25 Ways To Be Happy by Jane Thurnell-Read

1.Change What you Do

Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihaly says that many people assume that popular activities like watching TV are enjoyable, but his research shows that people are happier when they do things where they feel involved and active.

2. Ease That Stress

Meditation, yoga, flower remedies, self-hypnosis CDs, prayer and complementary therapies have all been found to help people feel less stressed and wound up. Find what works for you.

3. Powerful Words

Avoid using words like 'hate', 'always', 'never', 'depressed' to talk about negative events. Use milder words like 'don't like', 'sometimes', 'unhappy'.

4. Be Yourself!

We tend to like people who are themselves, who don't pretend to be something they're not. So, be yourself and be liked.

5. Life

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." Virginia Satir

6. Dreams

"A dream without commitment is just a fantasy." Dr Bob Rotella

7. Choosing …

In important areas of your life decide what you want, and then seek out ways of achieving it. In less important areas of your life choose from what is immediately available.

8. Love

"Love your enemy - it will drive him nuts." Eleanor Doan

9. Can't Let Go Of Emotional Pain?

Try the homeopathic remedy 'Natrum Mur' if you tend to dwell on emotional hurt from the past.

10. Feeling Better

In a study funded by Mind, the UK mental health charity, 80% of the participants said they felt better (emotionally and mentally) if they cut down on sugar.

11. The Gratitude Visit

Research by Martin E. P. Seligman found that volunteers who wrote and presented a letter of gratitude to someone they had never properly thanked were significantly happier and less depressed three months later. Try it yourself.

12. Bad Things

"Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble." Arabic proverb

13. Depressed?

If you're feeling depressed, it could be because you're deficient in folic acid. This particularly affects seniors. Take a supplement and/or increase your intake of green leafy vegetables, beans and fortified foods.

14. Making Tomorrow Better

“Ask yourself, ‘Is there anything I can do for five minutes to make tomorrow better?’” Stephen Covey

15. Short Cuts To Happiness

"There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them." Vicki Baum

16. Even If

Use the words ‘even if’, when you’re unhappy. E.g. “Even if I’m miserable, I still have a job”, or “Even if I’m fat and horrible, I have a great singing voice.” If you find it difficult to think positively, try this Positive Thinking CD.

17. Freeze-Frame It

"Think about someone, something in your life you love and freeze-frame the picture," says Blair Justice, professor-emeritus of psychology in Houston . "The physical effect on the heart is what's called cardiac-coherence."

18. Aggressive Or Assertive

Be assertive, not aggressive. Being assertive can leave everyone feeling OK. Being aggressive means someone has to lose.

19. Own Your Anger

Own your anger. Observe it and see what makes you tip over into anger. Is it when you are tired, hungry or overworked? Take responsibility for dealing with these states in your life.

20. Feel Good

Exercise stimulates endorphins - the body's own feel-good chemicals. So, when you're feeling miserable, get some exercise.

21. Loving Communications

Discuss problems with your partner when things are good between you. It's at these times that misunderstandings are less likely to occur.

22. Blaming Our Parents

It's easy to blame our parents for how we are. But think: if you’re blaming your parents for how you are, you have to blame THEIR parents for how they are.

23. Get Happiness Tips Every Day

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24. Are You Over-Critical?

If you're over critical of others, try taking the Bach flower remedy 'Beech'.

25. Self Pity

There really ARE people worse off than you! What do you have that someone on death row doesn’t? How is your life better than that of someone who is slowly starving to death?

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