I’ve enjoyed sharing these rules with you. I live by them, I’m a happy person and more importantly, I really don’t like being unhappy. My least favorite me is unhappy me. The guy sucks my energy, annoys the people around him and frankly, he doesn’t make me any money.
Happy me? I love that guy. He cracks me up, cries at songs he likes, pulls over to write down beautiful thoughts and brings people in. I love him and can’t wait to blow out of town with him early today for the lake.
Here we go …
13. Get involved in something where your time and talent will be a gift for those you help.
The greatest reward in the world is helping someone else. Share your talents and your knowledge. It’s addictive. It will also make you happier. I like to help charities, foundations and other small businesses by offering them my time and insight on the Experience Economy.
I won’t humble brag about the nice things I’ll do. I’ll just say that doing these nice things is the biggest rush I get out of my week and I literally walk away thinking I could do that every day.
Give it away. It feels good.
14. Eliminate unhelpful thoughts.
“The central method for achieving a happier life is to train your mind in a daily practice that weakens negative attitudes and strengthens positive ones.” - The Dalai Lama
Be aware of what you are thinking about and make a conscious effort to think positively and challenge your feelings. Wake up early. Give yourself time in the morning to sit quietly and calmly organize your thoughts before you get moving. Be kind, love yourself and practice thinking gently.
The word is ‘practice’ for a reason; it might take you a few mornings to figure it out. What you want to avoid is being ‘caught up in your thoughts’ which is such a great expression.
15. Cultivate Positive Thoughts
Focus on what is good in your life. Spend time with positive people who are in love with living and sucking the marrow out of life. No closed-minded people. No defeatists. No cynics. No absolutes, “Nobody is going to get this.”
You see what you expect to see.
I wake up every day and expect to see beauty and good. It’s the way I am. I had wonderful parents.
16. Treat your body right.
You had to know this was coming, and can we please acknowledge that I managed not to poke you in your squishy underbelly until no. 16!
Go to bed earlier, eat healthier, and go online to find and implement a little 15-minute exercise routine. Lunges, squats, some push-ups and throw a plank in there. For now, that’s great. Do that every day for a while. Something simple, that you can do every day easily and feel good about yourself. That’s it. If you’re interested, send me an email and I’ll lay out a simple desk person/office person routine that you can do easily for the rest of your life.
Walking 10,000 steps a day and drinking lots of water is a game changer too.
For now, just start and be happier for it. See you in a few days.