10 Habits of Happy People

Happiness is a habit - cultivate it.

~ Elbert Hubbard

1.      Love themselves: They love themselves for what they are. They avoid comparison with others which brings unhappiness. They have high self-esteem with all their strengths and weaknesses. They think more about their achievements and successes. They dress smartly and act confidently without being snobbish.

To love oneself is to love life. It is essential to understand that we make ourselves happy in making others happy.

~Matthieu Ricard

2.      Getting delighted in simple pleasures in life: Reading a book, taking a nap, watching the sunrise, walking the dog, and listening to the rushing waves are some of the simple and yet cheerful things to do to be happy. Discover the happiness in your daily life.  

Precisely the least, the softest, lightest, a lizard's rustling, a breath, a flash, a moment - a little makes the way

of the best happiness.

~ Frederich Nietzsche

3.      Sociable: According to an article, What Happy People Do, happy people watch less TV and socialize more. They seek strong ties and friendship. They reach out to others more often. Social support is an important element for happy people.  

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.

~ Lois L. Kaufman

4.      Getting things done: Happy people are achievers and they are productive. They plan their work and work their plan to accomplish the tasks of the day. They take action to overcome problems. When they work they get into a state of low. They are absorbed in the task at hand.  They enjoy the challenges in their job and excited about what they do because they are passionate.

Success is getting and achieving what you want. Happiness is wanting and being content with what you get.

~ Bernard Meltzer

5.      An attitude of gratitude: They appreciate life, about their health, family, friends, and their jobs. They welcome each new day with excitement.  They extend kindness and forgiveness and thankful for what they have got. 

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~ Melody Beattie

6.      Optimistic: They look at the bright side of things and are hopeful. They are able to cope with difficult situations because they are resilient and not easily disheartened.

They are determined to overcome obstacles to achieve their objectives.

The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose.

~- Kahlil Gibran

7.      Live in the moment: They are not regretting the past or worrying about the future. They are mindful and focus in the present. They don’t rush about and try to do too many things at once.  They seize the day.

It is only possible to live happily-ever-after on a day-to-day basis.

Margaret Bonnano

8.      Peace of mind: Happy people are honest people; they have nothing to hide and no lies to tell.  They fill their heart with contentment and are satisfied with what life has offered them. They hold no grudges but fill their heart with love and gratefulness.

To know you have enough is to be rich.

~ Lao-Tzu

9.      Financial freedom: They live within their means because they do not overspend and get into debt. Happy people are debt-free people. They manage their money well so that there is always money to save and invest in the future. 

With money in your pocket, you are wise and you are handsome and you sing well, too.

Jewish Proverb

10. Self-care: They lead a healthy lifestyle. They exercise, take breaks,   sleep soundly and enjoy a healthy eating habit. They are happy because they are fit and feeling good inside out.  

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

- Oprah Winfrey

Adopt a happiness habit and be happy.

How to be Happy

You do not pursue happiness directly because according to Thoreau:

Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.

As mentioned by W. Beran Wolfe:

If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator. 

 Happiness is:

·         What you think and how you feel: When your thoughts are pleasant, you will feel good. If you are thinking of failures and defeats, your mood is negatively affected. Think of your strengths instead of your weaknesses to boost your confidence and happiness.

Feeling of love, kindness, and rejoicing for others for their successes instead of jealousy is the way to lasting happiness.

Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think.

~Dale Carnegie

·         About your attitude: Happiness is making wise choices and looking for the good in everything.  Appreciate and love yourself for what you are, look at the bright side of things and look at a half-full glass instead of a half-empty glass. Look at things with a positive perspective like taking problems as challenges and viewing mistakes as valuable lessons to be learnt. Adopt an attitude of gratitude and appreciate what you have got out of life. Remember happiness is a choice too.

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.  

~ Francesca Reigler

·         How you get things done: Get up early and be enthusiastic, like and enjoy what you do.  While working on the tasks at hand, be focused and get into the flow.  Be responsible and proud of what you do. Solve problems creatively like a jigsaw puzzle and be resourceful to be more productive. Be interested to learn more and know more so that you will be more competent at work. When you do things with your heart and soul you will attract happiness.  

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.

~Dalai Lama

·         The way you interact with others: Identify the best in others and offer a compliment. Smile and acknowledge people you meet. Do random acts of kindness and say please and thank you more often. Show kindness and compassion instead of aloofness and indifference. When you give more happiness to others, you will be happier.

When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
- The Dalai Lama

Life is really simple and it is also simple to be happy every day. Do you agree?

Happiness - 6 Grand Sources

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don't enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are that you're not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or, a trip to Paris, that person isn't going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or, a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.

