The Ultimate Kid’s Guide to Happiness...

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Dear Parents,
The Ultimate Kid’s Guide to Happiness© is intended to give you and your child an
opportunity to learn together the science behind living a fulfilling and happy life.
This book is an introduction to lessons and activities that have been proven to
increase levels of life satisfaction and overall happiness, however, in order to see
and feel the effects these activities can have on your child, you must be willing to
be a model for your child by understanding the content of this book and taking
part in the activities within it WITH YOUR CHILD. Our kids follow our lead. As
parents we need to be the people we want to see in our kids because our kids
will model after the people they see in us.
Experience this book with your child by reflecting upon and sharing your own
childhood experiences as you read through this book with them. Let them know
about times you made mistakes and experienced failure and how you were able
to learn and grow from the experience.
© will introduce your child to lessons that
have been available to adults for many years and contains activities that will
allow your kids to EXPERIENCE the benefits this information, and acting upon it
can have on their daily life. Please see the back of this book for more in-depth
books and programs available at www.KidsCanDoAnything.com.
Copyright © 2009, Kids Can Do Anything
All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, recording, photocopying or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, without the prior consent of
the author is an infringement of copyright law.
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“My wish is that this book will give you the tools you need to start
creating your life the way you want NOW and that it will help you
discover where you will find true happiness that will last a lifetime.”
~ Patrick McMillan, author of “The Ultimate Kids Guide to Happiness”
You have been given this book because someone
wants nothing more than to see you live the happiest
life possible. But this book will only be effective for you
if you too want to live the happiest life possible.
You will learn and experience with this book that the
kind of life you really want to have is available to you if
you are willing to put forth the effort to make it happen,
and you will discover the effort is very small compared
to the benefit you will receive, and these benefits will
last the rest of your amazing life.
Unlike so many grown-ups today, you will never have to
say “I wish I knew this when I was a kid.”
I want to personally thank you for accepting this gift of
happiness from someone who loves and cares about
you.
Because you are here and you are happy, the world
is a HAPPIER place!
_________________________________________________________________________________
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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Introduction___________________________
Hundreds of books have been written for adults about how
they can improve their lives and be happier, and most adults
that read these books say “I wish I knew this when I was a kid”
So this little book has been written for you to learn these lessons
now, while you are young which will hopefully prevent you from
saying those words when you are an adult.
Yes, this book is all about HAPPINESS. What it is, where you will
find it and most importantly, how you can experience more of it
every day of your life. But the big question is…
“Do you really want to be happy”?
I know this may sound like a crazy question because you would
think anyone would of course answer this question with a big:
YES!
However, the truth is for many kids, and grown ups it is a daily
struggle to BE HAPPY. Even though we all want to be happy
many people just can’t seem to find it. This is because many of
us are just looking for happiness in the wrong places.
This book will show you where you WILL find happiness and how
you can experience more of it in your life.
Everyone knows what it feels like to be happy and it sure feels
great, but is happiness more than just a feeling or a way of
being? You will discover the answer to this question within this
book too.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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One of the biggest issues many people face when it comes to
happiness is that they are unsure of what happiness really is,
what really makes them truly happy and how to BE HAPPY
more often.
Many people believe more things, more money and success
will make them happy. But scientists have found that this belief
is backwards.
The truth is BEING HAPPY FIRST BRINGS MORE SUCCESS!
To BE HAPPY is your choice, so if you choose to BE HAPPY this
book will tell you what you need to know and show you how to
start living a happier life right NOW!
What is HAPPINESS Anyway? ___________
Since man has been able to ask questions this question has
been asked, and people have tried to come up with an
answer ever since. This question also brings about another big
question about happiness. Is happiness a FEELING or a way of
BEING?
We all know the FEELING of happiness, and
we also know some people seem to
experience the FEELING more often than
others, and we all know people who seem
to just BE happier people than other
people we know. Why is that?
