Overcoming Life’s Struggles for Success and Happiness

By Oz

As an eighty four year old person looking back, I would like to pass on some observations to those of you starting out and looking forward. Your lives will be one of rational and emotional choices in a world of social reality and obstacles to success. Your natural goals will be to achieve success and happiness. An implicit goal in this quest will be the development of your potential and self-realization. You will also be challenged and tested by life’s events in order to grow and develop your character. Ultimately, the achievement of your goals will be a function of your resolve and perseverance, despite the obstacles with which you will be faced. Your resolve will depend upon the interaction of your conscious thoughts, faith, beliefs and spiritual underpinnings. The following material brings attention to this important aspect in your lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Aug 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483415673

Book preview

PH.D.

Copyright © 2014 Halim Ozkaptan, Ph.D..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-1568-0(sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-1567-3 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 08/15/2014

CONTENTS

Preface

1.   Introduction

2.   Resolve and Self Realization

3.   The Development of Resolve

4.   The Power of Consciousness, Faith and Good will

5.   The Power of Thoughts, Beliefs and Self-Suggestion

6.   Multiple Paths to Success

7.   Hope, Failure and Suicide

8.   Love and Happiness

9.   Interaction with Others

10.   The Surrender and Abdication of Resolve

11.   Why Bad Things Happen

12.   Spiritual Underpinnings of Resolve

13.   Predators, Personal Failings and Sin

14.   A Good Person

15.   The Impact of Political Philosophies

16.   Success, Happiness and Character

17.   Conclusion

References

Other Books by Dr. Halim Ozkaptan (a.k.a. Dr. Oz)

Conquering Fear, Development of Courage in Solders and Other High Risk Occupations: Addresses the basis of heroism, the willingness to face danger, and how to develop it.

Life’s Purpose, Development of your Living and Eternal Spirit: Addresses our spiritual nature, its development and why we are on this earth.

Beyond Love, The Fulfillment of Love and Marriage: Discusses the underpinnings of love and lasting marriage.

Love is not Enough, to Prepare Your Child for Life’s Challenges: Describes the challenging task of how to raise children in today’s society.

Islam and the Koran, Described and Defended: Describes the Koran, Moslem beliefs and their relationship to Christianity and Judaism.

Power of Courage in Combat and Danger: An expanded version of Conquering Fear, with additional military topics.

These books collectively address the dimensions and meaning of human life and deal with the human spirit and personal development.

They can be purchased at:

Booksbyoz.com or Booksbyoz.net

Amazon.com

Lulu.com/shop

DEDICATION

I wish to acknowledge and thank my friends, present and departed, for their gift of friendship and for having enriched my life. I also wish to thank the many people who have extended good will and support when in need, and who have opened doors for me when they were closed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My special thanks to Kenneth Williams, PhD and Karen Pierce, PhD for their review and comments. Thanks also to Arlene Underwood, my neighbor, for her insightful review and suggestions. Thanks also to my following family members for their review, suggestions and editing:

Elinor Ozkaptan, my wife

Lauren Brink, my grand daughter

Ruthann Klemens, my daughter

PREFACE

As an eighty four year old person looking back, I would like to pass on some observations to those of you starting out and looking forward. Your life will be one of rational and emotional choices, with spiritual implications, in a world of social reality and obstacles. Your natural goals will be to achieve success and happiness. An implicit goal in this quest is self-realization and development of your character. You will deal with the world through your consciousness. Your consciousness will be influenced by the nature of your thoughts, beliefs, hopes and desires. However, these aspects overlay your spiritual nature. Although, it may be difficult to accept, your spiritual nature derives from and is part of your creator. It is the basis of love, virtue and good will to which we are oriented. Your life as a result is also a morality play in regard to the manner in which you seek success and happiness. Life, however, is not a free gift. You will be challenged by loss and gain. You will be tested in order to grow and develop your character. Ultimately, your success or failure in your goals will be a function of your resolve to endure the challenges with which you will be faced.

The importance of human resolve has not been fully recognized for the achievement of a person’s goals. Resolve is necessary, 1) to endure the hardships and adverse events that will occur in a person’s life; 2) to persevere in one’s goals despite the challenges with which they will be faced, and 3) to avoid temptation and dishonorable behavior. Resolve, in the face of these struggles and challenges, is essential for success and happiness and the development of your character and moral worth.

The following material brings attention to this important aspect in our lives. Information is presented on those factors that can enhance or detract from human resolve and success. It is based on the premise that we are more than flesh and blood and are a part of a larger spiritual reality that is a part of our creator. An attempt is made to show that our resolve depends upon the interaction of our conscious thoughts, faith, beliefs and spiritual underpinnings. The support of our friends and family also play a role. Ultimately, success in our lives, and the development of our character, will be a function of our resolve and perseverance despite the obstacles with which we are faced.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Your challenge in life is to develop your potential, achieve your goals, maintain your moral bearing and responsibility to others, and refrain from injury to others. This challenge will be achieved through your resolve to endure the difficulties with which you may be faced and to persevere in your goals despite resistance and obstacles.

Life is a gift. It is not intended, however, to be a bed of roses but one of challenge and growth. You have multiple goals and responsibilities. Your consciousness is the vehicle through which your desires are expressed. Your conscious behavior requires will, yet inertia is the default position of your nature. To exercise your will requires resolve. Resolve is the fortitude, the inner strength to persevere in the face of obstacles and challenge. Even the simple task of getting out of bed in the morning requires the need to overcome inertia. Resolve then is the forcing function of life. It is the assertive part of