(All) Want to Lead a Happy Life?

 This entry was posted on Monday, May 27th, 2019 at 5:57 pm

I came across this article through a trusted friend and found it a great reminder of what I need to do in order to be happy……. more importantly to try and sustain some peace. Below are the bullet points, but the article is much richer than simple bullet points.

1)    Make little changes in your daily routine

a.     In my experience it is rarely BIG changes we have to make in our life, but rather small changes that result in the BIG gains/goals.

2)    Read more books

a.     If you are being honest with yourself, there has never been a better time to read (and this is coming from someone that has NEVER been a good

reader).

b.     We have the ability to go to the library (free books), the old school way (purchase a book), and more of a newer school way (audio books).

c.     Any way you look at it, there really are no excuses.

3)    Find your right fit or match, both personally and professionally

a.     Let’s be honest, work is not supposed to be the end all be all to our lives, but it plays a significant part.

b.     If you are miserable, or find that you are going through every monotonous day with little to no change, then try to take the small incremental step of noticing those times when you are stimulated, find that your energy level is higher, find that the music is a bit louder on the way home because of a good day……..and then lean into that. Meaning, what is it about those times that stimulates me?

4)    Be grateful

a.     We all can use more of this. It is the best time ever in history to be alive, where is your focus?

5)    Smile more—even if you don’t feel like it

a.     Fake it until you make it

6)    Relish simple, everyday moments

a.     Read #4

7)    Perform random acts of kindness

a.     Instead of pointing the fingers at what others are not doing (talking to myself here), go do it yourself.

b.     As James Dalton (Patrick Swayze) said in the classic Roadhouse, “be nice”.

8)    Spend money on experiences versus things

a.     I would also take it one step further, if you can have those experiences with others…….it makes the experience that much richer.

9)    Avoid comparisons

a.     Be the best you, not the best Tom, Susan, Larry, etc.

10) Build and maintain close relationships

a.     Surround yourself with others that make you better.

b.     Too many of us live in isolation.

c.     Meetup groups, Church, Community Groups, etc.

                      i.     Challenge yourself to get out of the isolation.

https://www.becomingminimalist.com/how-to-live-a-happy-life/