 |
| Plan to be happy! |
A diabetic can't afford stress. It raises the glucose levels and your blood pressure, too. The catch is to understand yourself. It's obvious that to be healthy means eating right, lots of exercise, and consulting your doctor at least once a year.
Wealth, they say, is only possible if you earn it, inherit it or steal it, so we'll skip this one for now. Happiness is something you have total control over. Don't hope it happens, plan it. Plan to be happy.
Like everything, being happy starts with a plan. I am a planner. I don't know where I got this trait, how I developed it, or when it started. But I do know that I feel better when I plan. But that's not all...
I plan to grow, have a good attitude, build my confidence and be with people who encourage me. Of course, there is more to being happy, but these five pieces of the puzzle of a happy person are a good start on how to plan to be happy. Let me explain.
Every year my honey and I write a plan for the coming year. We often glance at plans we made for previous years prior. It amazes.
Strangely enough, 90% of the goals we set for ourselves come true. I say 90%, because there are a few things that have not yet happened, such as winning the lottery. [smile] I am not saying this is a "Win the Lottery" wish list. Oh no, the plan we write is genuine. We discuss it, write what we want to achieve, set a completion date, and (this next one is important) -- we then write how we are going to achieve it.
We generally have about 20-25 goals for the coming year. Whatever we don't achieve, we move to the following year: We've achieved so many of our goals over the last 20 years, that our list is shrinking. It works. Planning works. You can plan to be happy. Even a plan for the week's meals works. When we started planning meals, our grocery list changed and the amount of money we spent at the grocer reduced by over $100, sometimes more.
Whatever you want to achieve, I am convinced that it starts with a plan on how you are going to achieve it. Of course, I mean realistic goals. Once you have set realistic goals, it is up to you to focus on your personal growth.
Personal growth must be part of your plan to be happy. The secret to personal growth is one small act. Do your best at every moment, in your job, home or fun activities. Setting goals, no matter how small, enables you to soar to new heights and gives you the confidence to achieve more. Believe it. It is so true.
Many times, people get hung up on other peoples expectations on what it is to be happy and successful. It's fair to say that we all have a different idea of what makes us happy. Content.
Consider that if we spend most of our time and effort trying to reach someone else's goals, achieve unrealistic goals, or goals that are more wishful thinking -- well, we find ourselves in a place where we are constantly searching for meaning. The result is unhappiness. Realizing what is important to you, really important, is the first step to being happy.
For example, putting yourself down, and finding it difficult to accept compliments are common examples that you are sabotaging your life. Instead, encourage positive self talk with yourself. Say nice things about others. Do not speak negative about yourself or about others: This is vital to being happy.
Affirm to yourself every day that no matter what, you are okay. Self-confidence is also a vital part of being happy. This means you need to have positive thoughts and beliefs on top of your mind every single moment: It helps to write a goal to remove negative thoughts, too. Avoid denial. Negatives can hide in ways that let you justify your thoughts. Be honest with yourself.
Believe in you means happy, too. If you want to feel more happy than you feel right now, slow down and evaluate what is important. Remember that other people's goals do not have to be your goals. Learn to balance your everyday decisions, and most importantly, think positive.
Surround yourself with happy people. If you are around unhappiness, you, too, feel unhappy, and that leads to trouble. Negative thoughts. Depression. Instead, fill your day with people who encourage you, feel good about you, and support you. That's what I do.
Many people, especially a few friends and family members, have a bit of a challenge getting to a bigger, better happy place in life. If you have not written a plan for your life, I highly recommend that you get a "positive" menal attitude and write down your plan that describes how you plan to be happy every day.
It is what you can do right now to live a happier life. I wish I'd had known about this years ago. But now you know. Benefit from it yourself, or get it for someone you care about.
If you just take these small steps, you stay happy and improve your life without realizing it. The key to happy is to make a plan to be happy and always move forward. Do not look back. Do not think about all the bad that happened yesterday, but how you can feel happy now.
Of course, history is important, yet you want to avoid dwelling on the past. The past is a learning tool. Use whatever bad happened to learn not to let it happen again, and move ahead.
When you make a plan, grow, build confidence and surround yourself with positive influences, it helps you to find that magic feeling of real happiness. Make a plan, commit to it, make it happen. Be happy.
That's my philosophy, and it has worked for me. It can for you. Believe it.
That's it for today.