I choose to be happy.....

We all have days where we just  feel a bit down, unmotivated and in a struggle with your mind to try and focus on any of the positive things around you.

On a dreary, wet and cloudy Monday morning (yes - it was assisted to feel a little 'blah' by the attack of Monday-itis!), I went on a search to try and find something that would bring a smile to my growing sour smile. 

I went on a google search for inspiration, read a few pages of a couple of new e-books I have recently purchased (Gabrielle Bernstein, Lisa Messenger and Gretchen Rubin - you are life savers!!), and dragged myself out of bed to go for a soul searching run.

To sum up my findings, I thought I would share a few tips on increasing your level of happiness to try each day. 

And just to let you know - I found my 'mojo' again!!  :-)

1. Never dwell on the past

Your past is just a story. Everyone has a past – often full of pain, disappointment, missed opportunities, and unfulfilled expectations. No matter what your past looks like, it’s just a story – so don’t let it influence you. Make the present meaningful. Besides – it’s the past that shapes who you are, who you want to be and why you do what you do.

2. Never focus on what’s missing; look at what you actually have.

 Be grateful for and appreciate what you have. You could waste hours counting the things you would like to improve, which would only take you away from appreciating your real life. Gratitude puts situations into perspective and rewires your mind toward a positive direction.

3. Never underestimate quality time with yourself.

Don’t confuse happiness with excitement; a lasting joy of life grows when your mind is in peace. Making time for yourself is as important as devoting time to your everyday duties. Regular meditation, sport, contact with nature, and quality time spent reading will help you reconnect with yourself and hear your intuition again. Don’t get too caught up with social media and celebrity magazines, enjoy your own presence and take the time out from life’s fast pace to clear your head. It will remind you who you are, what you want and take away the clouded judgment you often let enter your thoughts.

4. Never stop improving yourself.

We are all different, and there is no perfect direction or path to our personal evolution. The whole point is to become the best version of YOU, and never stop taking lessons from your own life experiences. We will never stop learning, and to accept this will only make you a better, more rounded and wise person, who accepts that they will learn from others, their experiences and your own mistakes.

5. Never be too harsh on yourself.

Many of us are our own worst critics, constantly talking down every success. Accept that you will never be ideal – and see this as okay. In the process of self-development, embracing your vulnerabilities has been scientifically proven to be a key component of happiness.

6. Never lose a sense of purpose in what you are doing.

“What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.” – Unknown

Your time and life power are limited, so spend them wisely and target your energy towards something meaningful. Finding a purpose helps you live a bigger life.

7. Never treat your body badly.

A truly happy soul can only live in a healthy body. Your body will “send you a bill” for the trash you’ve eaten, the sports classes you’ve skipped, your long nights of partying, and your long hours of stressful work. Treat your body as your biggest investment; it will have to serve you your entire life.

8. Never value material things more than experiences.

Experiences bring people more happiness than possessions, which never keep you satisfied. Experiences will last in your head forever, nourish your mind, and become a memory which will light up your face with a smile on a bad day.

9. Never compare yourself to other people.

Everyone lives life at a different pace, which makes us each special and beautiful. The sooner you embrace your uniqueness and the differences between you and other people, the happier you will be. Surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you really are without trying to change you or re-frame you.

10. Never let your bad thoughts grow.

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts” – Marcus Aurelius

Being judgmental, jealous, or angry will at some point turn against you. A bad thought can trigger bad speech, just as bad words provoke bad actions. Don’t let your mind initiate anything you’d be ashamed of later. Be aware of your thought processes, change the negative into positive before you become taken over by a barrage of worry and negativity.

11. Never fear to embrace change.

“You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.”- Unknown

As you accept the laws which change our life, our bodies, and the way we evolve, you will see the unique beauty of every moment in life with all its natural flow. Be open to new opportunities and learn to accept the changes you can’t influence.

12. Never blame others for your own failures.

Be responsible for your actions and their outcomes. Taking responsibility gives you a sense of power over your life; blaming your life on circumstances can make you feel powerless.

