Fires Raging in Southern California

Over the last week fires have been raging in Southern California. Scientology Volunteer Ministers are currently helping with relief efforts, aiding both the evacuees and the fire fighters. If you are currently effected by this disaster and need help, click in the link above and contact a volunteer minister. They have a ton of ways to help, organizationally, spiritually and mentally. And no matter what, please be safe out there, those fires are dangerous in more ways then one. All of us who live in Los Angeles or in San Diego are going to be affected by them in some way or another, so make sure to keep yourself safe, happy and healthy. My best wishes and sympathy to all of you.

Security

"There's only one security, and when you've lost that security, you've lost everything you've got. And that is the security of confidence in yourself; to be, to create, to make any position you want to make for yourself. And when you lose that confidence, you've lost the only security you can have. And yet a man, as he lives through life, postulates away to himself that self-confidence. Self-confidence is self-determinism. One's belief in one's ability to determine his own course. As long as one has that, he's got the universe in his pocket. And when he hasn't got that, not all the pearls in China nor all the grain and corn in Iowa can give him security, because that's the only security there is." - L. Ron Hubbard

The Way to Happiness Precept #6

This precept is "Set a Good Example".

How many times have you decided to do something because your "friends were doing it"? Or even have you ever convinced a friend to do something that wasn't really right because you were doing it?

I know I have done lots of things that hurt people, or made them feel it was okay to act like me, when it really wasn't. I don't even know how much grief has been caused by my not setting a good example, and I'm not a super influential person - like a president or anything - but even when you don't think you count to anyone, there's always someone who looks up to you. That's why I think this is a very important precept.

Take a look around you. Who might look up to you? Who should you set a good example for? Even if it's only for yourself, try setting a good example some time. Find out if it makes you feel better or worse. I'm pretty sure you'll find that you like the results.

Check out the Way to Happiness website for more precepts and for info on what Mr. Hubbard has to say about them.

The Way to Happiness Precept #5

This precept is "Honor and Help your Parents". I'm not going to quote anything this time, as you can find all the information about this precept on The Way To Happiness Website. I'd like to say how applying this precept has affected me personally.
When I was growing up (I still kind of am, but whatever), I wasn't always the best daughter, especially when I was a teenager. After a while of being rude, ignoring them, and doing the usual teenage stuff, I decided to actually acknowledge them as parents. I found out the my decision to thank my parents for always being there for me and listening to their trials and tribulations helped my relationship with them a lot. I happen to have wonderful parents, a luxury that not all people have, and when I decided to believe in them and their dreams, I found that they really believed in me and wanted to help me. The this reciprocation was really cool. I really like this particular precept, because not all kids and not all parents are perfect by any means - but help and respect for them can make them better then you or they thought they could be. Try it some time and find out for yourself how much it really works to honor and help your parents.

Way to Happiness Precept #4

Love and Help Children is Precept #4 of the Way to Happiness book.
This book says:

"Today's children will become tomorrow's civilization. Bringing a child into the world today is a little bit like dropping one into a tiger's Cage. Children can't handle their environment* and they have no real resources. They need love and help to make it.

"It is a delicate problem to discuss. There are almost as many theories on how to raise a child or not raise them as there are parents. Yet if one does it wrong much grief can result and one may even complicate his or her own later years. Some try to raise children the way they were themselves raised, others attempt the exact opposite, many hold to an idea that children should just be let grow on their own. None of these guarantee success..."

"A child is a little bit like a blank slate. If you write the wrong things on it, it will say the wrong things. But, unlike a slate, a child can begin to do the writing: the child tends to write what has been written already. The problem is complicated by the fact that. while most children are capable of great decency, a few are born insane and, today, some are even born drug addicts: but such cases are an unusual few..."

"One has to make up his mind what he is trying to get the child to become: this is modified by several things: (a) what the child basically can become due to inherent make-up and potential; (b) what the child really wants to become; (c) what one wants the child to become; (d) the resources available. But remember that whatever these all add up to, the child will not survive well unless he or she eventually becomes self reliant and very moral. Otherwise the end product is likely to be a liability to everyone including the child..."

"A child factually does not do well without love. Most children have an abundance of it to return.

"The way to happiness has on its route the loving and the helping of children from babyhood to the brink of adult life"

* Environment means "One's surroundings; the material things around one."

There are other comments and helpful ideas on how to raise children in the Way to Happiness book. Check it out and see for yourself what Mr. Hubbard has to say about raising children. I know that I was raised with my parents using the principles in this book and I turned out pretty darn good (if I do say so myself) - so check it out and see what you can learn from this super cool book.

Back from the holidays

I'm finally back from the holidays. I hope you all enjoyed the quotes I've been posting and are ready to get back to the Way to Happiness booklet that I was previously posting on.

Just as a little kick off - one of the aims of Scientology is good will on earth and peace toward men. I would love more good will and peace on this earth - which is one of the many reasons I am blogging about The Way to Happiness booklet. If you apply each of the precepts listed in the book, you will have created some more good will on this earth, and we could all use it!

So, to review (though you can always look back in my blog too):

Precept 1: Take Care of Yourself
1-1 Get care when you are ill
1-2 Keep your body clean
1-3 Preserve your teeth
1-4 Eat properly
1-5 Get rest

Precept 2: Be Temperate (temperate means not going to extremes; not overdoing things)
2-1 Do not take harmful drugs
2-2 Do not take alcohol to excess

Precept 3: Don't be Promiscuous
3-1 Be faithful to your sexual partner

That brings me to the next precept - 4. Love and Help Children. Mr. Hubbard says:
"Today's children will become tomorrow's civilization. Bringing a child into the world today is a little bit like dropping one into a tiger's cage. Children can't handle the environment and they have no real resources. They need love and help to make it."

Mr. Hubbard talks more about this precept in the book The Way to Happiness. This non-religious moral code works when followed. I mean, if everyone in the world loved and helped their children and the children around then, how much better would the world be? Make your own decision - try following the precepts listed in The Way to Happiness, and see if your life gets better off and happier.
Check out the free e-book of The Way to Happiness.

Merry Christmas

"In our hands lies the power to restore to man his determinism and all that he finds good in himself - his honesty, his integrity, and the thrill of being of real help to others. A very Merry Christmas to you all and a bright friendly new year".

L. Ron Hubbard