How To Be Happy
Simple Steps To
Becoming Happier

Becoming happy is like learning any skill. The more you work on it, the happier you'll be.

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it's too late. The time for happiness is today, not tomorrow." Quoted by Paul H Dunn

You can actually train yourself to be happy. Happiness is a choice, you can choose to be cheerful and take steps to become happier regardless of what's happened or what people have done to you.

"The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." Marcus Aurelius

"Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response." Mildred Barthel

"Joy has nothing to do with material things, or with a man's outward circumstances ... A man living in the lap of luxury can be wretched, and a man in the depths of poverty can overflow with joy."
William Barclay

Happiness can be learned. The more you work at becoming happy, the happier you'll become.

• Choose to think happier thoughts rather than just accepting whatever comes into your mind. Stop focusing on unpleasant thoughts and focus on things that make you feel happy.
• Think about happy things. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh out loud as you remember the good things. How happy you are depends on what you habitually think.
• Give yourself a break and indulge yourself. Do something that you've always wanted to do. Take time out to have fun.
• Do something to make someone else feel good, it will brighten your day too. Loving and caring for others helps you to feel happy.
• Watch a laugh out loud movie. Laughter really is the best medicine.
• Learn to laugh at your imperfections, don't take yourself so seriously. When you lighten up you'll become more creative and resourceful.
• Give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them.
• Be optimistic. Hope for the best. Expect things to turn out well. Worry is the arch enemy of happiness.
• Learn to like yourself and other people. Find things to like about them. Look for the best in them. Decide that you'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
• Change what you say to yourself about things. Emile Coue got his patients to say, "Every day and in every way I am getting better and better." Many of them did!

That's because you can re-programme your subconscious. When you repeat this sentence to yourself through the day, your subconscious starts to believe it.

It's even more effective if you engage your emotions in the process and believe that it's possible. Try smiling while you say it. There's lots of evidence to suggest that it really does work. Why not try it? It's easy to remember and the least it will do is put you in a better mood.

If you're not feeling particularly happy, try filling your mind with happy thoughts and acting as though you are happy.

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health" Proverbs 17:22

"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." Phillipians 4:8

Are you ready to train yourself to be happy, rediscover your sense of humour and incorporate fun into your life?

Try acting as though you're happy until you really are.

If you've never tried this, try it now.

Force a big smile and hold it. You'll feel subtle changes if you hold it long enough. Notice the difference it makes to the way you feel.

Smiling helps you to relax, boosts your immune system and gives you a surge of energy.

If you smile when you don't feel like smiling, you'll still get the benefits. So, if you have to, force yourself to smile and keep on smiling. You'll start to generate positive emotions, feel better about yourself and be a more enjoyable person to be around.

Get started on your happiness journey today.

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