13. Never tame your curiosity.

“If you do nothing unexpected, nothing unexpected happens.” – Fay Weldom

Be curious and ask a lot of questions. Travel, observe, read, watch, and talk with smart people to open your mind and explore the world. Inquisitive thinking and a passion for exploring will nourish your mind.

14. Never stop being mindful.

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect” – Unknown

Learn to mindfully observe, smell, hear, and fully appreciate every minute of your life. Those who can’t conscientiously notice and appreciate the present moment aren’t able to be fully happy.

15. Never forget about your loved ones.

Care about those who are happy to see you succeed in life and support you in difficult times. Avoid harsh critiques and make sure these people know how glad you are that they’re a part of your life. Better yet – let them know how special they are to you by writing them a random note, cooking them a meal or doing an unexpected act of kindness!

16. Never worry about the things you cannot influence.

Worrying about things you can’t influence is a waste of time and makes you feel unnecessarily miserable. You have no control over the things that other people or environments do – you can only control your own thoughts and reactions to these. Half of the things you worry about don’t even happen – or they are of small impact on the scale of your life if they did happen.

17. Never attach happiness to something in the future.

“Think of all the beauty that is still left in and around you and be happy.” – Anne Frank

Many people live like they’re waiting for something – to find a perfect love partner, to get promoted, or to retire with a good pension. Don’t postpone your happiness to a moment in the future; life is all about enjoying the journey. Notice all of the positive things around you, not just why you don’t want to be there and why you want to get to the next ‘venture’.

18. Never stop meeting new people.

“People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.” – Joseph F Newton

Surrounding yourself with happy people makes you happier. Meeting new people nowadays is easy, due to open lifestyles, new technologies, internet forums and mobile applications. It would be a waste to not make the most of this opportunity. Even people who enter your life for a short time can teach you important lessons and make your life more colourful.

19. Never let your ego win.

Acting with anger and following your insecurities can only complicate your life situation. Instead, act with compassion and humility towards others. Showing maturity will make your relations with others more joyful and fulfilling.

20. Never voluntary harm.

Every choice you make, every word you say, and every purchase you make impacts someone’s life. Choose to be a good person. The more friendly you are to others, the more the favor is returned to you. Think before you act.

21. Never stop living life to the fullest.

Live intensely. Do what you want and enjoy it with all your senses. Start working on fulfilling your dreams as soon as possible. If something were to happen to you to prevent you from doing the things you most wanted to do in life, why not do it today? This isn’t to say that we should all drop out of work and travel the world living on the streets busking – but try to do at least one thing most  days that gives you a buzz!

22. Never forget to smile.

“Use your smile to change the world; don’t let the world change your smile.” – Unknown

You don’t know what the person in front of you is going through. Be kind to others and share your smiles and positive words. Isn’t it amazing to make someone’s day a little better in such a simple way?

23. Never be afraid to completely change your life.

It is never too late to completely change your life and make it more meaningful. Let your mind be free and surprise you from time to time.  Go with the flow and open yourself up to different possibilities. Sit down with a pen and paper and write down or scribble about all the things that give you the fuzzy, butterfly stomach feeling or make you wake up smiling each day. Those are the things that you should be doing more of – anything you are passionate about will work, and people will see this!

24. Never be afraid of being alone.

“If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.” – Maxwell Maltz

Don’t be afraid of being alone. Happiness is internal, and you don’t need anyone or anything to be happy. Learn to have fun on your own: walk, travel, eat good food, etc. Being alone doesn’t mean to you have to be lonely. Look at monks for example – they are happy in solitude.

It’s also fine to only keep a couple of close friends. Some people were made to have lots of people around them constantly and a large, close circle of friends, while others are happy with one or two people who they might only catch up with once every week or so. It doesn’t make you any less special, interesting or ‘friendly’, it just means you are content with yourself and who you are!

 (Sourced from Life-Hack)

Lastly – the more you look for happiness, the more it will come and knock at your door!