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| | SMILE AND BE HAPPYI got this forward from Angeline, and I liked the reminder...so...don't worry, be happy!
Happiness is a state of mind. Sadly, all of us attempt to define
triumphs/accomplishments that will make us happy. We tell ourselves that we will
be happy when we get our job and promotion. We persuade ourselves to think that
life will be better when we get married and complete our family. Once this is
achieved, we try to convince that happiness will be ours only after the children
are professionally settled and so on. We thus spend our lives waiting to be
happy sometime in the future. Little do we realize that th ere is no better time
to be happy than Right Now. Remember, life will continue to be full of
challenges-we cannot let our triumph over these challenges determine our
happiness. Here are 21 simple and straightforward practices that will put you on
the road to happiness:
*1. Smile Frequently:*
We usually smile when we are happy. Studies prove that the converse is also
true: smiling can actually make us feel better and help us to see the lighter
side of things. Certainly, a smile makes us approachable.
*2. Be Content:*
Happiness is nothing but the ability to be content. It has little to do with
what we possess materially. It has even less to do with achieving your
self-determined goals in life. Contentment comes from enjoying life as we live
it-hurdles and all-from day to day. See what you have, not what you lack.
Secondly, limit your wants and needs. Our desires are insatiable, be it clothes,
furniture, jewellery. As soon as one desire is fulfilled, another desire
awakens. Limiting our desires will help us focus on things that we already have.
*3. Live In The Present:*
At any time during the day, pull yourself up. Try to recall what you were
thinking for the past 10 minutes. It is very likely that you were either
dwelling on past problems (how the other person was nasty to you or outsmarted
you, etc) or worrying about future concerns in your life (we may not have our
job, our children may not get admission in good schools and so on). Such
thoughts leave us anxious and frustrated, and depressed. They take our minds off
whatever we are doing and do not let us enjoy the present. Remember, "Now" is
the only time we have and the only time that we have control over. Practise
keeping your attention on the "here and now".
*4. Plan Things You Can Look Forward To:*
Living life the same way everyday is boring. We need to sustain interest in our
lives by doing new things. So, surprise your hubby with a tasty candlelight
dinner one evening. Go out with your friends for a picnic lunch. Book tickets
for a movie you have been wanting to see for a long time. If you sleep late
every Sunday, try going for an early morning walk with your hubby, and have tea
at a corner cafe. In short do anything that takes you away from routine and
gives you something to look forward to-in the evening, the next day, over the
weekend, or any time in the future.
*5. Don't Try To Compete With Your Neighbours:*
Most of us share a common tendency. It is that we compare ourselves with other
people and their status or compare our accomplishments with those of others.
When we feel short of successes, we work harder and push ourselves beyond the
limit. Life thus begins and ends as a struggle to "prove ourselves". Jealousy
takes a heavy toll on us. It hurts, confuses, angers, depresses, humiliates,
builds up stress, and leaves us feeling inadequate and inferior.
*6. We Are What We Are:*
The Truth is: We are what we are. We cannot be someone else. There is no point
coveting another's perfect figure, looks, lovely hair, beautiful bungalow,
magnificent jewellery, etc. Learn to accept yourself. Everyone has unique
strengths and challenges. Identify yours, set your goals for fulfilling your
dreams, and get going.
*7. It Is As It Is:*
However else you may wish it, it is as it is. A mistake has been made, the plan
has been delayed, something has been broken and you cannot change it. All you
can do is: accept it and go on with life considering the unforseen twist of
events. Optimism means turning something that seems all bad into something good.
Research shows that optimism lowers stress, which in turn, decreases the risk of
heart disease. Optimism can make us smile and be content and happy.
*8. Unclutter Your Home: *
Clutter is the other name for chaos, confusion, muddle, jumble and what not, and
contributes greatly to our irritability and annoyance. So avoid cluttering your
cupboards, rooms, home with extra unwanted things. It prevents us from accessing
useful things when we need them, thereby generating stress and frustration. So
keep your home organised and clean.
9. *Don't Procrastinate:*
When we keep jobs pending, especially the ones we don't like for some reason, we
live under stress. Whatever else we maybe engaged in, these jobs constantly
niggle at us at the back of our minds. So, get going. Resolve to complete all
pending jobs today. Moreover, first complete jobs that you particularly don't
like to do. The anticipation of finishing jobs that you enjoy doing later will
keep you going even through the earlier, not-so-enjoyable ones.
