Four Steps to Happiness

Yes, right off let me say this - these are not THE only steps to happiness. However, these ARE four steps that you can follow to happiness.

Too, just like anything else - you must APPLY them in your life in order for them to have any impact on your life and happiness.

We have been discussing the question, "Can I still be happy even if I'm not living the life that I had envisioned?"

I have stated that the answer to that is "YES!" and now, today, I want to give some practical ways to apply that truth to your life.

Again, please don't let the simplicity fool you. Sometimes the PROFOUND can be FOUND in the SIMPLE! So, it's up to you - but discard the tendency to look at this and blow them off because of how obvious they appear and/or how simple they appear.

Before we do that - try to come up with some sort of definition as to WHAT IS HAPPINESS? Can you come up with a definition? What would make you happy? What (if anything) are you waiting for or who (if anyone) are you waiting on in order for you to be happy?

Stop waiting and decide NOW - TODAY - to be happy! Yes, it IS possible!

So, here we go:

FOUR STEPS TO HAPPINESS

1. FIND HAPPINESS WHERE YOU ARE - It's not always on the "other side". Be happy where you are and with what you have. Yes, be thankful even if things aren't "perfect" right now. Don't miss today wishing for improvement!

2. IF YOU ARE NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE - WORK ON IMPROVING YOUR LIFE! You can do this and #1 at the same time! We CAN be working on improving our lives and STILL be happy today while we are doing so! But, are you willing to put in the extra effort necessary to start moving forward in this desire? Don't let your current situation make you miserable! Go back to #1 and realize that happiness is a CHOICE - even if our life is not all that we had envisioned.

3. SHARE YOUR HAPPINESS AND DREAMS - Do this with someone that you can trust, someone that will encourage you, lift you up but also someone that will talk straight to you when you need it. It is a wonderful thing to share your dreams with someone else, but be careful when selecting the person with whom you decide to share these things. As we all know, there are many out there (yes, even friends and family) that will "rain on our parade" if we let them know of our dreams and desires. So, choose wisely and also be sure to choose someone that will talk straight to you when you need it. Don't just choose a "cheerleader"!

4. TAKE CARE OF TODAY - Be happy with today. Be happy with what you have today. Do all that you can to improve what your dream is. Share it with someone that will lift you up and talk straight to you. But realize that you won't accomplish it all today - it takes time - but still be moving toward your dreams and desires. Don't worry away today! Don't become so frustrated that you fail to enjoy today - that you fail to be HAPPY today!

Again, don't let the simplicity of these steps fool you - they are harder than you may think!

Think about them...apply them and, as always...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike