10 Keys to Happiness

There are people who want to be happy, and those people are usually miserable because they live with the expectation that one day they will be happy.  Then there are people who are happy because they live lives that include the following elements:

1. Love - You could put the word "appreciation" as a subtitle here.  The level of love or appreciate you feel for yourself and for others, can directly effect the level of happiness you have. Sometimes we need to take five minutes and really feel that in a day.

2. Forgiveness - If you have ever forgave someone, you know the feeling of weight being lifted off your shoulders and the feeling of thankfulness you receive to understand how this contributes to happiness. Try it.

3. Healthy Eating - If you are feeling a little down, try eating extremely healthy for three days and guaranteed your mood will be lifted.  There are two reasons why.  First your body loves proper nutrition; second, feeding your body well is a way of loving yourself, so it changes your mindset from destructive to healing.

4. Meditation - There are still very few people who meditate, relatively speaking. It’s not easy, but the benefits are invaluable.  Reduced stress, clarity, lifted spirit and renewed energy. Arguably the most important key to true happiness.

5. Laughter - Laughing is like music in our lives.  It is therapeutic because it helps us release stress.  Is life really that serious anyway? How many times have you been worked up about something, that later you realize had no significance?

6. Work - Love what you do, and do what you love.  If you have a job you are not completely satisfied with, love it anyway until you find what you really want to do. Watch the transition that takes place when you make an effort to enjoy your work.

7. Play - Take time to play games and sports, even if it is out of your comfort zone.  Play like a kid.  We only live once, so if you live a life without playing - it’s not going to be a happy one.

8. Less TV - TV is a depressant.  Drains your energy and takes away your time to live.

9. Exercise - The first thing anyone should do if they are down is go for a walk.  You need a healthy body to be happy.  Exercise not only gets your blood flowing; it helps take your mind off of external events and brings your energy into your body - which is very healing.  Also, your endorphins get release which directly lifts your mood.

10. Learning - Keep learning ways to be more effective in all areas of life.  There is no end to learning, which means you can achieve more in the way of work, relationships and personal fulfillment everyday.  Just pick up a book or go talk to someone for advice.