13th September 2017
Every morning is special, because the past is gone, and the future is yet
to happen. Only today exists. If you choose to, you can make today an
opportunity to be happy, consciously, no matter what!
There is plenty of evidence to show that happiness is beneficial for health.
Happiness produces endorphins within the body, which strengthen the immune
system and result in overall well-being.
So give
yourself the gift of happiness today; both your mind and body will thank you
for it. Happiness is simple, when you know how.
Here are 5 simple tips to help
you.
1)
BE AUTHENTIC
Ask yourself some key questions - What makes you happy
at work? What makes you happy at home? What do you love to do? What are you
currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy?
You'll find
that by putting your answers down on paper, they'll become clear more quickly
and the actions you need to take more obvious and easier to initiate.
2)
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
We usually tell ourselves the story of what we lack,
what others have that we don’t. Instead, begin every day by consciously
counting your blessings and knowing the fact that you are in a better position
than the majority of our world. Stay focused on your full-ness, not your
empty-ness. This one practice will turn your life around.
3)
STOP JUDGING
It's
impossible to experience happiness when you're always judging others. Accept
the truth that we are not here to judge one another. The next time you find yourself
getting upset, ask, "Are you judging?" Judging others is often an
unconscious habit that can be changed the moment you decide to stop doing it.
4)
RAISE YOURSELF
Many people
silently talk to themselves very negatively, yet they would never accept the
same from a stranger, friend, or loved one. So become aware of your self-talk
and if it’s negative, try this - For one week, simply commit to saying
"stop" whenever you think a negative thought.
Carry a
notepad and make a mark each time you catch yourself thinking negatively. And
then, think of something you enjoy doing, something positive. You'll find that
as the days go by, your negative thinking can quickly be reduced.
5)
FOLLOW FUN
Fun is good. It's what children do naturally. Why do
we stop pursuing fun as we get older?
Fun shouldn't be squeezed into a few weeks of vacation
each year, while the rest of our life continues to be drudgery. And it
shouldn't be squeezed into the last chapter of your life either, when you
"get to" retire. Fun should be a daily experience!
But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a
priority in your life. The wise know - happiness and fun are the reasons for
living, not the symptom of it. Fun deserves to be a part of your life today,
and forever.
Adopt this as a new rule – Follow Your Fun!
In my best-selling book The Little Manual of Happiness, I write
“Happiness is now, or never!” Well, you can be happy now, as you read these
words, or you can wait.
This is the perfect moment
to be happy; in fact this is the only moment you’ll ever have. Happiness is a
choice, and it begins with you.
So why delay? Choose to be
happy today.
SoulCentre is
Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation, Mindfulness & Stress-Management.
For details
& dates of our meditation programs, connect to www.soulcentre.org/events