~Andy Rooney

Happiness is always with you in your daily life. I just identify the sources and you will understand. Look closer into every area of your life and discover more happiness in you: 

1.      Career: It is essential to find happiness at work because you spend one-third of your daily life at work. Happiness is enjoying what you do, having the technical skills to solve problems, getting things done according to your plan and, being appreciated by others in your performance. To be happier at work, learn to treasure your job as there are many other who are retrenched or couldn’t get a job.  Seek improvement by making changes and be more productive. When you are proud of what you do and you find satisfaction in your work, you will be happy.  

2.      Social: Happiness is reaching out to others and getting connected. You get the support of others and at the same time, you also provide support. You share your ups and downs and you listen to others for the same reason. Happiness is getting interested in others and getting others to be interested in you.   Networking is for mutual benefits and sharing happiness.  

3.      Physical: A healthy and fit body is one of the greatest sources of happiness. You are calm, energetic and you are ready to tackle the tasks of the day with enthusiasm and determination. You feel good about yourself.

4.      Spiritual well-being: Some of the things that contribute to your spiritual well-being are peace of mind, contentment, gratefulness, and living in the moment. A simple life is finding happiness in what you have and not what you want to have. Getting feelings of love and kindness instead of hatred and jealousy is an effective way to enjoy happiness.  

5.      Financial:  Happiness is not getting more and spending even more for material wealth and get into debt. Lasting happiness is living within your means and still there is money left over to meet an emergency in life.  

6.      Family: It is said that if you are successful in your career and you have a broken family you are not successful after all. Happiness at home is about sharing and caring for each other in the bad time and the good time. When you are happy you make others in the family happy too. It is your present rather than the presents you bring home that contributes to genuine happiness. Happiness at home will vibrate more happiness in other areas of your life.

Your daily life is a great source of happiness.  

Positive Psychology - 7 Advantages of Happiness

  

I have found that happiness is the most popular topic among readers. Happiness is how you think and feel, what you do and how you interact with others. Being happy is the best thing in life because happiness has wonderful advantages:    

1.      Happy people work better: Happy people enjoy a more satisfying life. They are not disturbed by negative emotions. They are in the mood for the task at hand and they perform better with quality output. Their pleasant feeling about themselves promotes creativity and productivity. Thus they enjoy a better income.

2.      Happy people enjoy better Health: As stated in an article, Happiness Improves Health and Lengthens Life, happy people live longer and they enjoy better health with a stronger immune system.  

3.      Happy people react and cope positively: Happy people do not react to problems with a why-me attitude. They will, instead, look for ways to clear the obstacles. They are more determined to overcome setbacks in life because happy people are generally optimistic.

4.      Happy people promote emotional well-being: Happy people feel good about themselves. They are  relaxed,  focuses, and  live in the moment because there are no negative distractions

5.      Happy people enjoy better relationships: They are cheerful. They send a signal to people to say: I am ok, you are welcome. Being happy they interact positively with others at home, at work, and in the community.

6.      Happy people are more charitable, more sociable, and more cooperative: According to a working paper, Feeling good about giving: The benefits (and Costs) of Self-Interested Charitable Behavior, by Lalin Anik, Lara B. Aknin, Michael I. Norton, and Elizabeth W, Dunn, happier people give more and giving makes people happier, such that happiness and giving may operate in a positive feedback loop (with happier people giving more, getting happier, and giving even more).

7.      Happy people are successful people: They connect better with people and more helpful. They open up more opportunities for themselves. They are more skillful and creative and they are in a better frame of mind to solve complex problems. According to Sonja Lyubomirsky, happy individuals are successful across multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health as mentioned in her article,

The Benefits of Frequent Positive effect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?

Are you getting the benefits of happiness? 

7 Delightful Ways to Start a New Day with Happiness

Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail.

Og Mandino

Don’t get up on the wrong side of the bed. Start a new day and every day with happiness. Here are the things you can do to attract happiness on every new day: 

1.      Purpose in life:  Do you wake and get up enthusiastically? Are you anxious to get things done? Chances are that if you do, you have passion in your life.  You have discovered your purpose in life. You look forward to every new day with excitement. It means you will start a new day with happiness.

2.      Plan ahead: Happiness is a productive and organized life. Planning ahead is the way to avoid hurrying by, getting confused, and not knowing your priorities to start a new day. Have you got your to-do list ready to start a new day? You will feel good about yourself when you get the right things done with focus and energy. 

3.      Get up early: Researchers from Roehampton University suggest that ‘morning people’ who get up earlier lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives. When you get up early you are in better control of your time without getting things done in a rush and missing your breakfast. Be an early riser and feel a refreshing difference in you.

4.      Psych yourself up: In the morning think of happy thoughts and read motivational quotes to get yourself into a cheerful mood. Be grateful and appreciative that you are given a new day to start life with a positive difference.  

Whatever you want in life, start today. Not tomorrow - today.

Let it be a small beginning - a tiny beginning.

Your happiness depends on starting today - every day.

