How to be Happy Within

According to TopTen10.org, here's their Top Ten for Happiness.

1. Be grateful.

2. Take care of yourself.

3. Be creative.

4. Move.

5. Get someone to take care of you.

6. Read inspirational material.

7. Contribute.

8. Get some time.

9. Be in nature.

10. Be happy.

This, of course, is a purely subjective, but quite popular list. Happiness is different for everyone, like the intricate designs of each snowflake. It's a start and as we grow, we will find more ideas and musings that can be molded to fit our needs and desires.

Please feel free to add your input! In this case, many minds are better than one!

Our perspective of how we see life is truly a marvelous gift! How you use that gift can make all the difference. We lack training on the best uses of perspective and are even criticized as being too "Pollyanna" should we choose to see things in a more positive life. Realizing we cannot control what other people do or outside circumstances, we can control how we view the situation.

Before we step into trying to appreciate the difficulties in life, let's just take a look around your immediate surroundings. Using all find senses, challenge yourself to find five things to appreciate.

...the smell of someone cooking dinner
...the tiny voices of children playing together
...watching two cats cleaning each other
...the gentle breeze that touches your face
...the luscious taste of chocolate

Finding these small things to appreciate will soon become a habit and more things to appreciate will become obvious to you and your senses. The bigger issues are hard to appreciate at the time it's happening, but even finding a bit of peace is a thousand times better than being worried and anxious. Also, this not a test. There are never wrong answers when appreciating life. Just look around...enjoy...and give thanks!

Do you remember the popular commercial back in the 70s or 80s for Calgon. It's been so long ago, but I still can easily recall its slogan spoken almost song-like through a soft female voice, "Calgon! Take me away!"

Why was it so popular? I think, it represented the one time of the day the Super Mom could hide away in the bathroom and relax. No requests. No demands. No expectations. Just her, just for herself - alone. What a dream!!!

Now that we have since evolved and can manage multiple tasks easily, thanks to the advancement of technology, we no longer need to be Super Moms or Super Dads. As I'm writing this, I'm downloading an image for this post; my email will alert me for any new email from my four websites, as well as from Facebook and Twitter; I'm learning more about marketing my websites; reviewing other lens at SquidU; and fighting vampires on an Facebook application. Nope! Definitely not a Super Mom! :P

Multi-tasking is vital now as more demands are placed on us, but balancing is the key to a much happier existence! Taking some time out to do something nice for yourself can actually make you more productive, more fun to be around, and happier.

I often come across friends or students (I have adults who I teach English to one-on-one), and I encouragement them to do this exercise:

1) Pick your favorite day of the week.
2) Review your schedule for that day and see if there's a 30 minute block of time available.
3) Reserve that time by making an appointment with yourself.
4) Prepare for your appointment just as if it was your most imporrtant client (It is!)
5) Be creative and have fun in your preparation! What would make this VIP the happiest?
6) **** KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENT**** and arrive on time.
7) Turn off your phone, Blackberry, laptop, etc. unless that is a part of your appointment.
8) Have fun!!! and make an appointment for next week - same day of the week and same time.

"But I don't have any money."

I understand. So, here's a few ideas to get the gears going: relax in the park, listen to your favorite music, read a book you've been putting off, buy a coffee or chai and just chill, people watch, check out the musuem, etc.

"But I really don't have time!"

That's a big one. A financial planner will normally suggest paying yourself first. A flight attendent would request you place the oxygen mask over your face first before helping your children. There's a reason you SHOULD first and it's not because of selfishness and lack of concern for others.

Everything you do, every action you take ripples to others. If you are constantly doing for others, but never take time out for yourself - that ripples negativity big time! You're always stressed, under pressure, irritated and overwhelmed (ask me how I know this!). However, just by taking care of yourself, you start to feel better, lighter and life seems to flow easier. You'll find yourself smiling more, playing more, forgiving others' mistakes easier - and that soooo ripples to others!

Try it! You may like it! If you're feeling brave, please share your experience with us! It will definitely be encouraging for others! Thanks....

Now if you could excuse me...

Ferrero Rocher! Take me away!!!!

Here's a test (I always love these!!!). Take a look at the picture on the right. Think you can guess what it is? (Here's a clue: it's not so uncommon if you're an outdoorsy person.)

Seeing things from different perspectives can be quite enlightening and just the thing to spark creativity. Imagine the eyes of a child when they first see the beach! Wow! All of their senses come into play. They feel alive! We look at their playfulness as they splash each other and we tend to envy them. Why?

Why not join them! For one day, go somewhere new, bring a friend if you like, and explore the area like a tourist. I've lived in Thailand for four years. When my friends visit from America, it's so refreshing to see their excitement, especially if it's their first visit. Try a new restaurant. Read a genre you never tried before. Stepping outside the circle will expand your mind and your thinking.

"A mind expanded never returns to original size." - Thomas Einstein

Here's another way to expand your creativity in all areas of your life. Pick 1 or several areas you want to develop, i.e. relationship, finances, career, etc. For five minutes, brainstorm at least 10 ideas for one category. No judging or editing! After you've got at least 10 ideas for all the areas, go through your list(s) and see if you can find 1 - 3 plausible ideas. Make a quick plan to implement it/them then take action NOW! If you plan too much, it won't get done. If you edit too much, it won't get done. And if you don't take a least a small action (make an appointment, research it online, post question on Yahoo Ask, etc.) while you have the momentum, you will be at the same spot tomorrow.

But just imagine for a moment, you doing something different, big or small, that will take you so much closer to where you really want to be. Wow, that would bring about a piece of happiness!

"You don't have to see the whole staircase before taking the first step." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

P.S. The answer will be posted next time...Stay tuned!