We can do things that bring about feelings of happiness, or be
around people who we feel happy to be around, but what
about when things happen that make us feel unhappy? How
do we bounce back to happiness? How can we BE happier
more often throughout our lives?
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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The following pages will provide you with some of the answers
to these questions and give you some tools to build the happier
life you want and deserve to have.
Scientists have been researching human emotions for many
years, but it has only been over the past 20 years that serious
studies have been done on happiness, and this research has
revealed some incredible findings.
Here are some interesting Happy Facts:
• 40% to 50% of how happy we are depends on our
genetic background (how happy our parents and grandparents
are and were)
• Only a small percentage, around 10%, of how happy we
are depends on what goes on around us (our
environment, other people etc.)
• The remaining 40% to 50% of how happy we are turns out
to be OUR OWN PERSONAL CHOICE TO BE HAPPY
• Scientist have discovered that HAPPIER people are
healthier, they live longer, they experience greater
success at school and career, they have longer lasting
and more meaningful relationships with others and they
appreciate life more.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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Having a happier life is certainly something you can have if you
really want it and the benefits listed above make it even more
worth the effort to make it happen.
Where to Find Happiness_______________
These next statements are important to understand because
this has confused people for a long time. If you really get these
next points you can easily access happiness anytime you want
and experience the benefits that being happy more often can
bring.
• Happiness is INSIDE OF YOU RIGHT NOW, NOT OUTSIDE OF
YOU. You will never find true happiness if you expect to
find it somewhere “out there” because happiness is inside
your own thoughts, actions and beliefs.
• More things, more money and more pleasures only
provide short bursts of happiness that will not last. At some
point they will provide no greater happiness at all.
• Though we need to have pleasurable experiences to be
happy, they only account for around 1/3 of your overall
level of happiness, which is how happy you are most of
the time.
• Scientists have determined that the other 2/3 of your
happiness involves creating MEANING in your life by
HELPING OTHERS BE HAPPY THROUGH LOVE, KINDNESS,
COMPASSION and GRATITUDE, and by DOING WHAT YOU
LOVE TO DO AND LOVE DOING IT.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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These are SCIENTIC FACTS about happiness and it is hard to
argue with science, but it is YOUR CHOICE to do what it takes
to…
BE HAPPY
How to BE Happy More Often___________
We cannot BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME! THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE
WE ALL MUST FEEL UNHAPPINESS FROM TIME TO TIME!
In order to understand what it is to BE HAPPY, we need to also
understand what UNHAPPINESS feels like.
But just because we NEED to feel the wide range of emotions
that we do, and many can certainly make for unhappy
feelings, this does not mean that we shouldn’t strive to be
happier more often and unhappy less often.
Aristotle, the Ancient Greek Philosopher, Scientist and Physician,
once said almost 2400 years ago:
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the
whole aim and end of human existence”
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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Most people want to be happier and now science has
determined that we really can be happier and enjoy life the
way it was meant to be.
On the pages that follow are 7 Action Steps you can take right
now and every day that will bring out deep feelings of true
happiness from within you. Okay, I added a bonus Action Step
at the very end that I know you will enjoy.
7 Action Steps to Happiness____________
Happier thoughts and positive beliefs about yourself, others,
and the world around you are necessary parts of happiness,
and your thoughts and beliefs lead to actions that bring about
true feelings HAPPINESS. All the books and science about
happiness are great, but they do absolutely no good at all
unless you are willing to put the information into action in your
daily life. The real proof is in what it does for you and those
around you.
TAKING ACTION allows you to BE HAPPY NOW!
Action Step 1_________________________________________
Be Grateful!
Have you ever felt thankful for something or for someone and
been unhappy about it? Not likely, because a grateful thought
is the quickest and easiest way to bring on a happy feeling
inside you and anyone around you. Gratitude can make
unhappy feelings disappear instantly. It is very difficult to be
grateful and sad at the same time.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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Many people have developed a habit of feeling unhappy
about what they DON’T have in their life, rather than feeling
grateful for what they DO have. Even though we all know we
feel so much better when we are grateful.