~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

5.      Do the right things for happiness: Capture happiness in the morning by exercising. Start a new day with a fresh and calm mind. Get into spiritual happiness by doing a round of Tai Chi or Yoga. You get peace of mind, contentment, and a sense of fulfillment. Such are wonderful ways to get into a happy and relaxed mood.

6.      Breakfast:  Breakfast is such an important meal to start a new day. It provides the nourishment to fuel your energy for a brand new day. Don’t read newspapers, just enjoy your breakfast and eat slowly. Breakfast is a great way to kick-start a new day with zest and happiness. 

7.      Smile and greet people: Take along your happiness to work. Spread it around. Along the way smile at people you meet. Greet people at the workplace with a broad smile. It is such a delightful way to make others happy and get yourself even happier.

Are you starting every new day with happiness?

Be Simple Be Happy

Simplicity is the essence of happiness.

~ Cedric Bledsoe

Simplicity is the way to live life and be happy.

Less is more, healthier, and happier

Do not compare your life to others. When you do, you will not be happy because you want to have the things they have that you do not have. Live your own life and be happy with what you have.  Do not get into debt for more material wants.  Debt-free living is carefree living.

Get less of technology. A simple mobile phone to call, receive calls, send and receive SMS is all you need. Do you need a smartphone to surf the Net all day long and use it everywhere you go? For all you know, you only get excited about a new gadget just for a while.

Eat less at fast food outlets and more at home. Eat healthily and consume more fruits and vegetables, drink more water instead of sugary drinks. A simple lifestyle is a happy and healthy lifestyle.

You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you happy.

~ Eric Hoffer  

Commit less

 Time is limited. There is so much you can do in a day.  Be inspired by your aspirations and do what you love and enjoy doing it. Focus on things that are important to you.  

Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness, and joy.

~ Richard Halloway

The simple pleasure in life

Go slow and enjoy what you do. Eat slowly to savor the food. Drive slowly to avoid an accident and get stressed. Take the time to appreciate the beauty of nature.  Get an afternoon nap and cuddle your pet at home. Listen to music, read books. These are some of the simple things in life that attract happiness.     

Go to your friends, crack some jokes and laugh out loud. Go to the park, get on the beach,  climb up the hill, and exercise in the open, According to an article Doing brings more happiness than owning.

Happiness in life is about living in the moment and paying attention to what you do.

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.  Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Are you enjoying the simple things in life? 

7 C’s to Live a Happy Life

It's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends and family.

Philip Green

To live life is to be happy. Here are the wise things you can do to live your life delightfully:

   

1.      Choose: Life is about making choices. Even if you do nothing. It is still a choice not to act. Choose wisely and act promptly. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. Making mistakes are part and parcel of going forward in life. It is a way to learn valuable lessons. The most important thing is not to repeat the same mistake.

Your life is the sum result of all the choices you make, both consciously and unconsciously. If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life. You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself.

~Robert F. Bennett

2.      Change: To change is to do things differently. It is to look for a breakthrough in life to get better in what you do. The idea is to be more productive.

Unless you try to do something
beyond what you have already mastered,
you will never grow.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

3.      Contribute: To contribute is to provide value. At work, you contribute by increasing the revenue of the company or reducing expenses. At home, you contribute by spending quality time by sharing household chores or interacting with your children and spouse.  In order to get what you want, you contribute or give.

  

Whatever you do or don't do in your lifetime,
your best contribution to those around you
and to future generations
will be in the happiness and joy
you generated and radiated to those around you.
~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

4.      Commit: Be committed to your work, your family, your health, people near you and the environment. Take good care and you will reap the benefits.

Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It's something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.

~Vincent "Vince" Lombardi

5.      Celebrate: Every day may be an ordinary day, but celebrate every new day. Rejoice and live the way you want to be. Live in the present and treasure every precious moment. Life is to be enjoyed fully here and now. Don’t hold on to the past and worry about the future.     

If you aren't in the moment,
you are either looking forward to uncertainty,
or back to pain and regret.
~ Jim Carrey

6.      Count: To be happy in life is to count what you have. To be miserable is to think of what you want for the things you do not have. Count your successes and achievements to boost your confidence.   Do not dwell on your setbacks or defeats to dampen your spirits.

Count your blessings. Once you realize

how valuable you are and how much you have going for you,

the smiles will return, the sun will break out,

the music will play, and you will finally

be able to move forward the life that God intended

for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.

~ Og Mandino

7.      Create: When you want to be a writer, there are many top writers out there; you have to be outstanding and different to get noticed. Conceive original ideas in your writing to get ahead and stay ahead.  Be resourceful and creative in what you do.

 There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.

 ~ Edward de Bono

Take chances in life, chose wisely, make changes, be creative, be committed and contribute greatly so that you can be happy and successful.  While you are on the journey of life celebrate every new day and count your blessings.