Official Book Launching Party in Malibu

Dear Malibu friends, I would like to invite you to my official book launching party for, A Unified Theory of Happiness: An East-Meets-West Approach to Fully Loving Your Life Where: Malibu Diesel Bookstore; 23410 Civic Center Way; Suite A3; 310-456-9961 When: Sunday May 6th, at 3pm It'll be a celebratory reading, with good wine, cheese, fruits, and lots of curious people like yourself. You will meet me of course and I will sign every single book with heart. I hope to see on Sunday! Warmly, Andrea

Los Angeles Festival of Books 2012

For the bookworms amongst us, the ones who love to surround themselves with ideas and like to communicate with authors, I wish to recommend the LA Festival of Books at USC, April 21 to April 22. The event is free. I will be at booth # 223 in the Troudsdale building. I will hand out pocket Buddhas and bookmarks for those who tell me that they have read this blog. I love to talk to you, Andrea

Balance

It is really amazing how we tend to rigidify in our beliefs. Once we detect a good thought, a good method, a good anything, we hold onto that good without noticing that it too is but a puzzle piece, a part of the whole. There is always something else that is needed to complete the picture. Yet we become blind to that which could compete with our original discovery. Our Ego atttaches to what we subscribe.

Those who swear by a particular psychotherapy as a means to promote change by addressing pain and problems,cannot be convinced that there are different venues out there, venues that may be equally or even more effective.

On the other hand, those who swear by a particular transpersonal method or meditation practice to promote change by seeing and smelling the roses, cannot be convinced that dealing with pain and problems can be rewarding.

To be happy, we need to question all our beliefs, be open to new ideas, broaden our consciousness via curiosity, wonder, and kindness.

The mind is like a garden. Some of us tend only to the weeds; others only to the good seeds. Tend to the whole, and you will have balance.

Easiest Meditation Practice Ever

This video deserves its own blog.
It is grounded into Western life and just very helpful.
Please enjoy!

Warmly, Andrea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvsmBwOWozI&sns=fb

Laughter

So, I have not blogged for a while as I had to work with the editors of "The Unified Theory of Happiness: An East-Meets-West to fully Loving Your Life."

It is done. Good.

So much has happened in the meantime. I have founded the Los Angeles Center of Zen Psychology (www.andreapolard.com) and have had my first official interview about my book. I will let you know when "Amazing Mind," an Internet TV show, will be shown.

Work, problems in the world, personal problems...when is there time for happiness?

I cannot tell you how often I reminded myself to smell the flowers, to enjoy my kids, my husband, just sitting. It takes more effort to center ourselves during tough times, well-worth effort though.

The greatest remedy: LAUGHTER.

Laughter comes easy to me usually, but now I had to consciously make sure that laughter can rise up from my belly. Remove obstacles! For example, I limited the time I was going to talk about my problems and work load. Sharing is good until it is no longer, so I made space for laughter. I picked up some funny movies, laughed deliberately with my kids, told jokes, laughed at old ones such as:

How many psychologist does it take to change a light bulb?
One, but the light bulb has to really wanna change.

I made light of the worst shock that we had to endure as a family....

Laughter remains the best medicine...take it frequently.

Warmly, Andrea