We develop these mental habits by thinking the same thoughts
over and over again. We can develop a habit of thinking
grateful thoughts too which become easier and easier to do
the more we do it.
You will begin to feel the effects that being grateful for all the
amazing things and people in your life has.
You will also begin to notice you are ATTRACTING to yourself
more and more reasons to be grateful.
Can you think of anything you have accomplished completely
on your own, without any help or guidance from someone
else? Probably not, because all of our success comes from
someone else teaching us, guiding us, supporting us and loving
us.
On the lines below, list 4 people in your life that you are grateful
to for helping you succeed at something.
___________________________ _____________________________
___________________________ _____________________________
Other people in your life are certainly worthy of thanks, and
they too will benefit from your showing them.
Write a short letter of gratitude to each person you listed above
and give it to them. You both will be so happy you did.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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On the lines below, list 4 things in your life right now that you are
truly thankful for. The key is to truly FEEL the feeling of gratitude
when you think of these things.
(Examples: friends, pets, family, your strengths and abilities)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
I would imagine you are feeling a bit grateful right now, or you
may be feeling the huge rush of good feelings that come from
thoughts of gratitude. Being grateful is a key to life long
happiness and if you will commit to doing this exercise every
morning for the next 30 days, you will be begin to feel the
benefits that being grateful can have.
Action Step 2_________________________________________
Believe in Yourself
Mistakes & Failures Must Happen!
When you were very little and just learning to walk and get
around on your own without being carried everywhere you
went, you made many mistakes and fell down, a lot. You did
not give up because you knew you could do it. You also
noticed how each time you fell down and got back up and
tried again, you became better and better each time and
ultimately, you succeeded. This same process works with
anything you want be and do throughout your life.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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The way you think about making mistakes and experiencing
failure will determine your success. If you believe that mistakes
and failures are “bad”, you will not want to try new things. But if
you truly believe you CAN learn from mistakes and that you will
succeed, you WILL.
You may have heard of a man
named Henry Ford. He was one of
the first people to make cars available
to everyone.
He experienced many mistakes and
lots of failure, but he never gave up
on his dream and he knew he could do it.
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way you
are right”
Henry Ford
People are changing the world with their deep desire and
intention to be all they can be.
I know of a 31 year old man who is only 3 feet tall, confined to
a wheelchair and needs to use a child’s car-seat. He was not
expected to live through his first day of life. He is now a multimillionaire
and every day is committed to helping others break
through their fears and limitations to lead extraordinary lives.
His name is Sean Stephenson and he is known as The Three Foot
Giant. Find out more about Sean on the internet at
www.timetostand.com/bio.htm.
What you look like, where you come from, how much money
your parents have or don’t have, or even how smart you are
means nothing when it comes to creating the happy life you
want and certainly deserve to have and enjoy.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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“Life opens up opportunities to you, and you either
take them or you stay afraid of taking them.”
Jim Carrey
What Really Matters_______________________
Below is an exercise called the “I AM” exercise and it will help
you affirm to yourself that you already have what it takes to
create the life you want to have.
On the lines below, list 5 amazing strengths you already have
that will help you succeed at anything you put your MIND into.
1. “I am ____________________________________________________”
2. “I am ____________________________________________________”
3. “I am ____________________________________________________”
4. “I am ____________________________________________________”
5. “I am ____________________________________________________”
Repeat these statements out loud every morning!
And believe them, because they are true!
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
What is
between
your ears
is what
matters
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Action Step 3_________________________________________
Help Others Find Happiness
If you see someone without a smile, give them yours and it will
make their day much brighter.
All of the lessons and activities in this book will certainly help
you find true happiness if you put them into action, there is no
doubt about that, however this is one that will not only change
your life but the lives of others too.
Your commitment to helping others can change the world!
