On the same note, have you wondered why smiling is so contagious?

It’s funny how, as adults, we’ve come to believe that we are [...]]]> Happiness is an innate capability of humankind. Despite what some people think, it’s in our nature to be happy. Even babies know this. After all, we encounter giggling babies on a regular basis.

On the same note, have you wondered why smiling is so contagious?

It’s funny how, as adults, we’ve come to believe that we are nothing but victims in a plot. We see no hope of happiness. How quickly we forget how to be happy!

Here are a few sayings that focus on positivity. Some of these you’ve heard before. We refer to them as oldies but goodies. A couple of them were mentioned in our tips on being happy. Whether you’ve heard them or not, they should be a good reminder that you have the power to be happy whenever you want.

1. Make lemonade out of life’s lemons (or: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade)

If you like lemonade, but find sucking on a lemon to be a bit overwhelming, this old sentiment makes a lot of sense. Lemons represent the negative things in life you can’t control that come your way. While you can’t control them, you can come up with creative ways to benefit from even the negatives in your life. The key is a positive attitude and some fluid reasoning.

2. Do what you love to do

Don’t settle for anything less than what you really want to do. No matter how difficult it may seem to reach for your dreams, they are your dreams. Your dreams are those things that you do because you enjoy doing them, not because of some reward that comes with them.

However, you don’t have to immediately get what you desire in order to be happy. Sometimes you have to take a long series of steps to reach your goals. Generally speaking, the things you love to do will be those things at which you are naturally gifted. So attaining your dreams is not so difficult if you stay on the path.

3. Don’t wallow in a corner

It is very tempting to go into a shell and hide from the world when life throws bad circumstances at you. The reality is that when we shut off the social functions of our brains, we go deeper into depression.

One of the best things you can do is to hang out with some happy people. These are people you can talk to who always seem to be honest and encouraging. Crying and expressing yourself is actually a good way to get past some negative things. However, there is no reason why you have to be sad simply because something bad happens.

4. Count your blessings

Instead of focusing on what is going wrong in life, focus on what you have. This may be the greatest difference between people who are sad and people who are happy. Sad people talk about what is wrong. Happy people talk about all of the things that are right. Get centered on what is important to you and it will be much easier to dismiss the smaller negatives that come along daily.

5. Express yourself

Self-expression does not necessarily have to be confined to social relationships. Many people find journaling to be an excellent mode of releasing and responding to to their inner feelings. It can certainly help you get perspective.

Happiness is Always Available to Those Who Seek It

Really, it all comes down to going on with life, day after day, in a healthy, constructive manner. Life events should not dictate your actions or behaviors. You should be the dictator in your life. If you catch yourself saying negative things, grab this list of old wisdom and run through it quickly to help you recapture your happiness.

Barring any medical [...]]]> Many people spend a lifetime finding happiness. Some never find it at all. The funny thing about happiness is that you can start being happy whenever you want. It isn’t something that can be found, like a shell on the beach. It’s a feeling that anyone can choose to have at any time.

Barring any medical conditions of course, many will argue that point. But, what if it was true? What if you could choose to be happy, regardless of what’s going on around you, or despite your circumstances? Can you imagine the positive impact that would have on your life?

If you’re feeling down, take a look at these tips on being happy. Apply one, or both, and see if you don’t feel a little closer to feeling happy afterward.

1.  Appreciate the little things

It’s easy to get distracted from the good things in our lives when everything around us seems to focus on how bad things are. It’s not completely our fault, though. Society conditions us to give our attention to negative stuff, without putting emphasis on the positive aspects of life. Don’t believe me? Turn your tv to any cable or local news channel to see an example of this. With that said, it’s no surprise that this is one of those tips on being happy that some of us overlook.

Instead of focusing on what is going wrong in life, focus on what you have. This may be the greatest difference between people who are sad and people who are happy. Sad people talk about what is wrong. Happy people talk about all of the things that are right. When you get centered on what is important to you, it will be much easier to dismiss the negatives that come along daily. Don’t forget the small stuff either.

