I say that you should feel and be happy and enjoy life as much as you can, for nobody is going to be happy every moment of every day all the time. Life just does not work like that, but you can do it most of the time, as much as possible. Happiness needs to be earned, worked at and also appreciated. For those of you who seem to feel or think you have no real reason to be happy, also for those who seem to life a trouble free life as well, here are some thoughts as to help you remember that life is good, and you should be happy as much as you possible can all the time.
Change your way of thinking. Try and live every day you have as if it might just be your last day. Studies have shown that people that has survived a terminal illness or some horrible accident, those who witnessed a tragedy or has lost a loved one has a completely different perspective on life. Many will say that they no longer leave anything for later, they travel when they get the chance, they learn new skills as soon as they can and they contact long lost friends or relatives without notice or waiting. They know, as we all should know, that there might not be a later ever, later does not really exist.
Keep some sort of journal of the good things that happen to you every day. Keep a going list every day of all good things that happen to you, only the good nice things, nothing else. That lovely thing someone said to you the other day for example. You will not remember all the small nice things if you do not write them all down, then you can also go back and read up on these on the day that you might feel a little down and just pick yourself right up again. Problems can be solved and bad things will be cleared away from your thoughts when you write the good things down too. Go ahead; I dare you to try it, because it works!
Get some perspective on your life. Think about how you would like to be remembered by others, and what you would tell your children and grandchildren about your life. What would matter most, the meeting that you had to attend, the same meeting that caused you to miss your child’s school concert or an important sports event? Which would you enjoy more? Which would leave a lasting memory forever?
Do not let the small things bother or stress you. To waste your energy by getting upset about life’s small minor irritations is not worth it at all. Smile and just wave it out of your way, if it is the driver that will not let you pass or move over in the next lane, smile and wave at him, he is upset, rude and aggressive but that is his problem, not yours. So you missed you ride or the train, fretting about it is pointless, it will not bring the ride or the train back, it is gone. Sit down, relax, smile and enjoy that coffee or your favorite drink while you wait for the next ride to come along.
Do those unpleasant or difficult chores and tasks you have that need to be done as soon as you can. Get it over with, do them right now. Procrastination drains a lot of your energy and only burdens your mind. When you are constantly thinking and worrying about something that needs to be done, just do it now, you might as well get it over with and get it out of the way.
Make some changes in your routine. When we do the same thing day after day, week after week, life begins to seem like a real boring chore. We need to create some interest in our daily lives, and we need to start to do new exciting things. Like if you normally sleep in on a Sunday, then your normal sleep in becomes a habit, no longer a treat. Rather opt to get up early this next Sunday, and go and have breakfast in the park. You will be nice and early, you will beat the normal crowds and you will be on your way home as they start to arrive. Your day will even seem longer and you will have started it with a pure enjoyment. And for those who never sleep in, opt to arrange for one of those somehow, and experience the luxury of having a good sleep in.
Do not try to keep up with the neighbors or anyone else. So they have it all, the swimming pool, the latest equipment, the new luxury car…. Who cares? Take a closer look, then you will se that he works on weekends, and they never seem to have any time for each other or the kids, they never seem to have friends over and they never seem to relax. Who do you think is better off, really?
Have a big clean out, divest and rid yourself of useless stuff. Get rid of it all, the clothes you have not worn for a year, or the dinner service you’ve always hated, those kitchen utensils that are always in the way that you never seem to use, those unused linen just laying in the cupboard, the cot linen on the shelf when baby has already turned six. Old toys, books you don’t read and don’t like, furniture etc., give it all to charity or hold a garage sale and get it all out. Think about it this way, your old stuff can help our young families that is just starting out or students and also the poor that really needs it more than you do. The bonus to you is that your shelves and cupboards are clutter free and clean, you have more space. Your housework will be easier and more enjoyable, you vision is clearer and the feng shui of your home is improved as well.
Learn to say no. You do not have to do it if you don’t really want to. Your life is already very busy as is, and you are running from one thing to the next already. Give yourself space and think, think about yourself and give yourself time to do something for yourself. You are also important in your life.