Scientists have found that the number one thing that brings out
true happiness in people all over the world is helping others feel
good about themselves.
As you probably already know, words can have a powerful
effect on us, and the words we say to others do the same. In
fact, the words we choose to use when we deal with other
people have a more lasting effect than you might imagine.
When you choose to use words that are up-lifting and kind,
your heart smiles, and those around you that hear your words
smile inside too. Your words can truly change someone else’s
life forever and yours too.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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Kind and caring words help us realize that people really do
care about us and our happiness and when you use these
words with others you may just change their entire life.
Negative and hurtful words can affect
people deeper than you might imagine
and can affect their entire life too.
Knowing our words may have caused
hurt to another person will not only lower
our self-esteem but using hurtful words
toward others will absolutely prevent
anyone from having the kind of happy
life they really want to have.
How we make others feel with our words is a reflection of the
kind of life we will have and how happy we will be.
This is just the truth.
When you make a written commitment and set your intention
to have more happiness in your life by helping others do the
same, you are putting yourself on a path to a remarkable life.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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Scientific research has shown that the simple act of writing your
goals and commitments can increase your chances of
achieving them.
There is great power in writing down your commitment when
you are determined to do all it takes to follow through on it.
On the next page is your opportunity to do just that.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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My Commitment
Today I am making it my intention to help
someone every day by choosing words that
cause good feelings in others, or by simply
giving someone a smile.
I realize how my words affect others and I am
committed to using only words that help
others feel good, and I know this will help me
lead a happier life too.
I am committed to having a happy life and
helping others do the same.
__________________ ___________
Signed Date
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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Action Step 4_________________________________________
Forgiveness
We all experience someone trying to hurt our feelings at times
throughout our lives, this is just a fact of life, but how deeply we
are hurt and how long it lasts depends on our thoughts and our
reaction to what was said or done to try to hurt us. It will hurt
only if we let it.
This may be one of the most important lessons grown ups wish
they knew when they were young.
When someone tries to hurt your feelings it is important to
understand that all anyone can do is TRY. This is because no
one can MAKE you feel a feeling you don’t want to feel.
When something negative happens we feel an emotion like
sadness, fear or anger and, believe it or not we don’t have
total control over that because this is our amazing brain using
its natural ability to protect us. However, after the first BURST of
emotion is when we take control with our thoughts, which will
either cause more negative emotion, or we can choose to
change them to thoughts that FEEL better.
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When others try to control our thoughts and feelings and try to
make us feel sad, angry or scared, it is usually because
something is happening in THEIR own life and they may be in
need of help but not finding it, or maybe they are being
treated poorly at home.
Have you ever heard “misery loves company”? Well this may
be a reason why some people try to make others feel bad. “If I
am sad then you should be too” or “If I have no control of my
life, then I can at least control yours”
Okay, I know it is a lot easier to say
than do, but you really can protect
your feelings from being hurt by
being strong minded and by
knowing that you get to think for
yourself about what is true or not.
So if someone says something to you
that you know is not true you can
feel better knowing it is untrue.
However, it can be difficult to overcome humiliation or rumors
that are untrue because it usually involves other people too.
An easy way for people to lesson their chances for a happy life
is to humiliate, embarrass or start an untrue rumor about
someone else. But they can repair their chances to be happy
with a sincere apology and to ask for forgiveness.
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Here is a true example from my own childhood experience of
having a rumor started about me.
I recall when I was in 5th grade one of my
classmates, who I don’t think liked me or himself
very much, started a rumor that I wore my sister’s
underpants. Kids were laughing and making me
the big joke. I remember thinking about how I
might dispel that rumor without letting it seem
like it bothered me to much.
I knew I didn’t want the person that started the rumor to think
they could MAKE me feel bad, so I decided to use humor to
prove that rumor untrue. I decided to go to school wearing a
pair of my underpants OVER MY PANTS.
