I’ve just had a call from the fabulous international publisher who is going to publish Happy@work: Job Hunting for Mid-lifers+
They are just in the final stages of confirming printing costs. Once we havc this we’ll be able to confirm the size of the initial print run and confirm a new date for the 2009 book launch. I am soooooooo excited. This has been a massive effort and it is nice to see all my work and passion finally bear fruit. Rachel Hunter was right – it won’t happen over night but it will happen! I am also incredibly excited about collaborating with an experienced publisher to ensure this book is a success and gets into the hands of as many people as possible. As the global credit crisis continues it’s deathly march more and more people need help finding work and staying positive. People say this book is a book of its time.

Download free sample chapters here

“When you worry your face could frown and that will bring everyone else down. Don’t worry be happy.” Bobby Mcferrin, lyrics from “don’t worry be happy.” Click here to download the rest of the lyrics http://www.lyricsondemand.com/onehitwonders/dontworrybehappylyrics.html.


If, after all this talk of recession chances are you could do with a happiness boost, this month’s newsletter could be must the tonic you need.

Here are some of my favorite low cost ways to worry less and be happy more:

Follow your bliss. Nothing accelerates levels of dopamine and serotonin, the body’s feel good hormones, like doing something you love.

I recently spent a whole week training to be a colour expert. Talking, speaking, reading and acting on colour all week was a dream come true. I can honestly say I have never spent money studying something that is so truly my passion.

Channeling your energy into new ways to generate diverse income streams is also a great cure for the money blues.

As you may know I have just purchased a website domain "thecolourgirl.com" and am all ready to get out there and fill the world with colours that incite positivity Click here to find out more about how incorporating this new passion into my career can help you


Surround yourself with inspirational people. While up in Auckland I had the amazing fortune of mingling with inspiring, creative, and commercially successful people. Dunbar Sloan Jnr (now staring on TV) and Elizabeth Barbalich, founder of tremendously successfully natural, organically certified cosmetics line “Antipodes,” were some of people I had dinner with on my first night. Perfectly balancing family life with a dynamic company Elizabeth is truly inspirational. Discover the secrets of her success here

http://www.vogue.com.au/beauty/articles/skincare/5_minutes_with_elizabeth_barbalich

I also had the good fortune to spend time with acclaimed New Zealand architect Ron Sang. Ron has a true passion for art. I was so lucky to be asked into his private home and see his incredible art collection first hand. Amongst the paintings that hang in his home and give Ron immense joy are works by Ralph Hotere, Paul Dibble, Toss Woollaston, Milan Mrkusich, Don Binney, Michael Smither and other well-known New Zealand artists.

Ron has just published several amazing books highlighting the incredible talents and passions of celebrated kiwi artists. His first book about celebrated Kiwi potter and art icon Ron Castle, won the illustrative category of the Montana Book Awards in 2002. Most recently he has published a book about Wellington artist John Drawbridge and Ralph Hotere.

Check out Ron Sang’s incredible list of publications here:
or listen to an interview with Ron


Create happiness in your environment – many people say houses are a reflection of self. If you want to feel happier make sure your home or work environment reflects this. An added bonus of my image consultant training was the architectually significant home it was hosted in. Tucked in the bush and perched on the cliff overlooking the estuary in Titirangi Haresnape House was designed in 1955 and built in 1958. Huge floor to ceiling windows, copious amounts of timber and gorgeous interior rock walls make it a truly organic Zen house. Features in many top magazines and books on Modernist Architecture it recently was the background for a Calvin Klein advertisement. This home and office situation was perfect for the creative course I was there to attend. I couldn’t imagine being nearly as happy sitting in a sterile training room with Formica tables and fluorescent lights, could you?

You may not be able to afford a house as divine as this put you can add some divinity to your space. Paintings and art works created by passionate people are a wonderful way to inject more happiness into your environment. Cushions, fabrics, vases, and paint colours will achieve the same affect without breaking the bank.

While at Ron Sang’s Len Castle came to visit. Described as one of New Zealand’s most influential artists Len was declared an Icon of New Zealand Art in 2001 and in 2004 was awarded The Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2004 New Years Honours List. Not bad for a man who started out as a teacher and largely taught himself how to work with clay. Len studied pottery in Japan, Korea and China in 1966-7. He names Shoji Hamada (1894-1978), as one of his influences. He was such a charming man and his work truly inspiring. Ron and Len were unpacking new works for an art exhibition to be held the weekend following the launch of a new book “Making the molecules dance.” Dressed in yellow myself I couldn’t resist purchasing a most gorgeous sunshine yellow bowl.

