Anne's Note, Books are in!, reminds us that life can be EZier when we forgive imperfections and move on with our lives. The Main article, Recipe for Happiness, gives some practical ways to help us find happiness in life. The Healthy Living article, French Toast Recipe, gives you a vegan way to make this popular food. The Anne Talk is Joy to The World. It's an antidote for those who suffer from "seriousness." The Featured Product this month is Anne's newest book, Words Make a Difference.

The EZ Mantra: "Everything can be EZ or at least EZier." – Anne Sermons Gillis

Living EZosophy, August 16, 2016
Published Weekly on Tuesday Mornings

Phone: 281-419-1775
Email: anne@annegillis.com

Anne's Websites:

  A Note From Anne

Books are in!

Dear ,

Finally, my book arrived in printed form on Wednesday night. It looks great and I'm overlooking all the tiny formatting mistakes, even the one on the back cover! Fortunately, I like to apply my Granddaddy Sermons' recipe for literary success, "I feel sorry for a person who can only spell a word one way." While there may not be any misspelled words, there are mistakes. Even so, the book is wonderful. Every time I look at it, I get excited and think, "That's a great book." I'm not tired of picking it up yet. I have ten boxes of books in my office. I had to unpack and go through all the books. There were 37 damaged books, so I have made a claim and I think I will get replacement copies.

Back to the imperfections. The book is like a person. People scream of imperfection. We make grammatical mistakes when we talk. We have accidents. We say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Our bodies break down. We emit noxious odors. Learning to cope graciously with our deficiencies is the first step on the spiritual ladder. There are mistakes in my book, but the book itself is brilliant, and there are many more things right than there are wrong. The same is true for us. We may do the wrong thing, and have a missing body part or two, but who we are is fine and most of our behavior is exemplary. When we try to do everything perfectly and be the very best we can at all things, we drive ourselves BDL. Who wants to be buggy, daffy, and loco (BDL)? The book does reflect on me, but if I worry about all the things that are wrong, I will be BDL. Here's to my latest endeavor. I am thrilled for a job well-done. Thank you Charles Heineke, Linda McQuinn, Mary Hutchison, and Jim Gibson for all your help on the book. You make a great volunteer team.

Anne

  Main Article

Recipe for Happiness

Most of us cook our meals with more specificity than we create our lives. When we want to cook a meal, the first question we ask is, "What do I want to cook?" Next we find a recipe to see if we have the ingredients. Sometimes the recipe is filed mentally, so we do a mental check to see if we have everything we need. If we have what we need, we start cooking. When we lack an ingredient, we either put it on a list to be purchased and make that dish at another time, or we hop in the car, go to the store, purchase the fixings, and return home. We take intentional action during the cooking process. We move from an idea, to planning, to gathering supplies, to cooking. Then we eat.

Do we live our lives with as much care as we use when we bake brownies? Isn't it odd to think we prepare our food with more focus and intention than we do our lives.

People say they want more happiness, but they drop it at that. There is no intention, no planning, and no action taken toward happiness. Is there an answer? How do we bake our happiness? What is the recipe?

Like any other food, we need to know what we want to cook. What should we ask ourselves when we want to cook up happiness? Ask these questions:

1. Am I happy now? If the answer is "no," then continue to question 2.
2. Do I really want to be happy? If the answer is "yes" go to question 3.
3. Do I believe that I can be happy? This is the seminal question. Do I believe in happiness for myself? Maybe I believe that happiness is reserved for the beautiful people or the really spiritually advanced. The reason we don't believe in happiness for ourselves is because we harbor unchallenged guilt. We carry cultural guilt, family guilt, and personal guilt. It's time to say goodbye to guilt. If you answer "no" to question 3, then do the 70 times 7 forgiveness exercise.
4. Am I willing to be happy now? If you answer yes but, them make a list of all the things you think must happen before you experience happiness. Here are some examples:

• I won't be happy until I have reliable transportation.
• I will be happy when school is over.
• I can't be happy unless I have a mate.
• What if the economy crashes?
• I can't be happy if Clinton is elected president.
• I can't be happy if Trump is elected president.

Get the list on paper. List of all the contingencies that you place on happiness. It's time to realize that none of those things will or can matter. We can get everything we want, but happiness that is contingent on things being a certain way is indulgence happiness, not pure happiness or joy. Sondra Ray wrote a wonderful book entitled Pure Joy that goes into great detail about how to prepare ourselves for joy. We have to remove everything we put in the way of the joy of being. We can't see the light when we've placed an emotional barricade around it.

How do I make that joyful noise that’s spoken of in the 100th Psalm?  There are two ways, and sometimes it takes a combination of both.

The fastest and simplest path to joy and happiness. Tune into it. Happiness and joy are a vibration, and they are ever-present. The kingdom is at hand, and it is here and now. One way to tune in is to imagine a drop of joy landing in the heart center. Focus on the moving image throughout the day, and drink in the Divine. Do whatever you need to do to still the mind so you can see and experience the ultimate presence beyond the façade we call life.

