Patten Coaching & Consulting; CEO, Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D., CMC,  mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com

We would like Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine to be as interactive as possible. If you have feedback, comments, topics you would like addressed, or can suggest additional resources to benefit us all, please email us at any time. Send your e-mail to ezinefeedback@pattencoaching.com.

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Archives

You can read previous issues of Achieving Personal Fulfillment Ezine in our archives on our archives page.

About Maurine D. Patten, Ed.D., CMC

Maurine Patten is a clinical pychologist and certified life coach. Her professional career includes: independent business owner (25 years), Assistant Professor at Chicago State University and consultant for education and business. She is a graduate of the MentorCoach program and a member of the International Coach Federation. She is experienced in training and management development for large national and international firms. She has a strong background in working with individuals and couples on clarifying and achieving goals.

Dr. Patten has training in coaching, Emotional Intelligence, retirement assessment and planning, cognitive therapy and health psychology. She has published articles, made presentations, and conducted workshops about::
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Creating a Fulfilling Retirement 
  • Anxiety and Achievement
  • Stress Management
  • Setting and Achieving Goals 
  • Self-Esteem
  • Communication Skills
  • Marital/relationship Enrichment
  • Wellness Issues

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