Happiness really is a choice and doesn’t have anything to do with who or what we have in our lives. Some of the people who seem to have everything are miserable and some who have very little are happy.
Most of my life I spent thinking “if only this or that would happen, I would be happy”. Then I started reading and listening to a lot of motivational/self-help material and discovered that I can really be happy now! And I can honestly say that I am happier now than I have ever been in my life.
Not that my situation has changed that much and the trauma from my past certainly hasn’t changed but my thinking has. I am now comfortable with myself – I have accepted who I am and what I have and made peace with the past.
I’m not saying I don’t have my down moments but they are just moments now instead of deep depression. And now I have the tools to deal with the down times. I listen to motivational, uplifting material and the mood goes away.
Below are a few ways you to can start bringing more happiness and less negativity into your life.
*Take care of yourself physically. It's much easier to be optimistic when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.
*Be thankful. Stresses and challenges don't seem as terrible when you remind yourself of the things that are right in life.
* Don't Assume. Don't waste time worrying that you did something incorrect unless you have evidence that there is something to worry about.
* Don't use absolutes. Thinking and talking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation appear worse than it is.
*Think positively. Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it.
*Get and give hugs. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up.
*Increase your social activity. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!
*Volunteer. Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.
*Don't dwell on the negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented; it's just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.
Practice does indeed make perfect. Before long, the above traits will become automatic. You will look back and realize how far you have come. You will have become one of the ones people look to for the "secret" of happiness.
Choose to be happy now!
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