This may have been a silly move, and it could have backfired
on me, but it worked. As everyone was laughing, I said the only
way I could prove whose underwear I was wearing, without
pulling down my pants to prove it, was to wear them on the
outside. Everyone laughed and thought I was very brave and
maybe even a bit crazy to do such a bold thing. I certainly
proved to the person who started the rumor that I thought it
was funny and it did not affect me the way he had hoped it
would.
My classmate did apologize for his behavior and I did forgive
him for starting that rumor, then we became friends, and yes, I
did take them off before I went into the school.
Though I found doing something funny worked in my situation,
this tactic may not be suitable for you, or you may not feel
comfortable taking this approach in a situation you may be
faced with.
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** VERY IMPORTANT**
IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE BEING BULLIED BY ANYONE,
PHYSICALLY OR WITH WORDS, ALWAYS LET AN ADULT KNOW ABOUT IT AND
ASK FOR HELP. BULLYING IS NEVER TOLLERATED ANYWHERE! BULLIES NEED
HELP AND THEY DESERVE TO GET IT. EVERYONE IS WORTHY OF HAPPINESS,
AND YES, EVEN BULLIES.
FEELING EMOTIONS LIKE SADNESS, ANGER OR EVEN FEAR, ARE NESSESARY
EMOTIONS THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS FEEL AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE
IGNORED. YOU MUST RECOGNIZE YOUR EMOTIONS IN ORDER TO CHANGE
THEM.
IT IS OKAY AND TOTALLY NORMAL TO FEEL ALL OF YOUR EMOTIONS, AND
ALWAYS ASK FOR HELP IF YOU EVER HAVE TROUBLE DEALING WITH YOUR
EMOTIONS.
You may not forget about the situation or the person that tried
to hurt you, but you can forgive them. A term you may have
heard before is “forgive and forget.” This is not realistic
because the event will likely stay in your memory, but how you
remember it will change when you are able to forgive those
who have hurt you.
It may seem very difficult and even impossible at times but we
all can learn to forgive and move on because it just feels
better.
If you are ever reminded of the event where you were hurt by
someone, many of the same emotions can return, simply from
your memory of it, but when you have forgiven, those painful
feelings do not return the same way, even if you are reminded
of the event or if you happen to experience a similar one. This
is because you have CHOSEN to forgive and relieve yourself of
painful emotion.
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When you forgive someone you are doing so for you, not for
them. In fact the other person does not even have to know
they have been forgiven, but you will FEEL like a big weight has
been lifted off of your shoulders.
It feels really good to be forgiven when we have done
something to bring about an unhappy feeling in someone else,
even if our actions were accidental. When we feel very sorry
for our actions and ask for forgiveness, and we are forgiven, we
have a heavy weight lifted from us too and feel very grateful to
have been forgiven.
Can you think of anyone in your life that has hurt you or caused
you to feel an unwanted emotion, and you have not totally
forgiven them?
Even if they have not asked to be forgiven, can you bring
yourself to forgive them?
Please remember when you forgive someone you are doing so
first for yourself, then if you let them know you are aware we all
make mistakes and that you forgive them, you will be helping
someone find peace and happiness. As you now know this is
the best way for YOU to find happiness within yourself too.
Some people find it very difficult to forgive and let go of
negative feelings, and there is no doubt that to forgive requires
a strong mind and a very strong desire to BE HAPPIER.
However, developing this strength will have huge benefits that
will last the rest of your life.
Tell yourself that a happy life is far more important than to hold
a grudge or to get back at someone, especially if that
someone is an important part of your life.
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Try to think of a relationship you might help repair through
forgiveness.
Then FORGIVE!
“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return,
you will receive untold peace and happiness”
Robert Muller
The Most Important Person to Forgive
IS YOURSELF
Forgiveness is a strength that can change your life and the life
of those whom you forgive, and to ask for forgiveness and to
be forgiven is an inner strength that will benefit your life forever.
