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Elements of Happiness

 Received this today from a friend.  Not sure the original source.

This is a great reminder that happiness is a lifestyle choice.

  1. Gratitude. Each day try to find at least one thing you are grateful for.
  2. Mindfulness. Stop and be in the moment. Practice yoga and mindfulness. Live in the present moment.Exhale away the busy chatter. “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” Omar Khayyam
  3. Balance. Live with Balance. Ensure you have work life balance. Take time for self care. Make time to be with the people you love and who bring out the best in you; incorporating the things that bring you joy.
  4. Accept yourself and others as they are. Practice Self regulation…. non judging of oneself or others.
  5. Forgiveness.   Mustering up genuine compassion for those who have wronged us, instead of allowing anger toward them to eat away at us, is the course of action recommended by most psychologists. (An exception to the belief that burying the hatchet brings peace to the soul may be sexual abuse: Some victims of these crimes are empowered when given permission to not forgive.)
  6. Live Simply. Find joy in small places.
  7. Self contentment. Be satisfied with oneself. Relinquish the need for external approval. Try not to compare yourself to others.

Great Quotes:

Happiness is a Journey, Not a Destination

Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. There’s going to be stress in life, but it’s your choice whether you let it affect you or not.” Valerie Bertinelli

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” Jim Rohn

A Great article to read about five things to make happiness a lifestyle  https://blogs.psychcentral.com/positive-psychology/2012/04/why-happiness-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/

5 Interventions to help you develop a greater quality of life.

  1. Learning to be grateful – Focusing on what you’re grateful or thankful for is a major way to begin experiencing more happiness. People who keep a gratitude and appreciation diary generally see a rise in their happiness within a few weeks. The idea is simple. Just write down 3 – 5 things that you appreciate, and hope to see continue. Write a brief note about how those good things came about. Try to make an entry every few days, or at least once or twice a week.

2. Building on Strengths – Dr. Marty Seligman and Dr. Chris Peterson developed a list of universal virtues or personal strengths. These seem to be valued in every society, and research now suggests if you develop your strong areas, you will be more productive and happy. Write each night about what you did to work on your strengths. Pick the top two or three strengths in yourself and do something each day that “plays to” that strength.

3. Lifestyle Skills – There is a strong relationship between diet, physical activity, sleep and mood. If you want to be happier get adequate sleep, not too much and not too little. Eat a well balanced diet and avoid drugs, alcohol, and caffeine. Make time to exercise at least three times per week, even if it’s just going for a walk for 20-30 minutes.

4. Random Kindness – Commit to doing a few good deeds a few days a week. These can be small or moderate in size. Don’t overdo it. It can be something small like putting a coin in a parking meter, for example. In the winter you can clean the snow off a neighbor’s windshield. In the spring weed a neighbor’s flower patch. Send an anonymous donation to a school in a poor neighborhood. The list could go on and on.

5. Meditation – Meditation can help us relax, stay in the moment, and be more mindful of our thinking and emotions. When we are deeply relaxed, when our mind and our body is quiet, we recover quickly from stress. Developing a meditation practice can be a great way to cope with a fast-paced life and cultivate more positive emotions.

Happiness is not an end goal in itself but is more of a lifestyle. Happiness is not some state we will one day reach for good, but an ongoing process requiring work and practice to manage our thinking, outlook and habits.