One Wish

Today may seem like any other day. You've gone about yourregular routine working, playing, stressing, relaxing, worrying,dreaming, thinking, feeling, taking care of everyone else—youknow the drill. However, I believe today will prove to be verydifferent.

What you'll read in this book is not only for the mind tounderstand, it will also serve as nourishment for the soul.

Since the soul likes to have fun and play, let's start off with agame my friends and I used to play as children.

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."-Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)American Philosopher & Poet

It's called "One Wish". Here's how it works: you get one wishfor anything you want. But there is one limitation, you can't wishfor more wishes. Other than that, the sky's the limit. Go aheadand take a minute to think about it. Choose carefully, becauseyou only get one.

Once you've decided, please pause here and note whatyou'd wish for.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So, what did you wish for?

Success? Money? Millions? Billions? A mansion? Your dreamcar? A luxury vacation? The opportunity to travel around theworld? A new wardrobe? Something to make your family's lifeeasier? Maybe you wished for some change to your physicalappearance. Maybe you just want everyone to think you'rehot!

Maybe you think material things are superficial. Did you wishfor that special someone, your soul mate? Someone who willlove and accept you exactly as you are? Maybe you wished forgood health or eternal health for someone you love. Did you wishfor a child? Maybe you just want to be respected or revered byothers.

Or are you more spiritual? Did you wish for enlightenment?Maybe you want to experience some of the inexplicable magicthe universe holds. How about an out-of-body experience?Maybe you wished to be free of the ego altogether. Would youlike to read minds? Maybe you want to be the best version of youthat you can possibly be.

Maybe you have desires that go beyond you. Did you wishfor world peace? Maybe you wished to leave your mark. Youknow, change the world for the better. Did you wish to save manfrom himself?

You may have wished for something I haven't evenmentioned.

Whatever you wished for, take a moment to think about whyyou would use your one and only wish on that.

Deep down inside, why do you want that one thing aboveall others? What will it give you?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When you get down to the very core of it, I'll bet you wishedthat wish because you think it will make you happy.

That's the one wish we all have in common. While we mayhave different ideas about what it is that will make us happy, everyhuman being is hungry to be happy. Background doesn't matter.Education, status, age, looks, achievements, experience—noneof these things matter. We all just want to be happy. Being happywill make us feel full. Doesn't seem like a tall order does it? Yethere we are in the twenty-first century, and this is the one thingthat still seems to elude mankind.

We have made amazing advancements in so many areas.Technology allows us to accomplish feats that are Jetson-like.Our cars can give us directions. The internet gives us instantaccess to answers for any question we may have, wirelessly.Advancements in biotechnology have many experts predictingwe'll be able to buy an artificial version of any body part, exceptthe brain and central nervous system, by the 2020's. We havemore entertainment options than ever. We have billions of things,all designed to make our lives easier—to make us happy.

Despite all our achievements, why are there so many peoplewho are still unhappy? We seem to be starving for happiness. Itseems the more things, choices, achievements and opportunities,we have, the hungrier we've become.

Please consider the following information that demonstratesthe impact of our nation's stress and unhappiness:A June, 2012, article published by the American PsychologicalAssociation stated:

• The use of psychotropic drugs by adult Americans increased22 percent from 2001 to 2010, with one in five adults nowtaking at least one psychotropic medication

• In 2010, Americans spent more than $16 billion onantipsychotics, $11 billion on antidepressants and $7 billionfor drugs to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

According to a 2011 study in the PloS ONE journal:

• Tweets steadily trended towards unhappiness over a threeyear period.

From Gallup's 2013 State of the Workplace Report:

• The vast majority of U.S. workers are actively disengagedand not reaching their full potential—a problem that hassignificant implications for the economy and the individualperformance of American companies.

• Gallup estimates that active disengagement costs the U.S.$450 billion to $550 billion per year

To put this in perspective, $550 billion is sixty-seven percent ofthe net profits from all Fortune 500 companies combined.

Another APA article called "How Does Stress Affect Us?"reports:

• 75 to 90 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-relatedailments and complaints.

Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death—heartdisease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver,and suicide.

In a 2010 blog, Robert Leahy, Ph.D., Director, AmericanInstitute for Cognitive Therapy in New York City wrote:

• Depression is widespread and it is getting worse.

• Sadly, it hits the young and old alike.

• Depression has human costs that we all know of: sadness,sense of isolation, feeling like a burden, inability to enjoy lifeand suicide. There are also economic costs that are alsosignificant—indeed, alarming.

• Depressed individuals are five times more likely to abusedrugs.

• Depression is the leading cause of medical disability forpeople aged 14 to 44.