For example, rolling out of bed in the morning counts. There are some people that can’t move on their own or who don’t have a bed to roll out of. Brushing your teeth counts. Some people don’t have the luxury of brushing their teeth, or the ability to do it on their own. And yes, reading this article counts, too. Do I really need to point out how much more difficult life would be if you couldn’t read?

2. Do what you love to do

Ok, let’s look at the second of these tips on being happy. Sometimes getting stuck in a routine of doing things that we don’t like, or want, to do can bring on negative feelings. Then we get caught up in that neverending routine of getting things done, that we never set aside time to do the things we enjoy doing – and we wonder why we’re stressed. This is where gifts, talents, and hobbies come into play.

One way to look at it is, you’re stifling your creativity, when you don’t find the time to do what you enjoy. Your gifts and/or talents is an expression of that creativity. Regardless if you like to paint, fish, sculpt, write, or even run. Taking steps to move towards doing the things you want, even on a small scale is something you can do to help you feel better.

On that note, a thought I’d like to suggest is to never settle for anything less than what you really want to do. No matter how difficult it may seem to reach for your dreams, they are your dreams. Dreams help to keep that inner fire going.

Your dreams are those things that you do because you enjoy doing them, not because of some reward that comes with them. Keep in mind, you don’t have to immediately get what you desire in order to be happy. Sometimes just the ‘thought’ of experiencing something will give you a feeling of joy. Keep your attention on that feeling, and things will begin to shift.

Start creating from within

Not feeling happy, is mainly a result of something we don’t like about our surroundings. Whether it’s our environment, people, things, what we see in the mirror, or even what we hear. These are all things outside of us.

When you make the decision to start being happy regardless of anything outside of you – when you choose to be happy from within, your mood changes. You’ll see things from a different perspective. The more you practice feeling better (which is all you need to do), the closer you’ll be to feeling happy, and things will change around you.

First off, affirmations are essentially an act of repeating back to ourselves simple, positive statements that we know deep down to be true, yet may not feel to be [...]]]> Wow, a list of positive affirmations that add years to your life. That’s a bold statement don’t you think? Well not if you really think about it.

First off, affirmations are essentially an act of repeating back to ourselves simple, positive statements that we know deep down to be true, yet may not feel to be true. In other words, affirmations help us to re-affirm the positive aspects of ourselves that we may have buried deep down. We use them to help improve our health, build confidence, and push us to completing a goal.

Contrary to popular belief, life is not supposed to be hard. Life is meant to be enjoyed and fulfilling. But, sometimes everyday distractions can take our attention away from that.

We can get so caught up with responsibilities that we lose sight of the beauty all around us. We get stuck in a rut, and the next thing we know we’re stressed out all the time. And as you probably know, too much negative stress not only wreaks havoc on our health, but also reduces the overall quality of our life.

If you’re the kind of person who wants to get more out of life, while leaving behind the negative beliefs that can hold you back, take a look at the following list of positive affirmations.

These 6 affirmations were hand picked to raise your awareness of who you truly are. Each one will help you to focus on a different positive aspect of yourself from raising your confidence, to staying relaxed in any situation. Apply, and commit to internalizing, one daily. Then move on to the next one. Rinse and repeat for the next 30 days. You’ll feel the difference.

1.  “I’m worth the effort.” Investing in yourself is always a worthy cause. You should never feel unworthy. In fact, the more you invest in yourself, the more you’ll grow. So this affirmation should be a constant. Being happy with who you are is part of becoming a better you.

2.  “Life is easy; I just have to focus on the moment at hand.” There is no need to become overwhelmed by the stresses of upcoming events. This affirmation will help you shift your focus to the moment so that you have no more stress than the task at hand. Negativity about the future can lead to disproportionate stress in the present.