However, the most challenging form of forgiveness is your ability
to forgive yourself, and this happens to be the most important
person to forgive. The relationship you have with yourself is the
most important relationship you will ever have.
Having the confidence to create an outstanding life and to
believe you are worthy of a happy life requires you to feel
good about who you are. Forgive yourself and accept that
you are human and that all humans make mistakes. To forgive
yourself helps you learn from mistakes which helps you grow a
stronger relationship with yourself, and you can conquer
anything.
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He
who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to
love”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Action Step 5________________________________________
Desires, Intentions and Beliefs!
Desires are your thoughts about
something you want. Whether it is
getting an “A” grade on your report
card, to make new friends or to make
the world a safer place, it all starts
with a thought about something you
really want.
When you set your intention to achieve what you desire, you
are telling yourself you will do all it takes to achieve it.
When you intend to achieve what you want to achieve you will
become unstoppable.
The most important part of setting a goal for yourself is to
believe you can succeed at achieving your goal if you are
willing to put forth the effort. It makes sense that if you don’t
believe you can achieve your goal, then you likely won’t
achieve it. You must truly believe you are capable and that
you truly deserve to be successful.
After you have put some thought into the things you want to
achieve (setting your desires) and you are committed to your
intention to achieve them and you truly believe you can do it,
the next step is to take the ACTION needed to put you on the
path to success.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
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Action Step 6_________________________________________
Writing Down Your Goals
It Really Works!
FACT: Only 3 out of every 100 people actually write down their
goals. Studies prove that writing down your goals increases
your chances of achieving them by more that 50%. Review
them often and you are 200% more likely to achieve them
On the lines below, list 5 goals you really want to accomplish.
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
Throughout childhood we seem to live in a world of don’ts,
shouldn’ts and can’ts, but when it comes to achieving your
wants and dreams these are words you need to delete from
your mind.
In order to set goals that you want to achieve it is very
important to focus on the things you can do to achieve your
goal, the things you should do to achieve them and believe
with all your heart you really can achieve them if you are willing
to put forth the effort.
You will begin to feel great about yourself when you recognize
the effort you put in to achieving what you want.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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Action Step 7_________________________________________
Your Incredible Imagination
You know you have an incredible imagination because you
use it all the time, and when it comes to achieving your goals
you can use your imagination to think big and go for your
dreams.
As you are imagining yourself doing what you want to achieve,
if you close your eyes, you can see yourself in your “minds eye”
achieving your goal. This is a very powerful tool to help you
achieve your desires called Creative Visualization and this
technique has been used by many people throughout history
to help them achieve their dreams.
This is a photograph of one of those
people when he was 10 years old. He
used his imagination and the power of
creative visualization to make his dreams
come true.
He was also one of my classmates in
Elementary School and this is his 5th
grade picture.
He knew what he wanted, he set his intention to achieve his
desires and he believed without any doubt he could
accomplish his goals and desires.
And He Achieved Them!
Can you guess who this kid is?
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
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Well my classmate was Jim Carrey, and I’m pretty sure you
have heard of him.
Using the incredible power of Creative Visualization does not
mean you too will become a world famous actor, however if
that is your desire, your intention is to make it happen and you
believe without any doubt that you can be, do and have
anything, anything is possible.
Anything you can do to make your goals and desires feel real
in your mind starts the process of achieving your dreams. Long
before Jim Carrey became famous he has said how he would
visualize himself as a famous actor and he would get the
FEELING inside like he had already achieved his desire.
"I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me
feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That's the thing.
You can't just visualize and go eat a sandwich."
Jim Carrey
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
Jim Me
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Many people who use this technique make what I like to call a
THINK BIG BOARD.
It is fun to make and it is a great tool to help you get into
visualizing.
Here is how you can make your very own THINK BIG BOARD:
Get yourself a large piece of poster board or cardboard and
then ask your Mom or Dad if they have any magazines they no
longer need. Then, flip through the magazines looking for
pictures of things you would like to have, things you would like
to do or places you would like to go. Find your scissors and
carefully cut the pictures out of the magazines and paste or
tape them to your poster board.
