If there is one thing that I have learned in my 40+ years on this planet, it is that: Happiness is a choice.   I am serious, It is VERY true!  The choice is yours – You can choose to:

• let life’s circumstances get you down
  or you can choose to:
• be happy no matter what challenges life brings you overcome

What I find that most people do not know is the fact that happiness is already within each and every one of us.  We, as a human race, are born to be naturally happy!  I mean think about it for  a moment;  have you ever noticed how infectious the sound of a baby’s giggle is?   Or, if someone is having a serious belly laugh, you know the kind I am talking about, they are laughing so hard their eyes are watering and they can not speak.  Those two simple things, bring a smile to your face – if even for a moment.  However, for some reason, as we get older, we loose sight of the happiness that resides inside us, we forget where to find that happiness within ourselves and, instead, allow outside forces to determine our happiness.  Forces like, our job, a spouse, a sibling, money, cars, a house or other such tangible items.  Do not get me wrong all of these things can bring a level of happiness into your life, BUT if your not first looking inside for your happiness then the happiness these materialistic items will bring will be short lived  – shorter than even the warranty some come with.

So, with all that said, let me give you six tips that will enable you to discover your own happiness from within:

1. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Cliché, I know, however even the cliché can be oh so true. You do not have to let the troubles in your life and problems get you so down that you forgot the good that still resides in it – no matter how small it may seem. I mean lets face it, there will always be troubles, large and small, because no one is perfect, but YOU can choose your reaction to situations. Look at the positive side of things, even if that positive is nothing more then a lesson learned.   At first it you might have work hard to see the good in people and circumstances, but it will be time well spent and it will turn your perspective from one of doom and gloom to one of possibilities.
2. Find something you love to do and do it. Do you have a lifelong dream or desire? If so, start working toward it – NOW, even if you have to start doing it for free. Taking baby steps towards a dream or goal will help you feel like you’re accomplishing something. This feeling of accomplishment will fuel your drive and determination to reach that goal especially when it’s something you love to do.  I loved to speak in public – so I contact every service organization in my town and in the surrounding towns to offer a free speech – some said “No.”  However many said yes.  I shared a message I was passionate about, help educate others on the topic and built my skills – soon I was getting paid for the same thing I was doing for free.  Find your passion and go for it – it will fuel your desire, drive and happiness like nothing you can imagine!
3. Do you have a gift or talent you’re not using? One reason so many people are unhappy is that they’re not doing what they’re called to do with their God-given talents. Each and every one of us has a purpose in life. You have natural gifts and talents to help you achieve your purpose, so use your gifts effectively!  Here is a key – your talents are something you are naturally good at even if you have not honed them yet.  Do you have some thing you have a ‘nack’ for?  Then perhaps that is a natural talent you need to give some attention to.  Also this usually links back to #2, and it is something that you enjoy doing (even if others thing you shouldn’t be doing it).

4. When you’re feeling down, don’t wallow in your sorrows alone; do something about it. Call a friend who you know is positive and cheerful. Talk about your thoughts, and feelings, ten listen to their advice. So often, people allow themselves to go deeper and deeper into self-pity or depression because they think it has to be that way. The truth is, you don’t have to be sad and you should not be. You can decide to be happy. You just have to make up your minds to do so.  Again, do not get me wrong – things will happen that make you sad, and at times you buy cheap Penis Extender Deluxe online need to go through those feelings.  The key phrase is “to go THROUGH” the feelings – not get mired down in them.  A perfect example I remember back some years ago; I had a good friend whose girl friend left him.  He was quite upset and asked if I would chat with him.  Of course, happily I met him down at a local restaurant and we ate a good meal has some great discussions about his relationship and what potentially went wrong.  But as the evening wore on he drink another drink, and another and another.  He began to share his heartbreak story with anyone that would listen, wallowing in the feelings rather than coming out the other side.  Of course the next morning, he was still along, heartbroken and now he had a hang over to boot.  We tried again a few days later – this time at a place with no alcohol and I’m happy to say had came through his feelings much easier then with a little coaching and support he was back in the dating scene and met a wonderful young lady a couple months later.
5. Think about all the things you have to be thankful for. Often we get so caught up in what is going wrong with our life that we forget to look at what is right and working. Pause, take a step back and review on your life as a whole. How far have you come from, say, six months to a year or even five years ago?
   • Do you have children, family and/or friends to be thankful for?   If they are like mine, they are not always everything we would like them to be, BUT imagining a life without them empty. So, be thankful that you have them in your life.
   • Do you have a job?  Okay maybe it is not your dream job, but in today’s economy, those of us who have a job should be thankful for it.
   • What about your health, your home, or some of the more simplistic things we often take for granted – like the ability to see.  Enabling you to read this very article.  To hear the birds chirp “good morning,” to speak and say “I love you” to those special people in your life.
6. When you’re feeling down, journal your thoughts and feelings. Often you’ll find that just getting your feelings down on paper will allow you to work through them, helping you to feel better about yourself and your beautiful life!  Also, you might notice a trend if you journal regularly.  I had a friend that I was coaching and as he reviewed his journaling entries, he noticed that entries made on the day he met with an old buddy of his were far more negative then any others.  His friend was jaded by all the troubles in his life and was using my friend as a venting post to offload all his troubles on my friend.  This was obviously having a negative impact on my friend, so he slowly spent less and less time with this negative influence and found he days remained far more positive.  Later he let his friend know that he could not spend such time with him if he was going to be a “negative Nel.”

If you’ve been prone to look at life negatively, then you’ll have to put more effort into seeing and choosing happiness. But don’t let that stop you from being happy! You, too, can learn to be happy.

Practice the steps above and train yourself and your mind to focus intensely on the positives. Never ignore the realities when focusing on the positive.  Rather choose to not wallow in the negative.  When you feel a negative thought coming on, or your mind gravitates toward the negative, learn to recognize it, stop it in its tracks, and then turn your attention to the more positive aspects of the situation.

Starting from this moment onward, make the conscious choice to be happy!

Think Successfully & Take Action!

Tracy Brinkmann
Today’s Top Motivated Coach & Author of Success Atlas Programs

http://SuccessAtlas.com

http://WriteYourSuccessStory.com