Here is some of his most recent work - as you can see, Len is very inspired by nature and volcanic landscapes particularly

Invest in colour. Surround yourself with colours and scents which reflect the way you want to feel and be. Many people love yellow when they are sad. Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from depression, often painted in yellow – yellow skies, yellow grass, and yellow houses. Yellow! Choose a colour that that makes you feel fabulous!

Image Feng Shui – feel good, look gorgeous and create more success by dressing with intent. I’ve always had an interest in helping people dress for success. While studying to for certification in colour and image consulting my interest received a real boost. Beverly has just come back from the States where she has learnt more about the area of fashion feng shui from founder Evana Maggiore. In brief this involves dressing your essence (who you are; dressing your intention (what you desire) and dressing your appearance (how you look)

Several days ago I did a man's colours and it worked a treat He was very excited to get rid of the muted colours in his wardrobe and very draining ties! Yesterday I worked with a group of ladies – what fun it was to see their faces light up when they learned how many gorgeous colours they can wear.

Inspired by the lyrics of Paolo Nutili’s song “New Shoes” I can testify to the difference wearing something joyful can make to your life. “Woke up cold one Tuesday, I'm looking tired and feeling quite sick, I felt like there was something missing in my day to day life, So I quickly opened the wardrobe...

I thought that sounded like a great excuse to buy some fabulous red shoes I had my eye on but couldn't quite justify spending money on. Wow! What a transformation they made - instantly eveybody started commenting on them and I seriously gained a new lease on life .”
Click here to listen to his lyrics

If you would like to transform your look and your life contact me for an appointment now. I still have a few pre-Christmas appointments available

Listen to happiness. The Lyrics of Jewell’s song, “Hands" powerfully reminded me that even if money is tight happiness can be abundant, and with faith life can be transformed:
“For light does the darkness most fear and not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear worry can.” Click here to listen to the rest of her lyrics


Read your way to happiness. Immerse yourself in books which inspire and motivate. Tune out negative news and bad events and tune into positive news and information.

While in Auckland I also caught up with my friend and author of Get your Groove back; How Spiritual Intelligence can give you the work and life you really want” Jasbindar Singh. Jasbindar’s book focuses on ways to work with passion and live with purpose. You can purchase a signed copy here

Right now I am re-reading Think and Grow Rich an all time classic re the power of thinking to transform your finances and happiness@work


Keep your dreams alive. Look at the big picture and the life you really desire. Don’t let present day worries rob you of your passion and enthusiasm for your dreams. Do something everyday to help make your dreams a reality. As Winston Churchill, once said when asked to give his formula for success, “I can summarise the major lessons of my life in seven words: never give up, never, never give up”.

Get inspired! Start an image board with things you want to accomplish or achieve. Look at it daily. Believe they will happen - tick them off as they do. Surround yourself with inspirational people who believe in you and do something you love!

Get outside! True happiness comes from being outside. Just like plants, we need at least 20 minutes of sunlight every day just to restore our hormones to normal levels. Medical research suggests some people need as much as two hours a day of sunlight to avoid seasonal affective disorder. Walking outside can also help you gain a new perspective on a troubling situation. When you go outside and take a walk, you increase the electrical activity in your brain, you breathe negative ions and see in three dimensions. With time alone engaging the whole brain, you have an opportunity to process things that are troubling you and to see things more objectively, sometimes the solution is quite simple. Tap into the healing power of the great outdoors by walking near the sea or natural bush.

Be grateful! Celebrate what you do have. Sometimes it can be so easy to focus on what you don’t have that you forget to acknowledge all the things that you have in your life. For example good, health, a loving partner, freedom to do what you have supportive friends, a roof over your head, someone who loves you, a good education, living in a peaceful part of the world, experiences you’ve had, all the things that are good about you and that others appreciate etc.

Rewind! Reflect back on previous crises - remember the positive changes which occurred as a result. Trust this will happen again. Keep a silver linings journal. Divide the pages in half. On one side record the thing that’s upset you and on the other side, the opportunity that could come of it. You may find you have to add this part later – sometimes the silver lining takes a wee while to be revealed.

Get a life coach! Coaching can help you gain greater balance, reduce stress levels, overcome obstacles, get clearer about your passions and goals and tap into proven strategies to help you achieve them. Check out our website www.worklifesolutions.co.nz for more information about career or life coaching or contact Cassandra at Cassandra@worklifesolutions.co.nz.

Any last, but not least, do yourself a favour and stay away from negativity. Avoid negative people, negative news, negative anything - it's a miracle cure for worry!

You might like to see some happiness tips from a friend of mine who has recently separated from her partner of 18 years, click here