I hope that everyone has a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and a wonderful 2008. The following article by Carole Fawcett is a great way to start anew in 2008:
1. Do not take anything personally.
Remember that everyone walks around with emotional baggage of some sort. Their response to you is coloured by this baggage and has nothing whatsoever to do with you. Their frustration or anger is something that is unfinished within them. Their impatience is frequently impatience with themselves. Their inability to love is likely an inability to love themselves.
2. Deal with the things that bother you.
Do not hold on to grudges or bad feelings about anyone. It only poisons your own soul and your own body. So, if it means speaking to someone and trying to work things out, do so. If you are in a job that you dislike, start to look for ways to find another job that you do like. Do not stay in unhealthy relationships. Walk away from anything that creates angst or pain. Work toward getting rid of all the stressful and negative situations in your life.
3. Practice gratitude and forgiveness daily.
Get up in the morning being mindful of what it is you are grateful for. State it out loud. Forgive yourself and others for both your own and their imperfections. Our world is not perfect and will never be until we, as individuals, achieve our own state of personal happiness. This will then radiate and spread to the rest of the world.
4. Help others whenever the opportunity arises. Love humankind.
Helping others takes the focus off our own challenges. We seem to spend a lot of time in our society focused on our own wants and needs. If we learn how to reach out to others, it will help to put our own issues into perspective.
5. Laugh as often as possible.
Laughter is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Laughter sets off a chemical process in your body that is beneficial to your well being. These chemicals immediately start to diffuse the stress your body may be feeling. Laughter is contagious and spreads feelings of happiness. Laughter begets laughter.
Remember, don’t take anything personally, get rid of your baggage, be grateful and forgive others, help others and laugh as much as possible each day.
So, start with those five things and be conscious of them daily. I am almost certain that you will notice a big change in your life within a short period of time.
As a dear friend of mine says “happiness is a by-product of living a good life.”
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Carole Fawcett is “The Happiness Coach” and provides stress management workshops, keynotes and laughter circles to business and individuals. Carole is a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, and the Professional Photographers Association of British Columbia. Carole believes that if you are not having fun on your journey through life then you need to make some changes. For more information see http://www.afunnybusiness.ca
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