Happiness

Contributed by Cindy Holbrook to Global One TV

“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbar


Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed.


1. Appreciate Life

Be thankful that you wake up each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

2. Choose Friends Wisely

Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.

3. Be Considerate

Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.

4. Learn Continuously

Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.

5. Creative Problem Solving

Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.

6. Do What They Love

Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.

7. Enjoy Life

Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.

8. Laugh

Don’t take yourself – or life too seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)

9. Forgive

Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.

Happier people live longer!

By Mao Shing Ni, L.Ac., D.O.M., PhD

Science has confirmed that happier people do indeed live longer. The question is: How does one “get happy”?  And this is the hardest time of year to get happy with the shorter, darker days of winter. But...... There are definite steps that we can take to be happier NOW.  This is what Mao Shing Ni has to say!



1. Eat folate-rich foods.

Get happy by chowing down on more folate-rich foods, like leafy greens. Folate, also know as folic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell division, DNA synthesis, and healthy blood cell production. Research at the University of York and Hull York Medical School has found a link between depression and low levels of folate. To keep you and your heart smiling, try a cup of cooked lentils, which provides 90% of the RDA of folic acid. Plus, the fiber and protein will satisfy you longer, stabilize blood sugar, and also promote a better mood. Find folate in kale, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, bok choy, legumes, sunflower seeds, oranges, melons, beets, and fortified whole grains.


2. Self-awareness leads to happiness.

My father Hua-Ching Ni has some very wise advice about how to attain happiness. To paraphrase the philosophy he follows: Your thoughts become words, words become acts, acts become habits, habits express your character and your character becomes your destiny. Imagine if your thoughts were positive – you would feel happy most of the time! On the reverse side, negative thoughts release enzymes that attack your immune system and certainly don’t help your mood.

Observe your thoughts and train your mind to hold positive thoughts. How? Use self-awareness to see your thoughts and to observe which ones make you happy or unhappy. Your mind, and by extension, your mood, reflect the activity of your thoughts, which are influenced by your emotions. To change your mood, actively gain control of your thoughts and emotions. Here is a sentence you can repeat to yourself as often as necessary: “From now on, I am the one who decides how I am going to respond.” You might not be able to change your whole attitude overnight, but over time, your self-awareness will develop and your happiness will grow.


3. Wake up with a smile.

Every morning, wake up and hold a big smile on your face, even if you aren’t feeling particularly cheerful. Believe it or not, just moving your muscles into a smile will increase endorphins and decrease the stress hormone cortisol that the adrenal gland releases in times of stress. Repeat a positive affirmation to yourself in the mirror to heighten the happiness. Say to yourself something like, “I can handle the tasks I have ahead of me. I enjoy my responsibilities and fulfill them well.” Does this sound silly to you? Well, it turns out positive affirmations can also help suppress cortisol.


4. Take a stroll outdoors.

What used to be an obvious path to happiness is now moving to the back burner as we all spend more time indoors with our computers. Take a walk in the woods, on the beach, or even in the park – anywhere you are in contact with the natural world. It is hard to feel unhappy when you are surrounded by nature’s abundance of beauty and wonder. The natural sunlight will also give you a natural lift.

Click here to read about Dr. Mao Shing Ni.

Hi my ladies,
While surfing the web I came across this article that I would love to share with you.  It is written by Randy Taran.

Randy Taran 

Author, founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Project Happiness

5 Steps to Happiness

Some people set New Year's resolutions, but I find this season, as school starts again, to be a perfect time for new beginnings. Right now I am thinking of setting some intentions, and I invite you to do the same.

As the autumn leaves fall, consider shedding old habits that no longer serve you. It's a great time to focus on who you are and what practices will grow your happiness. What are the attitudes that will move you along? Here are five ideas that can make a difference:
1. Choose something you want to focus on. It could be getting more exercise, connecting with nature, taking a course you've been interested in or making regular time to connect with someone you love. By the way, that someone could be you. What are you longing for? Build it into your calendar. It matters more than you think. Try choosing just one thing. As the saying goes, "If you chase two rabbits, both will escape." What is your one thing?
2. Mind your mindset. When embarking on your one thing, cut yourself some slack. You don't have to qualify as an expert in the first week. Dr. Carole Dweck of Stanford University talks about growth and fixed mindsets. A fixed mindset thinks all or nothing: You are either good at playing guitar, learning a new language, new sport, etc., or you are not. A growth mindset knows that if you practice anything, even though you'll deal with some obstacles along the way, your skills will grow. Anything can be learned.
3. Lighten up. Check your closet for clothes, jackets or accessories you haven't worn for years. Cart them to a Goodwill or a nonprofit that helps others get a new start. Then look for a special piece of clothing that you feel great in. It doesn't have to be an expensive piece -- consignment stores are often where designers shop for inspiration. Consider a color that makes you feel alive. Let whatever you choose bring a smile to your face every time you put it on.

4. Grow your gratitude. The truth is you were born happy, and you can reawaken that happiness inside. Gratitude is a powerful pathway. Keep a gratitude journal beside your bed and jot down three things that you are grateful for at least once a week. In one study, by Emmons and McCullough, people practicing gratitude felt 25 percent happier than those who weren't; they also felt more optimistic about the future. Gratitude is a game changer.

5. Think of how you want to be in the world. An interesting exercise is to imagine yourself at the end of your days. What qualities would you like to be remembered for? Caring, creativity, steadfastness, warm-heartedness, friendship, humor ... what is it for you? Start paying special attention to expressing those qualities now. You can evolve into what you aspire to be. Even in the face of external challenges, our internal resources are stronger than we may think. In the words of Victor Frankl, "The last of human freedoms is to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." This fall, and every day for that matter, you have a renewed opportunity to choose yours. What does fall represent to you? What are your intentions this season?