*10. Keep Things In Perspective:*
We usually live our life as if it were one big emergency. Whether it is being
late for a meeting, a messy room, garbage thrown by the neighbours, a barking
dog, a traffic jam, irritable kids, we usually tend to overreact. We shout, we
rave and may irrevocably damage our relationship with our domestic help, our
colleague, our neighbour, or anyone else involved. At the end, we are in a
bigger mess. So, accept life's quirks as they come, put things in perspective
and become happier.
*11. Get In Touch With Old Friends:*
Carrying on with life, we occasionally remember cherished friends, dear
colleagues, and old neighbours from our yesteryear. We keep them in thought. So,
take the initiative and dig up old diaries, look up their numbers and do invite
them over. Meeting dear old ones de-stresses us and makes up for all irritants
and setbacks in our life.
*12. Take Out Time For Yourself:*
Every minute we are busy doing something or the other. How many of us take time
out to be a bsolutely alone with our own self? Being alone give each one of us
breathing space that we need. Yes, even from our spouses. Being alone gives us a
chance to think quietly. It helps us ponder over things that we would like to do
and dreams that we would like to realise. It enables us to be at peace with
ourselves and makes us happier.
*13. Create a peaceful environment:*
When we live and work in a properly arranged environment, it is much easier to
develop and maintain a positive attitude. Make the surroundings restful.
Ensure optimal lighting and temperature. Keep the rooms clutter-free; put in
comfortable furniture. Bring in plants, music, and whatever else that keeps you
relaxed. When we are calm and at peace our pulse rate and blood pressure
decrease, our muscles relax. This helps us to concentrate better on the job at
hand. A job well done-be it cooking, cleaning, or office work-brings with it a
sense of achievement and e lation.
*14. Be Less Reactive:*
Your kid did not clear up her plate after dinner. The driver in the car on your
left swerved too close to you, the bank clerk was being too slow. Do not get
bothered and react in the expected manner. Let it pass. At all costs do not
shout whatever the provocation. Anger makes it impossible for you to think
rationally. Moreover, a reactive person who shouts is a real turn-off for
others. Note that being non-overreactive does not let any stress build
up in you. You remain more focussed on the job at hand.
*15. Bring Humour Into Your Life:*
By choice, have occasions that make you laugh happily into your day. Share jokes
with your family, watch a humorous film, and tell your colleagues funny
incidents. In short, anything that will amuse you and others around you.
*16. Accept People As They Are-Even Your Spouse:*
If only my husband would help with some chores in the morning. If only my mother-in-law would take more responsibility of the children, if only my
father-in-law would remember to lower the TV volume, things can be different. We
expect everyone to change according to our point of view. Obviously when this
does not happen, we are disillusioned and we keep complaining. This brings
negativity into our relationship with these people. Do accept people as they
are. Once others see your unconditional love for them, they will try their best
to do things that will please you.
*17. Be Grateful:*
Begin by noticing in what way you are dependent on others-your family, your
friends, relatives, neighbours, and even people who serve you such as servants,
shopkeepers and so on. Let them know that you genuinely appreciate all that they
do for you. While there may certainly be differences with them, gratitude will
enable you to appreciate, rather than struggle against those differences.
Remember, gratitude, inner pea ce, and happiness go hand in hand.
*18. Stop Blaming Others:*
We always believe that if anything has gone wrong with things, it must be
someone else's fault. In life, others are responsible for our frustration,
stress, and unhappiness. This means that we do not control our life: our frame
of mind is dependent on the actions and behavior of others. For a change hold
yourself responsible for your happiness, for your circumstances, for your life.
This will put you in charge of your happiness.
*19. Make Someone Else's Day Happier:*
Everyday, resolve to so at least one thing that will make someone other than you
happy. It may be as small a thing as buying milk for your neighbour or giving
away a frock for your maid's daughter or giving up your seat in the bus for a
woman with a child. These little, often unnoticed acts of kindness, will fill
you with warmth that will glow inside you all day long and before long, become
your way of life. More importantly, don't talk about the good deed to anyone at
home, workplace or elsewhere.
*20. Tell Your Family And Friends That You Love Them:*
We know that we love our family and friends, and they love us in return. Yet, we
are at times too shy or too stiff to utter them to the people we love. Don't
hesitate, Say what you feel to your loved ones and you will be filled with an
inner peace and confidence on hearing them say the same words to you.
*21. Keep A Diary:*
Always keep a diary and pen with you. Make a habit of writing down all the good
things that happen to you during the day. By writing down about the precious
moments of your life, they become a part of our lives. The positive feeling
comes back whenever we revisit happy moments through our diary. | | | Posted 7/28/2006 5:34 PM - 6 comments
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