How to Be Happy

Is there some secret that those who always seem happy are hiding?  Nope they just have a way of turning negative into positive.  Below are a few ways you too 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.

How to Make Choices

You have the choice between being a lost tourist or a conductor of your life.  Life offers you many choices, but many people are afraid to make a choice.  Nevertheless take care that you do not formulate decisions chaotically. Below are a number of pointers that can help you select the best option in the face of life's crossroads:

*Acquire as much information as you can about your situation.

You cannot discover the self-confidence to make a decision when you know so little about what you are faced with. Ask the five W's: what, who, when, where, and why. What is the situation? Who are the people involved? When did this happen? Where is this leading? Why are you in this situation? This is imperative. Oftentimes, the reason for hesitancy is the lack of information about a situation.

*Identify and create options.

What options do the circumstances present you? Every now and then the options are few, but every so often they are many. However what do you do when you believe that the situation offers no options? This is the point in time that you generate your own. Make your creative mind work. From the most basic to the most complex, think about every one of the ideas. At times the most extreme idea may possibly prove to be the exact one in the end.

*Weigh the pros and cons of every option.

Evaluate every one of your options by looking at the advantages and disadvantages it offers you. In this way, you get additional insight about the consequences of such an option.

*Trust yourself.

Now that you have assessed your options, it is time to have confidence in yourself. Keep in mind that there are no guarantees.  So choose...decide... believe that you are choosing the most excellent choice at this moment in time.