Guest Post and Giveaway: Bryan Cohen

by Bryan Cohen

*guest*

Bryan Cohen
*guest*

Bryan Cohen here, guest poster and author, promoting my new book The Post-College Guide to Happiness for The Happiness Blog Tour.

 I'm giving away free digital review copies of the book and doing a giveaway for paperback copies, audio copies and even a Kindle Fire! Read on and check out the info below the post.  

"Happiness is not in our circumstance but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are."

-John B. Sheerin  

Stop. Happy Time 

 We love surrounding ourselves with beautiful things and beautiful people. I remember in my early 20s how often my friends and I wanted to experience the best of the best. We wanted to eat at the flashiest restaurants, drink out late at the coolest bars and get up early to see the sunrise on the beach. We wanted to do it every day if we could. We felt like we were missing out on life and that we wouldn't be happy if we didn't take every opportunity to experience something amazing. 

I certainly don't regret those days. My wildest experiences including walking the streets of France, meeting stars of film and stage on the streets of London and even skinny dipping in the Atlantic Ocean. But I can't look back and say that those events in themselves made me happier. 

It's really cool to see and experience new things. But it's important to keep in mind that cool stuff and wild passionate emotions aren't the cause of happiness. Like Sheerin says, it's not about what's happening to you, what you see or what you feel. It's who you are. Here's the best way I've learned to be happy in the moment no matter what is happening to you. 

Close your eyes. Clear your mind of whatever you were just thinking by focusing on nothing but your breath. Realize that anything you're feeling isn't a part of you and that you can let it fall away. Get yourself back to neutral by continuing to relax. Now, begin to think about the things you can be grateful for. Perhaps you have friends that you deeply care about, a family that wants the best for you and a partner who looks at you lovingly. Maybe it's a job that pays the bills or an exciting project you've got running on the side. Now, start to think about the qualities you have inside that you're proud of. Personally, I take pride in my honesty, my hard work and my dedication. Lastly, smile and let yourself be happy about these awesome things in your life. 

I've used this method to improve my happiness levels when I've had a tough day or even to make a great day even better. Whether your circumstances are awesome or bringing you down, it's up to you to be happy in the long run. Take a moment and consider your joy. To borrow and adapt the words of MC Hammer, "Stop. Happy time." -- 

 * guest*
by Bryan Cohen
*guest*

Bryan Cohen is a writer, actor and comedian from Dresher, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2005 with degrees in English and Dramatic Art and a minor in Creative Writing.

He has written nine books including...

1,000 Creative Writing Prompts: Ideas for Blogs, Scripts, Stories and More

500 Writing Prompts for Kids: First Grade through Fifth Grade

Writer on the Side: How to Write Your Book Around Your 9 to 5 Job

and his new book...

1,000 Character Writing Prompts: Villains, Heroes and Hams for Scripts, Stories and More

His website Build Creative Writing Ideas helps over 25,000 visitors a month to push past writer's block and stay motivated.


Visit Bryan:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads
Shelfari
Twitter

Feel free to follow along with the tour at The Happiness Blog Tour Hub Page or on the book's Facebook Page.

Guest post created Bryan Cohen, author of The Post-College Guide for Happiness
© 2012. All rights reserved.

*Giveaway courtesy of author*

Bryan Cohen is giving away 61 paperback and audio copies of The Post-College Guide to Happiness and a Kindle Fire between now and May 7th, 2012 on The Happiness Blog Tour.

• All entrants receive a free digital review copy of The Post-College Guide to Happiness.
• Bryan hopes to give away at least 1,000 copies during the blog tour.
• To enter, post a comment with your e-mail address or send an e-mail to postcollegehappiness (at) gmail.com.
• Bryan will draw the names at the end of the tour. Entries will be counted through Sunday, May 6th.

Edited: Extended to May 14...:D

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* part of The Post-College Guide for Happiness tour - check it out for details and goodies about the book and author