• People with symptoms of depression are 2.17 times more likelyto take sick days. And when they are at work their productivityis impaired—less ability to concentrate, lower efficiency, andless ability to organize work.

• In one study the costs of absenteeism were directly relatedto actually taking antidepressant medication.

I did not include numbers related to addiction—injuries, healthimplications, productivity loss or workplace violence (which is onthe rise). But I'm sure I've made the point: unhappiness is costingus a fortune!

Considering these costs, it sounds like starvation to me. Andthe problem is not limited to the United States. Back in 1992, aUnited Nations report labeled stress "The 20th Century Disease"and a few years later the World Health Organization said it hadbecome a "World Wide Epidemic."

What could we accomplish with improved health and vitalitythat may come from happiness and reduced stress? How mightwe relate with the rest of the world if we were happier? Whatgood could we do with those hundreds of billions of dollars we'dbe saving?

Less staggering, yet still impactful, let's take a look at the costson an individual level. What is the lack of ultimate happinesscosting you? Please pause for a moment to really answer thatquestion. What is unhappiness costing you? Where do you spendmoney or time, in pursuit of happiness? Do you have addictions?How is unhappiness affecting your relationships? Your energy?Your health? Your outlook on life? Your future?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is why our paths have crossed. I am here to share a mealthat will nourish you. It will give your life the full feeling that onlyultimate happiness can give. I am here to serve as your maître d'and my goal is to translate the menu for you—a menu consistingof seven courses that will nourish the soul.

This meal has been prepared for you over thousands ofyears by some of the world's greatest chefs (leaders, teachers,philosophers, gurus, scientists, inventors and masters).

Please join me, as I take you to your table.

"When one reaches happiness, one is close to perfection."-Chuang Tzu (396 BC-286 BC)Taoist Sage

Your Maître d'

Allow me to formally welcome you to our restaurant. My nameis Angi Covington and I will serve as your maître d'. My goal is tohelp you navigate the menu in a way that is clear and simple.Before we begin, I think it's important that I share a little aboutmy background and how I came to this restaurant.

Background

I have considered myself a student of human behavior for almostforty years. I love observing people and understanding how weoperate; why we "do what we do" has always intrigued me.

As a teenager I had some unique views about the worldand didn't have much interest in the traditional educationalsystem. I always tested high on aptitude tests but found myselfbored and unstimulated. After dropping out of high schooltwice, I discovered that I might be able to make an incomedoing something I was interested in. What else would interest ateenage girl besides boys or her friends? Clothes! So, I finishedtwo and a half years of coursework in about six months, throughan alternative high school we called "Drop-In". I went on toreceive an associate degree from a fashion & art institute anda bachelor's degree in marketing. I'd begun working on amaster's degree when I decided what I really wanted was adegree in life.

My continuing interest in people led me to a career thathas hovered in three areas; sales, corporate training andmanagement. I would estimate that the companies I haveworked for have invested approximately $500,000 to formallyeducate me in the area of human behavior. This education hasgiven me a pretty good understanding of how human beingsoperate and what drives us.

I created a life for myself that made me pretty happy. I spentthirteen years in the wireless technology industry. I received severalpromotions and awards, made a good income, bought a nicehouse, drove various luxury cars and built a decent retirementaccount. Then a new four letter word entered my life: merger. Yes,I know it's not really four letters, but maybe it should be. Let's justsay the new company's culture did not make me feel very happy.So, I resigned my position, cashed in my stock options and went insearch of what I would do with the next chapter of my life.

I took a two and a half year sabbatical, setting out to find thekey to ultimate happiness. I took classes and read books on topicsranging from the brain to spirituality. I attended self-improvementcourses, practiced Buddhism for a time and studied undermasters around the world. I've been to India three times andwas a student at a spiritual university there. During one visit I spentseventeen days in complete silence, which included having noeye contact with anyone. This was an amazing accomplishment,as I have always been a talker. In first grade my teacher wrote,"Talks too much," on my report card.

I found myself intrigued by how many people were searchingfor ultimate happiness. After personally investing another $50,000,I think I finally got it.

Why Write this Book

Trust me when I tell you, the last thing this world needs is anotherbook or seminar on "How to Be Happy". I attended seminarsand read what seems like hundreds of books and I'm certain Ididn't make a dent in what's out there. Each promised to holdthe key. Knowing this, why would I consider writing yet anotherone? I fought it for a long time, but two reasons kept comingback to me.

First, I couldn't stop thinking about all those billions we arespending on our unhappiness. I think about how that moneycould affect our economy, our educational system and ournation's future.

