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The ABCs of Successful and Happy Living
Pocketbook Series

We all have access to the ideas and wisdom of philosophers, scientists, spiritual leaders, writers, etc. through books, CDs, DVDs, and a multitude of other media. But after the book has been set aside, or we have left the church or the DVD ends, our minds immediately move on to the next event. We forget that important lesson or inspired insight we experienced, even though we wanted to remember it. The distractions of everyday life take over our consciousness and that valuable perception is lost or at least is tucked away in our memory as a small pathway or neural code.

But we can take control of remembering that recollection through a process that is as simple as remembering the alphabet. Twenty six keywords in alphabetical order are not difficult to remember, especially when we have written them ourselves. For instance, Abundance, Become and Critical are the first three keywords the author uses in Universal Aphorisms (© 2007).

"Abundance: we already have it. How can there be a lack in the Universe?"

"We Become what we practice most."

"Being Critical only hurts ourselves."

This Abundance maxim reminds us that we have everything we need on this earth. The Universe exists perfectly. The Universe would not have any iota or particle that is lacking, missing, a mistake or moving backward. And since we are a vital and existing part of the Universe, we too cannot have any part or particle that is lacking, missing, a mistake or moving backward. The Universe provides. Since we are an integral part of the Universe, the Universe has provided for us. We just need to trust that.

The Become saying helps us to remember that if we want something enough, we will repetitively work to attain it. Practice makes Perfect. When we continually try to master a task, we are in the process of becoming united with that task. Conversely, when we want something enough we will make a persistent effort to make that happen.

The Critical adage prompts us to consider that every time we think or speak disparagingly of ourselves or another, we are inhibiting our progress rather than promoting it.

To remember these three important attitudes, all we have to do is remember A,B,C. Abundance, Become, Critical. Then, when we are waiting for the dentist to finish drilling, or standing in line at the grocery store, or mindlessly washing the dishes, we silently repeat the ABC keywords and thus the aphorism for A, B and C. This spiritual practice keeps important values at the forefront of our consciousness so that when life presents a lesson, we are ready.

Defend, Encourage and Find are three keywords in Relationship Actions (©2007) that help us to keep in mind that we want to defend those who are too weary to defend themselves. We can actively encourage those who think they are helpless. We can also make the attempt to reach out and find those that are seemingly lost in life. The reader is prompted to remember to act in ways that foster closer human connections:

"Defend the Weary"

"Encourage the Helpless"

"Find the Lost"

New Testment Axioms (©2009) is filled with twenty six of the most beautiful metaphors, proverbs and other counsel from the New Testment. Who can forget the eternal metaphorical and Universal promise: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Or the sage advice, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Or the meaning of the story of the woman whose punishment was to be stoned to death: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone at her." Alway, Blessed and Cast are the keywords for this volume from the pocketbook series, The ABCs of Happy and Successful Living.

Thoughts such as, "I am not alone"; "If my thoughts are pure, I shall see God"; "Who am I to judge?" are universal precepts in nearly all major religions. And because we have repeatedly spoken these words to ourselves for many months, they have become a larger part of the brain’s neural code which governs both thought and behavior.

A group of top educators at a Magnet School conference were asked to sum up their love of learning with one word. A more exciting, inspiring and astonishing list of learning attitudes has never been compiled. Enlightening! Fantastic! Great! Heart-pounding! are some of the words that illustrate the feelings generated when we finally ‘get’ something. These are the E, F, G, and H words in the book Learning Affirmations (©2008).

The pocket books are designed to be carried so that they can be referred to often. In a pocket or a handbag, a glove compartment or desk drawer, we have access to not only the wisdom that the author has accumulated over a lifetime but also our own insights. The series is designed for readers to create their own alphabetical list of important sayings to be remembered during times of need. Each book has space for notes and a means of at least starting our own personal list. We may make a list that incorporates what we think is important to remember in life or we may choose to memorize the author’s keywords and sayings. We can even use the mini books as a brief daily meditations or topics for prayer. The small but powerful books of can be of great benefit to our attempts to improve our behaviors and attitudes.

The nature photography in these diminutive books is always unique and sometimes spectacular! Taken from locations all over the world, the vibrant color and imaginative framing of each shot helps to illustrate the saying for better retention. Some of the stunning backdrops for the sayings include a picture of the deepest aquamarine sea off the Napali Coast of Kauai taken from a helicopter, the purple-pink sunset behind Mt. Lassen taken from a small rowboat in the middle of a 7,000 foot lake, an immense triangular tube structure taken through a multitude of ascending connected stars on the mall in Washington, D.C., frozen glacial horizons in Switzerland that no longer exist and views straight up massive tree trunks in Sequoia National Park. Such landscapes and appealing natural formations provide the stunning backdrops for each saying. Dazzling waterfalls, unbelievable sunsets, sparkling rainbows, a close up of a simple strawberry, a mountaintop peeping through the clouds: all provide deep inspiration and musing.

What can these books do for you? They can improve your reality, help you to reclaim the joy in your life, help you release stress and negative emotions, help you learn to both study and concentrate, help you to let go of the past and reinforce more positive attitudes. These portable companions can be perfect gifts, helping friends and loved ones contemplate their place in the Universe with more serenity. All of us want to understand the human condition. Few of us have the time to spend getting a little closer to our inner, more universal selves. These books are actually collections of daily one-minute meditations with straightforward, enlightening quotations that are easy to remember. Any one of the twenty-six individual philosophies could be just the message you need to hear to address that persistent problem in your life.