Happiness, Pursuit of Happiness, Authentic Happiness, The Art of Happiness, Read Articles, Tips, Quotes Online

Here are five things you can do to be happier:

Smile, even when you don't feel like it..

laugh, as often as possible.

and love, with abandon.

Take time to enjoy the little things in life.

If we learn to give of ourselves, to forgive others, and to live with
thanks giving,

we need not seek happiness .... it will seek us.

Man does not know what true happiness is until he gets married, but then it's too late.- Piers Anthony

How easy to be amiable in the midst of happiness and success.-Anne Sophie Swetchine

The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Money is human happiness in the abstract: he, then, who is no longer capable of enjoying human happiness in the concrete devotes his heart entirely to money.- Arthur Schopenhauer

Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul. Democritus

Happiness is not in our circumstances, but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are. -John B. Sheerin

Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think. -Dale Carnegie

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. -Herman Cain

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. -Mahatma Gandhi

Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude.--Joseph Wood Krutch Happiness is not a station to arrive at, but a manner of travelling. --Margaret Lee Runbeck

It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.--Charles H. Spurgeon

Genetic propensity to happiness.
Marriage.
Make friends and value them.
Desire less.
Do someone a good turn.
Earn more money.
Grow old gracefully.
Don't worry if you're not genius.
Have faith (religious or not).
Stop comparing looks with others.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just wish you were in a better mood? Perhaps you tried to shift your state of mind to something better but struggled to achieve it.

Sometimes we get stuck in our own 'stinking thinking' and forget how easy it is to feel happier, so here are seven simple ways to lift your mood that many people have found useful and some of them may surprise you!

1. Go for a walk.
Most folk know that going for a short daily walk is one of the best forms of exercise. If you can, go into a natural environment with flowers, trees and birds. What will you notice first? The different shades of greenery, the fresh smell of country air, the bird sounds, or the sunlight shining through the tree foliage.

2. Listen to some quality music.
Music creates magical effects. It can shift the listeners state within moments. Why not dig out that album you haven't listened to in ages or why not tune in your radio to something you've never listened to before.

3. Think of others less fortunate.
The fact that you are reading this article suggests that you are probably much better off than many, many people on this planet! What if you were to imagine being in space looking down on the amazing beautiful earth, noticing all the oceans and lands with the clouds above... And then thinking about the fact that there are many human beings that are starving, homeless and in lots of pain... Allow your compassion for them to grow.

4. Read something radical!
How many different types of magazines can you get these days?! Have you ever waltzed into a big newsagents and just browsed through the magazine racks? It's incredible. Why not buy a magazine you wouldn't normally buy. You never know you may discover something wonderful!

5. Laughing at laughter.
Have you ever had the experience when you just laugh for no good reason? Isn't it great! Laughter is one of the best ways to lift your spirits. Can't think of anything funny?

Try grinning at yourself insanely in the mirror and notice how difficult it becomes to control your giggle muscles!

6. Simple breathing meditation.
A great exercise that you can do anywhere is a simple breathing meditation. No need to dress in orange robes. Simply find yourself in a comfortable sitting position with your back straight. Now close your eyes and become aware of the flow of air into and out of your nostrils. That's it! Do this for 10/15 minutes and you'll find yourself pleasantly
surprised how you feel afterward.

7. Doodling just for fun!
Remember when you were young and you used to doodle with crayons for hours. Kids love drawing silly little pictures, why not adults? So get some pens, pencils, crayons or whatever you have and just draw - doodle away until your state of mind shifts.

You might agree that these are all pretty simple and that's what's so good about them. Making changes, mundane or profoundly life-changing, are easily and quickly achieved by putting into action simple ideas, methods, tools and techniques.

Colin G Smith

Here's a multiple choice question for you. Who is more likely to be happy?

(a) Someone who lays awake for an hour or so at night, replaying the day in their mind and agonising over what could have been, and what should have been.

"If only I'd said this..."

"How dare they do that..."

"Next time..."

"If only..."

or

(b) The person who spends five minutes before bed feeling gratitude for all the good in their lives, and focusing on the expectation of more to come tomorrow.

It's fairly obvious, isn't it? (I hope you said "b"!)

How about this one:

(a) The person who drives to work shouting obscenities at any driver who does not follow their grand vision of how the trip should proceed, or

(b) The person who takes delight in the journey- enjoying the breeze through the window, and the sounds of the city, or their favourite radio station.

It looks like "b" is the winner again

Hmm! Too easy? Lets try one more.

(a) The person who watches the news each evening, to hear the latest negativity from around the world. Wars, killings, political debates, or

(b) The person who turns off the television, and reads a book, or throws a ball to their children in the park.

If you got "b" again, CONGRATULATIONS! You're pretty good at this happiness stuff!

So what's my point?

Every moment in your life, YOU HAVE A CHOICE.

Your actions and your thoughts will either produce feelings of happiness, or they won't.

You can focus on the negative things in your life, or you can choose to focus on the positives. One will bring happiness, while the other won't.

You can worry about the future, and regret the past, or you can choose to focus on the joy that exists around you right now. Once again, one of these choices will bring happiness,
and the other won't.

There's not one of us that deep down does not know the difference between happiness & sadness.

So, ask yourself:

"Are my current actions leading to happiness?"

"Are my current thoughts leading to happiness?"

If not, then change your actions. Change your thoughts. There is very little to be gained through persisting with negativity.

Do you dread going to work each morning? Then either change your job, or change the way you think about your job. Focus your attention on how you're gaining the necessary skills and experience to move on to the dream job that you just know is part of your life's purpose.

Do you hate the drive to work? Then travel a different route, or try sitting on a bus or train, listening to your favourite tunes on your MP3 player, or reading a book by your favourite author. Or use the time for personal development, listening to self-help audio tapes and CD's.

Have you flicked through all 100 channels, and still found nothing to watch. Well, there is another choice. You can turn the TV off. Talk to your partner. Cook a nice meal. Read a book. Play with your kids. Honest! There is an OFF button on the remote control.

Every moment is an opportunity to choose happiness.

It's your choice! It's your life. Choose wisely.

Lance Beggs

The New York Times Magazine