3.  “I am a part of the rich beauty surrounding me.” If you open your eyes, you’ll see many positive things of beauty all around you. But it isn’t just what around you that is beautiful. You are a part of the beauty around you. You can see this if you will take a step back and affirm that there is great beauty everywhere in your midst and self. Take time to enjoy beauty.

4.  “I choose to think only those thoughts with positive outcomes.” You don’t have to entertain negative thoughts or thoughts that lead toward unproductive results. This affirmation will help you choose positive thoughts, rather than allowing yourself into thinking about thoughts that relate to how you feel right now.

5.  “I deserve good things.” Surprisingly, many people sabotage themselves because they feel unworthy of things they either earn or receive as a gift. This positive affirmation will help you to be a more cheerful receiver and to learn to expect better things from life. It will help you relax, so that you’ll spend less time worrying about being worthy of whatever you have.

6.  “I take time to do things for myself.” Sometimes you may neglect yourself. This not only hurts yourself, but makes you less pleasant for those around you. Take time to celebrate yourself and do some of the things you enjoy doing. Instead of going around with a chip on your shoulder about being deprived, recite this positive affirmation to yourself as you take action.

Joy is the Focus of Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations are geared toward allowing yourself to realize who you truly are, and what you’re capable of doing. When you do this you will be able to see all of the beautiful things that surround your life.

The good news is, you don’t have to settle for less of a lifestyle than you desire. [...]]]> Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut that’s inescapable? Life can seem boring after a few years of the same routine. It’s hard to be happy when you get stuck in a routine that you don’t enjoy.

The good news is, you don’t have to settle for less of a lifestyle than you desire. You just have to have the courage to go after what you want. You only have so much time to live your life. Something to be aware of is that, your comfort zone is your rut.

There a few simple things you can do to get out of a rut, and start living a fun and passionate life. To get you started on the right foot, here are a some steps you can take to keep from settling into a boring routine.

1. Set Your Goals.

There is no room for fear of change in the goal setting process. Remember that your comfort zone, the rut in which you presently find yourself, is the enemy to be feared.

So what is it that you really want? Start writing down those wants. Everything you want to accomplish or have should go on that list. It doesn’t matter how difficult the tasks are or how many goals you want to accomplish; simply write them all down.

2. Believe in Yourself.

If you allow self-doubt to take hold, you will settle for less than that of which you are capable. You only have two choices. Choose belief over your comfort zone. Keep asking yourself if you really want to stay where you are until death.

Belief is the only avenue toward change. You hear about people who have stepped out of their supposed lots in life and doing great things every day. You can do the same. What makes people do great things is the belief that they can do them. Without this belief, you will settle for less than your talents dictate.

3. Share Your Goals for Change with Others

There isn’t any room for shame in what you want to achieve. The temptation to hide your goals from others is the fear of failure trying to keep you in your comfort zone.

The reason we hide our goals is simply so that we can crawl back into our comfort zones without anyone noticing when reaching for our goals gets too difficult. The irony is that the most embarrassing thing in your life, is the actual rut you’re stuck in. So go out and tell your closest friends and family members what you intend to do.

Keep in mind, that those stuck in a rut of their own, may try to discourage you for selfish reasons, but those who believe in you will help you reach for your goals. This is what you need to keep you from settling for less than your abilities warrant.

4. Don’t Procrastinate

A lot of people complete the first three steps, but never get out of their rut. Why? They put it off until they can muster up enough courage to do something. Don’t wait around for courage. Start reaching for your goals today.

Do something every day that will take you in the direction of your goals and away from being in a rut. Keep your focus on the big picture at all times, but take small steps each day. You can only get from one place to the next, one step at a time, so start walking.

Procrastination and settling are the same thing. You will only find yourself out of your rut when you start moving in a different direction. Always keep in mind that your comfort zone is the enemy and your goals are the priority.

So go get what you want before you find yourself at the end of life wondering what might have been. Instead of settling, get out of your comfort zone.

Have you used any of the steps we listed, to get out of being in a rut… or, are there any other techniques you’ve used? Please, share your experience below.