Hang your THINK BIG BOARD in your room or somewhere you
can look at it when you want to use the powerful tool of
Creative Visualization.
You have an extremely powerful and amazing mind and when
you can imprint the images from your THINK BIG BOARD into
your mind, you will start to get thoughts about what actions you
can take to make your visualization become real for you.
This is another person I’m sure you recognize
who used the power of his incredible
imagination and creative visualization to
make his dreams come true. He has shared
how he would draw what he saw in his
imagination on paper napkins. That is how he
came up with the idea for Mickey Mouse.
He failed many times, made many mistakes and no one
believed he could do it. But he did! And he NEVER GAVE UP!
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
29
Below are some things people have said about the outstanding
power of visualizing your dreams to make them come true.
“If you can dream it…You can achieve it.”
Walt Disney
"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world."
Buddha
“The more clear and definite you make your picture then, and
the more you dwell upon it, bringing out all its delightful details,
the stronger your desire will be, and the stronger your desire,
the easier it will be to hold your mind fixed upon the picture of
what you want.”
Wallace D. Wattles (1910)
“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can
achieve”
Napoleon Hill, (1937)
If you would believe in yourself and know you can truly have a
happy and joyful life, you really can make all your dreams
come true. You just need to WANT it enough to make it
happen.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
30
BONUS Action Step 8__________________________________
LAUGH and PLAY
I saved the best action step for last because I hope this one
you will never forget how to do. Many people grow up to be
adults that have forgotten how important it is to play, imagine
and make-believe and laugh.
Scientific studies about the importance of PLAY have shown
that happier people are those who like to play as much as
possible, and that laughter leads to better health and
happiness.
The play I am referring to is the kind of play that requires
movement and imagination. So sitting on a sofa playing video
games doesn’t count, sorry.
Try to do at least one of these things every day:
Play a sport, build a fort, play board games, play cards, ride
your bike, play with your pet, play with friends, play hide & seek,
play catch, climb trees, pretend and make-believe, tell jokes
and laugh or lay in the grass and stare at the sky and imagine.
Be sure to play and laugh every day to ensure happiness.
THE ULTIMATE KIDS GUIDE TO HAPPINESS ©2009 PATRICK MCMILLAN
WWW.KIDSCANDOANYTHING.COM
31
Other books and programs available at
www.KidsCanDoAnything.com
Happiness 101© – A collection of fun and engaging activities
for K – 2 aged children that inspire creative and positive
thoughts and beliefs about themselves and the big world they
are just starting to discover.
An Exercise in Happiness© – A powerful 30 day program that
teaches kids (3rd to 5th grade) how to live a happy life and
provides them with action tools to experience more real
happiness NOW.
Attracting Happiness© - An in-depth look into the Science of
Happiness for young people. (6th to 8th grade) This book will
show kids how to implement this science into their everyday life.
The benefits they will experience will last a lifetime.
Life Without Limits© – For teenagers life seems to be filled with
nothing but limits, however, this book is about the limits we
place on ourselves as teenagers that can have a dramatic
effect on the rest of our lives. Life Without Limits© shows young
people how to push past self-limitation, eliminate self-doubt
and live a life of purpose, passion and pleasure.
Please visit www.KidsCanDoAnything.com for more information
about the above books/programs, valuable tips, expert articles
and blog posts and links to our friends and affiliates.
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Please send me your comments! I would love to hear form you!
Patrick McMillan
c/o
Kids Can Do Anything
13260 W. Coal Mine Ave, Suite# 232
Littleton, Colorado 80127
E-mail: Patrick@kidscandoanything.com
Website: www.KidsCanDoAnything.com
Copyright © 2009, Kids Can Do Anything
All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, recording, photocopying or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, without the prior consent of
the author is an infringement of copyright law.
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