Being happy is nothing more than an attitude. We choose to be happy. Find out how you can use these secrets to developing an attitude of happiness.

Almost everyone have heard the hit single “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone that we can each emulate. Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life feels wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke, so anything you can do to reduce it is a worthy effort.

One of the better things I ever heard said is “The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change” and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation, we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too will change, given enough time. Ever heard the saying, “This too will pass…”?\

Being happy is relatively easy… just decide to be a happy person. Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. The choice is simple really, choose to be happy.

So what are the secrets to being happy? Read on…

Develop a Solid Social Network

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. We are each of us unique and different, so accept people for who or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable, still try and make an effort to understand the situation and you might find this compassion and empathy go a long way toward forging lasting social connections with people.

Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

Being grateful is a great attitude to practice each and every day.  If you really think about it, you’ll realize just how much you have to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner and thank the guy who cleans your windows. Also thank the mailman for bringing you your mails, thank the policeman for making your place safe and thank God for being alive.

Keep a gratitude journal, where you write down at least 3 things every day that you are grateful for. You’ll be amazed at how far this one goes to helping you to be happier.

Limit How Much News You Let in

News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can’t start their day without their daily dose of news. When you think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do if you want to feel happy. Mymother-in-law keeps her TV tuned in to CNN day and night, and as a result, she finds much to worry about. There is always some disaster or catastrophe or bad news going on somewhere in the world.

I’m not advising you to only be concerned about yourself, but don’t allow yourself to be barraged by bad news all the time. Limit your intake of it to once a day or less.

Develop Your Spirituality

Some kind of spiritual connection can help imbue life with more meaning and give you something to focus on outside yourself and your own personal business. Spiritual connections and rituals can also help foster inner peace.

Practice Effective Time Management

Learn how to manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed  as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

That was the title of a joke section in Reader’s Digest when I was growing up, and it’s so true. Laugh and laugh heartily everyday.  Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it.  You will really be surprised how much laughter can do to ease your stress, improve your outlook and just make you feel happier. Laugh even when you’re crying inside and soon you’ll find that it is a real reflection of how you’re feeling both outside AND inside.

Share Your Feelings

Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone. Or just learn how to let go and forgive. Harboring negative emotions hurts you most of all.

Work Hard

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of accomplishment and of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time. I’m not just talking formal work for hire here. You can work hard in your own home or do volunteer work or whatever feels right to you. The important thing is to give your all in whatever you do.

Keep Those Brain Cells Working

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday.  Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future. You don’t have to learn big things every day… maybe just a new vocabulary word or some small task in the home, on the computer, etc. The main thing is to keep stretching and experiencing newness.

Be Active

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive. Don’t think of these things as “exercise” that is goal-oriented. Just take pleasure in the activity itself. Dance, play with your kids or pets… walk from the back of the parking lot… they’re all good.

These are just a few simple things you can do everyday to help you with being happy. You ARE in control of your own happiness… no one else can take that away from you.

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln. He says, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”