The "How To's" to Being Happier

As I sat in my office on a rainy, gloomy day, I found my spirits sinking, my thoughts churning to the list of things to do that day, and I found myself wanting to crawl back in my bed, closing my eyes, and waiting for tomorrow to come in hopes that the sun might then shine. Then I could be happy. "Why such gloom?" I asked myself. "I don't like this weather," I answered myself. "It makes me feel tired. It makes me feel like a big haze has washed over my eyes and I am reminded of all that I have to do and the little that I have to do it with. It makes me sad and irritable." I then asked myself, "But you still have all these things to do and no more resources than today when the sun shines. It is only the sun that makes the difference. Is this enough to make you happy?" "Yes," I answered, but only hesitantly, because now, it was dawning on me how important perception is in the state of being happy. "What does the sun do for me?" I wondered. I made it a list: "It makes me feel alive. It makes removes the haze over my eyes. It makes my heart feel full. It reminds me of all that is possible. It makes me look up at the sky and see all the wonder around me. It gives me a sense of being a child. It makes me want to reach out and help others" By breaking this down, I was then able to see that I could self-create the items on my list. So these 6 steps to happiness I will share with you: 1. Exercise--will release endorphins and other substances that help you feel good and stay happy and feel alive!2. Imagination--visualization especially in meditation has been show to improve enorphins and the biochemsitery to improve mood and help, so you can imagine the sun shining on your face and clearing away the haze over your eyes.3.Social love--it is well known that connecting with those we love is also good for mood and health, so the best way to help your heart feel full is by reaching out to friends or loved ones. 4. Appreciation--concentrating on what you don't have just makes you feel worse. Intentionally appreciating what you do have and the wonder that is around you, turns on those endorphins again and helps you feel good. 5. Laughter--the research is really strong on how good laughter if for you, once again releasing those endorphins and feel good chemicals in the the mind and body. Laughing at yourself is great or simply randomly laughing. It will tickle you all over and help you take life less seriously. At that point, you will find you have the sense of being a child.6. Kindness--some have called the effect of altruistic love or helping others "the helper's high" because yes, those same endorphins and biochemicals are released helping you feel better emotionally, mentally and physically. So when you are feeling down, there is nothing better than performing a random act of kindness. I feel better already!