In your relationship, remember to love and appreciate your partner for who and what he or she is. Can it be that your partner has really changed so much? Maybe you are the one who has completely changed. Or, and think about it, might he or she actually be the same person that you fell in love with, the one you used to adore so much. Your relationship might need some work, everything in life needs some repair work and maintenance from time to time, but all the parts should still be in good working order.
Do not let familiarity breed contempt. Your family and your partner deserve noting less than the same consideration you give to others. And you also deserve the same from you family and your partner as well. Look after each other.
Tell your partner, your family and your friends that you love them, and really mean it. Tell them what it is that you love about them, tell them and praise them when they do things well. A little well deserved praise never hurts and before you know it, you might be told the same things, when you are doing things well too, you never know… and the added bonus to this is that is really makes you feel good.
Do not always be a shoulder to lean on for troubled friends. It is hard, and it is a very difficult thing to do, but if your friend’s problems are affecting you, then you need to try not to be involved and available to them all the time. Distance yourself a bit, they also need to address and sort their own problems themselves and also move on away from the problems.
Phone, e-mail, contact or even write an old fashioned letter to some of your old friends or family. You seem to have lost touch, but it doesn’t need to be forever. Even some family that you haven’t spoken to for months or years, they would actually love to hear from you too.
Use some greenery, flowers and plants to enhance your mood. Cut some fresh lovely flowers from your garden, or het up early and head to the markets and fill your home with loads of cheap nice lovely flowers and some fruit and vegetables. We all had pot plants at some stage, what happened to those anyway? Lets bring them back, they fill your house with life and vitality, and they need little work and attention.
Go to the beach. The long views, the wind in your hair, the waves crashing, your bare feet in the sand, the sun on your skin – there is nothing so good for the soul as a beach trip. Even a walk in nature or on a hill will have a renewed an invigorating effect on you if you cannot get to the beach.
Create something yourself, with your hands. Paint, sculpt, sew, bake, garden etc., and create anything with your hands.
Breathe some fresh air. Stop what you are doing, to outside or open the windows wide. Breathe slowly and deeply to the bottom of your lungs and feel the stale air leave you again. Do this a few times a week at least, just take a moment to breath in some fresh air.
Go for a walk. Walking is gently exercise that will renew and invigorate you both physically and mentally. Taking a regular walk will make you feel better about your life and yourself soon, and you will soon be feeling better every day.
Rend a comedy, and have a good loud laugh. Especially some of the old classics that we have all seen years ago, these always work for me. Even if I have already seen it a few times, it seems to make me laugh louder every time. These are very good stress and tension relievers.
Move your furniture and ornaments around for a change, change rooms and paint some walls. It is very much true, a change is as good as a holiday; go on just try it and you will see.
Give yourself something to look forward to, something exciting. Book a message or body pampering for you; plan a night out or book a weekend away or plan an entire holiday. Treat yourself, but plan ahead so that you have time to wait in anticipation and look forward to what is in store for you.
Invite some friends or relatives or just someone you know from somewhere over for dinner. Get everyone to dress up, and decorate the room and the table as well. Like a real fancy dinner party. Greet everyone with cocktails or champagne and have soft music playing. Spend time with the invitations, and the planning of the menu; enjoy the shopping, preparations and cooking. People cannot help but to respond positively when you have gone through a lot of effort for them. Such a night will be good fun, but do not get stressed over the cleaning of the house before hand, leave it, no one will notice anyway.
Smile, smile, smile. Smiling is contagious, just try it and you will see. When you are on the bus or train, just smile at someone without any reason, or when walking past someone in the shop, just smile and nod at them. Smile to yourself as well, as if you might have some very intriguing secret or you know something that no one else knows. Just smile for no reason at all.
Make someone else happier, make their day. This might sound a bit corny, I know, but why the heck not? Just do it, start by suppressing the urge to blast your horn at someone that annoys you, smile at them and let it go. Or you could always go one step further and volunteer some of your spare time to charity, and help those that really need it.
In short, Enjoy every moments of your Life…
25 Ways to Be Happy
