Happiness 

Inside Happiness

I choose to be Happy everyday. Sometimes it will take me until 10 pm but I do it. LOL

You truly only have to look inside yourself for happiness. One good thing about our life is we have Total Control to make our own happiness. You are the only who can truly make YOU happy. STOP looking to others for that. When you do that half your inner battle is over. Learn how to make yourself happy.

 Here are some suggestions on how to become Happy, that I have learned over the years:

1) Develop an interest or a hobby. Even if you think it is going to be hard, just TRY it. 

2) Take a class such as gardening or pottery. Working with your hands is so rewarding! My friend Macarena and I have taken pottery and we laugh hysterically because it was so hard to control the wheel. Clay was flying everywhere it even got into my hair. LOL

3) Learn a new language. I am in the process of learning Italian and it is so fun

4) Join a club. This is two fold you learn something and you meet new people.

5) Start a Club. I just started a game club where we meet once a month, it is so much fun to watch the people I love learn about each other.

6) Exercise whether its running, weights or swimming. Get out there and do it! If you are in pain find a exercise that fits you. 

7) Volunteer - doing good for someone else is good for the soul

Outside

There is such a thing as outside happiness. God gave us so many beautiful things to enjoy. 

1) Install a bird feeder and see what happens! Sit outside and watch the birds flock to it! Keep a log to see what birds you are attracting to it.

2) Plant something - whether its in a pot on your balcony or in the yard. Having something to take care of and see it flourish and grow, is so rewarding and gives you a sense of purpose.

3) Clean - do your windows it will make you feel good plus make things shiny and new.

When I feel a bout of sadness starting in my heart and head, all I have to do to fight it, is look for or at the outside. Either I go outside and sit or I pull a chair up inside and sit close to a window. Immediately, I start watching what God has created for us. I watch the birds work so hard to find food, to stay away from other predators. I watch the ants on the ground working so diligently to find food, to carry it back to share it with the other ants. 

How they all work together for the collective good. Life would be so much easier if we all worked together as one unit! Cohesive groups do so much better with most things. Have you ever heard the saying "It takes a village to raise a child?" By nature humans need support, to have someone lift their spirits, to help with chores, for advice, a hug and to raise a child. That is why God pairs us up.

When I was growing up it took my parents, grandmother, and my extended family to raise me up. Each person brought their "gifts" to my life.

Here are 23 things that I have learned over the years that will help you have a Happier Life:

1.) Let go of comparing yourself to others. You are unique! Embrace that you are ONE of a kind

2.) Let go of toxic relationship. If they don't add to your life LET THEM GO

3.) Let go of trying to be perfect. We are all WIP (Works In Progress)

4.) Let go of holding hard feelings. It really only hurts you, the person or thing that caused them might not even be in your life anymore. Just chuck it up to experience, learn from it and go on

5.) Let go of the need for approval from others. It is YOUR life live it! Boy this one is a hard one to break from

6.) Let go of past mistakes. My dad used to say its okay to make a mistake just learn from it the first time

7.) Let go of the fear of being judged. The only person you should be judging is yourself and compare you to the person you were yesterday.

8.) Let go of the need to be in control all the time. I work on this one daily! Every time I take control I screw it up. I try hard to let go and let God.

9.) Let go of the mess in your home and mind. Do things when you feel like it not for anyone but you.

10.) Let go of self-imposed deadlines. This one goes along with control. I live and die by a list but somedays I am better at it than others. Crossing off the list gives me such satisfaction.

11.) Let go of unrealistic expectations. When you have expectations you take the chance of getting hurt.

12.) Let go of overworking yourself. Take time for yourself once in a while, its okay.

13.) Let go of social media pressure. You should make sure that you don't look at social media all the time you can get caught up in all that BS.

14.) Let go of blaming others. I find that you need to realize that you are not the judge of them it will be between them and their higher power in the end.

15.) Let go of regret for things you cannot change.

16.) Let go of trying to please everyone. I was so bad about this that it would actually make me sick. I thought people would like me more if I had the perfect party, activities and food. What they really wanted was just to be with me.

17.) Let go of worrying about the future. Enjoy the present

18.) Let go of fear of failure. You only fail when you DO NOT try

19.) Let go of what others think of you. YOUR opinion of you is the one that matters. Make YOU happy

20.) Let go of procrastination. You put so much added stress on yourself by doing this. Just get it DONE!

21.) Let go of anger over minor inconveniences. Shit happens just accept it, so much easier.

22.) Let go of doubting your potential. Be your biggest cheerleader! Believe in yourself! I know its hard but you can do it! Talk to yourself!

23.) Let go of unhealthy habits. NO Drugs! No Booze! 

"Happiness is a Choice"