A middle school teacher taught me this, and after 11 years, I still remember it: Happiness comes from having (1) Something to do, (2) Someone to love, (3) Something to look forward to.1) I was given a gift of a book called "Change the World 9-5" and in it there is a poster. It says "If your home has something other than a dirt floor you are in the top half of the world's population" it works down from this to "If you have a car, a microwave, a video and a computer....then you are in the top 1%". Be grateful that you have what you have, celebrate life.
2) buy yourself a pretty notebook and write down the things you like best about yourself and if anyone says something nice to you write that down aswell. whenever you feel down look through the book and it'll make you feel much better. (remember to add more nice things each day
3) Know that happiness is not getting what you want - it is wanting what you've got
4) Pretending to be happy will not make you happy. Instead give yourself something to be happy about. Do 2 things one that will immediately make you feel happy like helping so
meone carry their groceries or suggesting a good movie to someone that's frazzled in blockbuster. By helping someone else even with something simple you will immediately feel much better. Longterm, try to figure out what is making you unhappy and change it. If you don't like your body change it, start small and think big. Also find a hobby that doesn't focus on your problem, if you think your overeating,start painting,listening to james brown, sewing, anything that doesn't involve food. Basically get to the root of your unhappiness and derail it!5) Come on, be realistic! Anyone who is happy all the time must be insane, or have some real issues in the background! Everyone is entitled to be unhappy once in a while, so embrace it, use it as an incentive to change something so it doesn't happy again, or whatever suits you. But if you're never unhappy, you'll never understand what pure joy and happiness really is. Instead of faking it, take the time to dig deep and deal with it - or would you prefer to fake it for the rest of your days?
6) Set a moment aside for yourself and just cry your eyes out. It doesn't matter how you do it. Summon up every single negative memory, feeling, and thoughts and let the tears flow or just dig out that movie that always makes you cry like a baby. Personally, after a good cry, I feel a hundred times better and would even laugh at myself for being so silly. Then I take a shower, sleep, and wake up feeling refreshed and happy. Yay
7) I know it sounds preachy and believe me its not meant to be, but I find it helpful to remember that I am one lucky SOB to have been born in a country of power and money where women are allowed to be individuals (as have all of you, judging from your owning or have access to a computer). That I have so much potential and open doors in my life and if I sit here wasting it, thinking about how I wish my thighs were smaller, than I am pathetic for doing nothing of substance with all that I have. Tough love I know, but its good to keep things in perspective I think. And a good run never hurts either.
8) Keep a gratitude journal. At the end of every day, list 5 things you are grateful for. They can be things that happened that day, things you have in your life, relationships that support you, or little things like "the beautiful weather we had today" or "the stranger who smiled at me on the sidewalk." It's a simple tool that can shift your perspective dramatically, and it takes no more than 5 minutes
9) Get a dog! or any pet! (just make sure you take good care of it). When I come home from a rough day at work and I see my two dogs it just turns me around! Dogs love you unconditionally and they are ALWAYS happy to see you! Trust me- this is good advice!
10) Try to be around people who are not as fortunate as yourself, that may bring some resolution for you. I work with children and adults with disabilities and am thankful everyday for the good health and opportunites enjoyed by my own family. Most of the people I work with would give anything to do half of what we do in normal life. My own son died through complications caused by his disability and suffering such a loss really puts things into perspective let me tell you.
11) When unhappiness comes from comparing yourself to friends/family who have more than you do, remember to judge not by comparison, but by what IS. You can never know the whole story about someone else, and people hide what is wrong, so comparisons just make you unhappy and get you nowhere
12) Remove the word "should" from your vocabulary. Start thinking about the things you want to do instead. Don't beat yourself up because you have three books on your nightstand that you "should" read or because you really "should" clear out your closet one day. Instead, figure out what will really make you happy and DO it.
13) just be sad for a day bit the next wake up and put full blast music on, decide that today will b better and belive it, go about your day making sure and doing things that will 100% make iot better than the day before...dont allow yourslef to be down for too long
14) If your in a bad mood just think back on something the day before or ages ago that just makes you laugh and giggle and smile. I've been given so many odd looks walking around and suddenly bursting into laughter and smiles from thinking on something that just makes me happy ^_^ Heck even if its just a song or two let it play in your head and just smile! Try to be happy as much as possible as being unhapy gets you no where
15) Write down ten positive/favourite things about your life. They could be people, attributes, objects, places you've been, funny memories etc. Then keep them handy and refer back to them when feeling low. If it fails to produce a simple smile - you didn't choose the best things!
16) You can only have one thought in your head at a time so make it a positive one
17) Accept that you are allowed to be yourself and to have your own time and space - do not feel guilty for being the person that you are. Know that 'You are a child of the universe - you have a right to be here' - to quote from Desiderata
18) Think of someone who you know that really loves you - that usually brings a smile to my face!
19) There is actually research that proves that when you smile, you automatically feel better. It's not necessarily pretending, it's just getting your brain to release endorphins, up your heart rate and increase adrenalin. All of these combined make you feel happier and in turn give you a sense of peace and well-being. You will also feel more motivated... all from one simple smile. A really easy trick to this is to smile at everyone you pass on the sidewalk or in the hall. This creates happier feelings for you, and by smiling at someone (and them smiling back), you've created happier feelings for someone else, which should make you feel a lot happier!!
20) having something to look forward to! think about the things you are excited about at work/job/school tomorrow, or beyond - whether it's the weekend, a wedding next month, or a vacation coming up. i always make reservations for a new restaurant so that every week i'm looking forward to saturday night. or i go get a mani/pedi after finishing something difficult
