What does it take to lead a happier life?

[Dimitry]

Interesting article on MSNBC...take a look.
What does it take to lead a happier life? - Mental Health - MSNBC.com

[Gautam]

thanks for the link!

[David Hausladen]

Looks like mainstream news is catching on to our methods...quickly, shuffle the Law of Attraction under the rug before they find that too!

[Phil Newton]

I like the idea of taking time at the end of the day to think of three things that you're grateful for. It reminds me of the "Gratitude Rock" story from The Secret, where you put a rock in your pocket at the start of the day and think of 3 thigns to be grateful for, and when you take it out at night you do the same thing. I'll be trying this for the next few weeks.

It's all too easy to get caught up in the tiny things that go wrong and ignore the good things that happen. Sometimes I think humans are much better at concentrating on negative things, and that we want to be miserable because it's easier to justify than being happy.

[Dimitry]

I agree. I think it's the simple little things like thinking of the positive things that happened that day regardless of stuff that went wrong that day that can turn your life around. Some things in personal developement are definately not easy and it takes hard work but sometimes I think a lot of the steps are made to be harder than they should.

I'm trying the rock idea and what I do is whenever I reach into my pocket for keys or something, and hit the rock, I think of something good right away...anything really. Puts a smile to my face right away.

I'm glad you guys enjoyed the article also.

[ReallyGoodIdeas]

Nice! Simple yet effective! Maybe life is easy and fun after all?
:-)

Joy to you (x3)
Hazel

[andrew]

Thanks for the link.

This really really stood out to me:

Happiness is the process, not the place," he said via e-mail. "So many of us think that when we get everything just right, and obtain certain goals and circumstances, everything will be in place and we will be happy.... But once we get everything in place, we still need new goals and activities.

Right now I keep thinking to myself "once I get the business going, once I move to the beach, once I make new friends, once I get a social life" etc etc, I'll be satisfied. I think it's more satisfaction than happy I'm after. I'm happy now, but I'm not as happy as I want to be and I'm not having as much fus as I want to be.

What do you guys think? That seems like a not so great way of looking at things, but it's seems like it's what'll make me happy. I don't know, is there a difference between enjoying what you're doing, and being happy(and or satisfied)? Because I'm enjoying what I'm doing, so it's not like I'm miserable, I'm just not "living" as much as I want to be.

[Dimitry]

What's preventing you from living the lifestyle you want to be living?

[Mohit Pawar]

To lead a happy life;

1. Eat, work, rest and play - regularly - do not toss one out for another
2. Value your relationship
3. Be truthful with yourself while setting expectations and goals
4. Do not over-promise
5. Keep your to-do list for the day manageable - one you can finish by the end of work day. Then you can go home satisfied with a feeling that you finished what you intended to.
6. Learn not to do anything (thinking, dreaming, reading, talking....) just being yourself - for 5-10 minutes a day

Do something good to others without expecting good karma in return.

[dorothy hanna]

To lead a happier life you need happiness. How'd that song go? "Don't worry, Be happy".

[Dimitry]

"And when the world gets in your face, you say...*tun tun*...HAVE A NICE DAAAY!"

[Alvin]

The research into the benefits of keeping a gratitude journal really resonated with me, especially after I read Christine Kane's excellent post on Gratitude Journals and Why They Work.

In my own experience, one of the happiest people I know told me once the secret to his infectious smile and magnetic cheerfulness was keeping a journal of the magical moments in his life, something I first learnt from the book Real Moments.

[PhoenixBlossom]

Great article.

The idea of thinking of three things to be grateful for at the end of the day is in line with some processes recommended by Abraham. There is a "30 Days to change your life" Workbook based on their teachings that helped me get into the habit of both ending and beginning the day with gratitude. It's a .pdf file that someone created from their recordings - I'm happy to share it with anyone who might like it - just send me a PM.

There are 2 processes: a "rampage of appreciation", which is just what it sounds like (& much like the article recommended), and I do that at night before sleep. In the morning, I thank Source for the new day and do "segment intending", which involves imagining the events of my day unfolding just as I desire, often scripting out interactions with people as I would like them to occur. I believe this activity is mentioned in The Secret as "creating my day".

I've been practicing these activities daily for over 6 months, among others, and after a very challenging couple of years, I'd say I am as happy as I have ever been.

Love & Joy

PS - Hazel, yes, Life is easy and fun!

[Cassie]

Thank you for sharing this, Dimitry. I posted a link to the article in my blog. I feel a lot of people could really benefit from reading this. It really is the simple things in life which generate the most joy!

[Dimitry]

Glad I could help out Cassie. Did you mention that it was posted by a very good looking and intelligent Russian guy from Toronto by any chance? haha j/ks

And you change yourself from a Broke-Ass Student to "Student on the path the financial freedom"...inline with The Secret heh. Oh..I actually read one of your articles...the one explaining interest and TVM principle...loved my Finance class, that was a joy to read, thanks!

[MichaelRGaudet]

I heard Bob Dylan say once ( in an interview) " You know you're a success
(read 'happy' ) when you can get up and do whatever you want for the day."

This might sound over-simplified, but I've always remembered it.

Wouldn't it be great if we could LITERALLY do anything we want?

As in have a creative, fulfilling, challenging, inspiring day?

Or how about taking a day OFF?

Wow! That would work for me.