Don't get me wrong, I like feeling happy and I enjoy beingaround happy people. But I still think like a business person andthe numbers speak volumes. Not only is unhappiness costing usthrough our spending, we are also missing the potential revenuesthat would come from being happy.

• Happy employees = cost reductions (billions in healthcare anddrug related expenses alone) = increased net profits

• Happy employees are more loyal = reduced turnover =increased net profits

• Happy employees produce more = increased net profits

• Happy employees miss fewer days of work = increasedproduction by executives and employees who are actuallyat work = increased net profits

• Happy employees produce a better quality output = reducedQC costs + increased customer loyalty + referrals/increasedsales = increased net profits

• Happy employees provide better customer service = customerloyalty + referrals/increased sales = increased revenues =increased net profits

• Happy employees are contagious = we all get to be happy!

Can you say increased net profits? It's not hard to do themath; happiness can be very profitable. And we all get to behappier?! This is what I'd call a WIN-WIN!

"The evidence is clear: People perform better when they're happier."-Dr. Teresa Amabile (born 1949 or 1950)Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administrationand a Director of Research, Harvard Business School

However, I don't know anyone in the corporate world whohas a spare week on their calendar, let alone a month or a yearto go on an expedition for ultimate happiness. And how manypeople in this country have thousands of dollars to spare, to investin this quest?

This leads to the other reason I chose to write this book, myskill set. I honed two skills while working in the wireless industry:

1. Sift through large amounts of information and pull out thehighlights for executives or clients, who don't have a lot oftime.

2. Take complex information and present it in a way that canbe easily understood by anyone.

"I have deep faith that the principleof the universe will be beautiful and simple."-Albert Einstein (1879-1955)Physicist & Philosopher, Nobel Prize in Physics (1921)

I believe this topic could benefit from both of these skills:

1. As mentioned, I've sifted through plenty of information onfinding ultimate happiness, discovered the common threadsin the teachings and I am prepared to deliver the following(choose the one that fits your preferred terminology):

• Executive Dashboard

• Easy to Read Overview

• 50,000 ft. View

• Concise presentation of the commonalties in theworld's greatest teachings on the subject

2. Talk about complex—I have a pretty decent IQ, but I hadto re-read some of the teachings multiple times to makesense of them. Now that I've developed a pretty goodunderstanding, I can share the highlights of the teachings ina way that can easily be understood by anyone.

"Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple."-C.W. Ceram (1915-1972)

German Journalist & Author known for his works about Archaeology

As your maître d', I am here to save you time and money,while still helping you to get the outcome we are all lookingfor—ultimate happiness.

About the Meal

There are a few things that will be helpful for you to understandbefore we get into the menu.

Digestion Advisory

• It is my hope that you will be able to enjoy the meal for whatit is—a means to satiate our hunger for ultimate happiness.

• If you are a spiritual seeker, consuming this meal may causeindigestion. Its simplicity may cause slight discomfort andbloating.

• This meal has been designed for people who haven't thetime, money or desire to do the work of a seeker.

• If you are hungry for mystical or metaphysical experiences suchas out-of-body experiences, seeing angels or experiencingother dimensions, please be advised this restaurant doesn'tserve those menu items.

• During this meal, I'll be sharing quotes from various chefs(teachers) which support the menu items. There will also bereferences to the Head Chef (God, Buddha, Allah, Yahweh,Universal Energy, et al.) but this meal is not about taking sidesfor what you believe. It is intended for all palates (beliefs orfaiths).

"You're basically killing each otherto see who's got the better imaginary friend."-Yasser Arafat (1929-2004)Palestinian Leader, Nobel Peace Prize (1994)

My goal is to show you that the teachings all say virtuallythe same things. So, if you are Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu,spiritual but not religious or atheist, I honor your beliefs. I willattempt to show you the similarities, no matter what you believe.

Origin of the Meal

This meal has been created from ingredients (teachings) thathave been around for thousands of years. They are from bothancient and modern day teachers. As your maître d', I did notcreate the menu. I didn't even enter the kitchen.

I do however, eat this meal every day. And I can assure you,while some items are an acquired taste, they are very effective.They will satisfy the soul's hunger for happiness.

What to Expect

I would like to point out that you will not see any prices on themenu. But that doesn't mean the meal will be free. It doesrequire an investment on your part, which I think you'll find veryaffordable. However, when you receive the check at the end ofthe meal, you'll have the option to refuse payment if you think it'soverpriced. I intend to passively present the information, leavingyou to choose what you'd like to do with it. Again, I am not hereto tell you what to do or what to believe. In other words, you willhave the opportunity to dine and dash and this restaurant willbe perfectly fine with it!