5 Simple Ways to Be Happier in Life ...

Still being angry as the sun goes down is dangerous for your well-being. Decide how important it is to express your anger toward something or someone. Speaking your truth, or “keeping it real,” with friends, family members, and colleagues comes with a cost, both positive and negative consequences. Although you cannot control others, the good news is that you can always control how you respond to life situations that ultimately affect how you feel. Before you talk it over with someone THINK before you speak, T, is it true, H, is it helpful, I, is it important, N, is it necessary, K, is it kind? This is one of the best simple ways to be happier.

The next time you start to feel your blood begin to boil, just think, “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness,” Ralph Waldo Emerson. Choose happy, and let it go.

It’s free. A smile is the easiest and most affordable way to boost your health, mood, and life longevity. Have you noticed, smiling is contagious? When you smile, usually the receiver mimics the smile in return. Smiling has been found to lower stress, and anxiety, increase your attractiveness, and approachability. Smiling also releases endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals, released in the body responsible for making you happier. Who doesn’t want to be sexier, snag a date, or continue to make your significant other’s heart melt with your smile?

A grand woman who knew the benefits of a smile was Mother Theresa. She was a nun and missionary worker dedicated to helping the sick and poor considered the greatest humanitarian in the 20th century. She shared that “We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” A smile can reach more than you can imagine. So, don’t forget to show those pearly whites, and smile.

Exploding with happiness is possible. Misery loves company so decide to leave misery on the back patio where it belongs. Thinking positively takes you to new heights. It is the foundation that invites happiness into your life. A positive mind attracts positive events, and most importantly, a positive life. Through the laws of attraction, we become who we think we are. Adopting a positive attitude will turn your problems into opportunities—looking at most opportunities as challenges versus a barrier, and ready yourself to turn your situation into a positive outcome.

“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” (Zig Ziglar) Now, who’s ready to attract great things, in pursuit of happiness?

Happiness increases our thankfulness. Being thankful can really help boost your happiness from moment to moment. For example, instead of getting frustrated about being in that daily morning commute or yelling at that driver that just cut you off and couldn’t hear you anyway, focus on what is going right with your morning. Be thankful that you are driving in your car to work. In this situation perhaps be thankful that you have a car. How awesome! You have the transportation that can get you from A to B.

Second, you have a job. I even go to the extent, that I have the limbs to drive my car, and the eyes to see the road. There are many people who do not have the transportation to get to work, are unemployed, or may have lost limbs in an unfortunate accident. If you choose to be thankful for what you do have, you will be able to appreciate almost anything you experience, creating a more “present,” moment with yourself, friends, colleagues, and family. The air is always more refreshing from a thankful perspective.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have you will never, ever have enough.” (Oprah Winfrey) Adopt a thankful attitude.

A balance of work and play increases happiness. When is the last time you decided to kick back and just have fun? The average adult has taken on life’s responsibilities, accountability, dependability, and reliability—on the job, at home, in clubs and organizations, and as a sister, mother, aunt, wife, or girlfriend. Fun and play shouldn’t end in childhood, the benefits of adding fun to your life is insurmountable. Play is essential for adults, creating an outlet for relaxation, increased productivity, and creativity. It also opens the window for adults to be their best-self, for work, at home, and an opportunity for you to just feel so darn good.

Whether it is joining an intramural league, hula hooping, coloring in your coloring book, a puzzle, painting, watching your favorite childhood cartoon or tv show classic on YouTube (i.e. Doug, Saved by the Bell, Rosanne, Punky Brewster, JEM, Sailor Moon), take the time to reboot and have fun!

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing” (George Bernard Shaw) Don’t forget to play, the more you play, joke, and laugh—the easier it will become. Leave your inner judge at the door, and schedule daily play today!