Strategy Two - The next best thing. Okay, yesterday I could feel it, but today, I can't tune in. If that's the case, follow these three guidelines.

1. Practice gratitude when you are upset about anything. It's easy to feel grateful when things go your way. The challenge is to practice gratitude during times of high upset.
2. Turn your criticism of others into appreciation of what you like about them. There are a lot of things I don't like about my husband. There are a lot of things I like about him. When I focus on what I like, I feel good. When I focus on what I don't like, I feel irritated and lonely. You get the picture.
3. Practice the highest thought technique. "The Highest Thought is always that thought which contains joy. The Clearest Words are those words which contain truth. The Grandest Feeling is that feeling which you call love." Neale Donald Walsch. This is simple: think of a best case scenario.

We are destined for happiness, but until we open our hearts to its flow, we remain on the sidelines of life, waiting for something to make a difference. Good news – there is no waiting period for happiness because we are the difference we've been waiting for. Let's suit up for happiness, because it's not just around the corner, it's coming through the door. And naturally, when we are happy, everything is EZier and EZier.

Anne

  Quotes

"You don't have to attend every argument you are invited to."
-- TobyMac

"I am proud to announce that I can now get half as much done in twice as much time. Anyone identify?"
-- Anne Sermons Gillis

"Anger makes you weak in every cell of your body."
-- Amachi

"Happiness is a healing technique. Happiness creates a cell-a-bration."
-- Anne Sermons Gillis

  Featured Product This Month

Finally, a book of affirmations, action plans, and deep insights into the human consciousness that transforms and heals the soul, the local and global community, and the planet. Travel with Gillis on a journey through deep psychology, metaphysics, and nondualism.

We are responsible for a world that works for everyone and, as a collective assembly of souls, we cannot rest until greed no longer supersedes need. We cannot rest until greed no longer supersedes need. We are called to plant the seeds of blessing along the path to liberation. Revolutionary words call us to a world-wide renaissance of cooperation and community.

• Heal the most basic wounds of our human condition.
• Move beyond narcissism to compassion and justice.
• Become a Global Boom-Box.

You may order it from the website or call me at 713.922.0242 to order directly from me. The price is $16.95 plus $3.99 shipping.

Click here to order Words Make a Difference.

You can download a Kindle copy of Anne's new book, Words Make a Difference, free, from August 19th through the 23rd, 2016. The book is currently on sale in Kindle and will be free for only five days.

  What is EZosophy?

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  Healthy Living

French Toast Recipe

My husband and I have been eating more and more plant based foods as the years go by. Recently we watched a two films, Cowspiracy and Peaceable Kingdom, that pushed us further in that direction. I was missing French toast, so I found a recipe and changed it to my liking. The toast was delicious, but I think the maple syrup, fruit, and nut topping, make this dish.

What You'll Need

• Bread
• 1/4 cup milk – I used almond milk, but coconut or soy will do.
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds or chia seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon of real maple syrup
• Dash of salt
• Dash of cinnamon

Mix everything and cook in a hot, greased griddle and cook as you would any other French toast. Pour some love into the process. Never cook or eat when you are upset. The energy of the upset goes into the food. When your toast is ready, top with vegan butter (Earth Balance is one butter substitute), fruit, and maple syrup. It's yummy. I'm planning on adding some ground nuts to my batter next time. These may not be the exact amounts needed. I am a dump and stir, smell and pour kind of cook. I love to play with my recipes and make them my own. Experimental cooking heightens our intuitive skills.

Anne

  Anne Talks

Today's Anne Talk is Joy to The World. It's an antidote for those who suffer from "seriousness." Time: 3:46.

  Anne Art

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  Anne's Schedule

All times here are Central Time.

Saturday, August 20, 2016
10 AM Meeting
Anne will lecture on chapter four of The Spiritual Life, by Annie Besant
Meetings are free and open to the public.
The Houston Theosophical Society Lodge
1525 Heights Blvd., Houston, TX 77008

Sunday, August 21, 2016
11 AM Service: "Spiritual Freedom"
Carmel Temple
1208 Pennsylvania St.
South Houston, TX 77587
Phone: 713-944-0014

Sunday, August 28, 2016
11:00 AM Service: "Get in the Spirit"
Unity of Brazosport
507 S. Brooks St. (Hwy 36)
Brazoria, TX 77422

Sunday, September 18, 2016
After 11:00 AM service
Book signing for Anne's new book
Words Make a Difference
Creative Life Spiritual Center
5326 Spring Stuebner Rd. Ste. 200
Spring, Texas 77389
Phone: 281-350-5157

  Call or Email Anne Now to Schedule
  Your Next Meeting with her.

You may reach Anne by phone at 281-419-1775 or click the button below to contact Anne by email. Anne is also available to officiate at weddings and funerals.