Be Happy

"The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be." - Marcel Pagnol

Happiness is an aspiration that all of us share.  We’ve all seen people who always seem to be happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. 

We assume that happy and unhappy people are born that way.  But both kinds of people do things that create and reinforce their moods.  Happy people let themselves be happy.  Unhappy people subconsciously continue doing things that upset them. Happy people do not experience one success after another and unhappy people, one failure after another.  Instead, surveys show that happy and unhappy people tend to have had very similar life experiences.  The difference is that the average unhappy person spends more than twice as much time thinking about unpleasant events in their lives, while happy people tend to seek and rely upon information that brightens their personal outlook.

To be happier, make a habit of doing the following: 

• LEARN TO APPRECIATE LIFE AS IT IS: Be thankful to wake up every morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Focus on what you have, not on what you don't.
• KNOW THE POWER OF YOUR ASSOCIATIONS: Choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.
• BE KIND AND CONSIDERATE TO OTHERS: Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with. Practice intentional acts of kindness.
• CONTINUOUSLY LEARN SOMETHING NEW: Be curious and ever-changing. Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving. Strive to learn something new every day. 
• STRIVE TO BE BETTER: Be better, do better. There is always something about ourselves we can be working to improve. 
• LEARN TO THINK DIFFERENTLY: Try creative problem solving. Challenge the status quo. Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the setbacks affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.
• DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO: Some statistics show that only 1 in 4 actually enjoy their jobs. No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests. Do something you love, every day. 
• TAKE IN AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY AROUND YOU: Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.
• SMILE, LAUGH AND HAVE FUN: Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. Laugh often. Take time to play and you'll find yourself smiling for no reason.
• LEARN TO FORGIVE: Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself. Listen to others with your heart. Listen to understand.
• CARRY AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE: Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.
• VALUE RELATIONSHIPS AND FRIENDSHIPS: Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.
• BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD: Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.
• TAKE TIME TO MEDITATE: Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.
• MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS: Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.
• BE OPTIMISTIC: See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.
• LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY: Love without conditions. Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.
• PERSIST: Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.
• BE PROACTIVE: Accept what cannot be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.
• PRACTICE GOOD SELF-CARE: Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical checkups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges. And every now and then give yourself a break!
• WORK ON YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE: Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.
• TAKE 100% RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE: Know and understand that you are 100% responsible for your own life. You can only truly control one thing, and that is yourself. Take responsibility for your moods, attitudes, thoughts, feelings, choices, actions and words, and realize you become a result of these things. Be the first to admit when you’ve made a mistake. Realize nobody is perfect, so don't try to be. In everything, keep the mindset that, everything in life happens FOR you, not TO you.

Happy and unhappy people tend to have very similar life experiences. The difference is what they focus on. It's your choice.  Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits. Approach everything with an Attitude of Gratitude and focus on what you have, instead of what you do not. If you incorporate these habits into your daily lifestyle and realize the life lessons you have learned along the way and you will be a happier, more confident person. Live your life with passion and enthusiasm. Live it with purpose and on purpose! 

Make today great!

Curtis

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.  Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." - Denis Waitley