Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. And we know that stress has been linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Just about everyone has heard the hit single Don’t Worry; Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying to everyone its message of being happy. Bobby McFerrin’s simple message surely made a lot of people happy by telling them not to worry.

One of the better things ever said is, “The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change.” And we have the power to make necessary changes in our lives if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too can change.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different, so accept people for whom or what they are, avoid clashes, constant arguments, and let go of all kinds of resentments. If arguments seem unavoidable you can still try to make an effort to understand the situation and you might just get along well.

Happiness is actually found within everyone; increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also healthier.

To be 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 will be. The choice is simple really; choose to be happy.

There are several ways by which you can do this.

Being grateful is a great attitude. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner, and thank the person who cleans your windows. Thank the person who brings you your mail, thank the policeman for making your place safe, and thank God for being alive. You may want to start a gratitude journal, and every day write down something you are grateful for. You will find more and more things to be grateful for.

News is stressful; get less of it. Some people just can’t start their day without their daily dose of news. Think about it, ninety-nine percent 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.

A spiritual connection is also recommended. Being part of a spiritual or religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations foster inner peace.

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 need to be understood in order to develop an effective personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine-tuned further to include the finer points of each skill to give you that extra reserve in bringing about the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily each day. Yesterday my wife and I watched the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire. I recommend that you rent that movie if you want a good belly laugh. It’s a good practice to watch funny movies on a regular basis. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family members about it. As they say, “Laughter is the best medicine.”

Express your feelings, your affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most like reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent-up anger or 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.

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling 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 are worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try to learn something new every day. Learning makes us expand and broaden our horizons, and could also give us more opportunities in the future.

Run, jog, walk, swim, and do other things that your body was made for. Feel alive.

Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.

These are the few simple things you can do every day to be happy.

Always remember the quote by Abraham Lincoln when he said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

And always keep this in mind:

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham

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Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-seven years, invites you to subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, “Spiritual Solutions,” at Spiritual Solutions.

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