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Tips to be happy in the new year
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How to be happy in the new year
Things have been so chaotic with this crazy economy, two kids and trying to stay above water, that it can be difficult to keep a positive attitude sometimes. Everywhere I turn here in Florida I hear of friends who have lost jobs, can’t pay mortgages or have lost tens of thousands of dollars in equity in their homes, not to mention the negative media coverage that we're constantly exposed to. Yes, the economy is bad and we have a lot to complain about. Some of us have health issues, have lost loved ones or been dealt some hard circumstances. But, the truth is, it could always be worse. Nothing will get better by sitting around and complaining. This year, I choose to be happy and just keep on moving. Here are some things I’m working on to keep me smiling.
1. Wake up in the morning and say out loud “today is going to be a good day.” Some people I know get up early and work-out, meditate or pray, which sounds even better, but with a 3 and 4 year old that usually get me up at six, I’ve got about 30 seconds to get my day started right, and I’ve found that just saying those words to myself or out loud make a difference.
2. Exercise. Whether it’s a quick run, stretching out your muscles and doing some breathing, yoga, the gym, dance, swimming, sex, walking, whatever you can do to get your heart moving will make you feel better. Every time I exercise, it makes me feel better.
3. Crank the Tunes. Get yourself an ipod and listen to music. I’ve got one of the really cheap, small ipods that holds about 150 songs. Pumping the tunes pumps the soul. If you really want to smile, get goofy and bust out the dance moves.
4. Do something nice for someone else. Doing something nice for someone else will almost always make you feel better. It really does feed the heart to help others. There are so many people who need help out there. Have you been to an elderly home lately? There are so many older people in some of these long term care facilities that could really use a visit or just a friend. Not to mention all of the kids who need help in our communities. I get joy out of writing something nice for my friends or family members and telling them the qualities that make them special. Nice gestures go a long way.
5. Write in a journal. Write down all of the reasons you are blessed and all of the good aspects about your life. Then, write down your goals and dreams. This is something I used to do religiously, and it really worked, but I will admit that I have really slacked on this since having kids. The funny thing is, when you write down your hopes and dreams, it’s almost like your releasing them into the universe. I always say you can’t get any place without a map, so map out your direction in your journal and see how fast it takes you to get there.
6. Get negative thoughts out of your head. We all have problems and can all think of a hundred things to complain about. Focus on the few positive things you have in your life and see how they multiply. Don’t say “I can’t”, just think of a way you can or move on to the next thing. Get yourself in the driver’s seat of your own destiny. Life’s short, try to make as much of it as possible happy. It’s a tough world out there. We need to do whatever we can to make it a good one. Good luck and happy new year!
