1. Live an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’
Appreciating the many small moments of life, saying ‘thank-you’ on every possible occasion, acknowledging the people in our life and the ways they contribute and support us, being grateful for every blessing in our life, taking nothing for granted: All these expand our happiness and pull happy people into our circle. What we focus on expands, thoughts held in mind attract in kind.
2. They Carry the Sun in Their Pocket
Happy people walk on the sunny side of the street, they know that there is always a Sun shining bright above the clouds and that a new day will dawn tomorrow: In short, Happy People are cock-eyed optimists and their very sunny view helps create that reality, making good outcomes more likely. Research shows both pessimist and optimists have mildly skewed views of ‘reality’ BUT optimists succeed more often because they try more often, try harder and try longer, always blissfully certain that success is right around the corner!
3. Anchor Their Sense of Self DEEP Within
Happy people do not go around comparing themselves to others. Their sense of self is anchored deep within and from that flows wonderful peace!
4. Practice Kindness
Someone once said “My Religion is Kindness”. Acts of kindness warm your soul and draw others to you, enriching your life with their support and strength.
5. Connect with Others
The more connected you are to others, the longer you will live. Life is really just about our relationships with others and relationships can be our best teachers. Companionship, sharing with friends and colleagues, doubles our joys and halves our troubles.
Closing Quotes
“Happiness consists more in conveniences of pleasure that occur every day than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.” – Benjamin Franklin, 1706 – 1790
“The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.” – Epictetus, 55 – 135
“Give a man health and a course to steer, and he’ll never stop to trouble about whether he’s happy or not.” –George Bernard Shaw, 1856 – 1950
As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier