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	<title>Cindy Sense &#187; Happiness</title>
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	<link>http://cindysense.com</link>
	<description>Overcoming lifes Daily Obstacles</description>
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		<title>Top 10 Inspirational Sayings</title>
		<link>http://cindysense.com/top-10-inspirational-sayings</link>
		<comments>http://cindysense.com/top-10-inspirational-sayings#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:29:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cindy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[-Be Inspired]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things to Ponder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[affirmations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beliefs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[confidence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motivation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cindysense.com/?p=2231</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all have those moments when we need inspiration to gain confidence and build momentum.  That&#8217;s why inspirational sayings are so popular!
When you live a life without inspiration, it can be a life without any real joy or passion.  In those moments where you need a little pick me up or a reminder of the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1461" title="affirmations" src="http://cindysense.com/wp-content/uploads/Affirmations-263x300.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="262" />We all have those moments when we need inspiration to gain confidence and build momentum.  That&#8217;s why inspirational sayings are so popular!</p>
<p>When you live a life without inspiration, it can be a life without any real joy or passion.  In those moments where you need a little pick me up or a reminder of the many great things you have in your life, you can turn to the power of inspirational words. You need to have a collection of inspirational sayings in your toolkit that resonate with you so you can get more done and still feel great!</p>
<h2>The Top 10 Ten Inspirational Sayings You Can Use Everywhere!</h2>
<p>There are a lot of great motivational sayings out there that we can turn to when we are feeling down, but we should be using them all the time, rain or shine!  Strive to incorporate inspirational sayings into your every day life, using them to inspire you to reach higher and push harder so you can achieve all of the things you have set out to do and more.</p>
<p>Some wonderful inspirational sayings include:</p>
<p>1.    There is a beautiful light at the end of my tunnel.<br />
2.    I take small steps in life and value my time.<br />
3.    In order to share happiness with others, I must also be happy.<br />
4.    As I let go of dissatisfaction, I feel happiness in my life.<br />
5.    My life is full of purpose, exciting change, and many recognized deeds.<br />
6.    No matter the challenge, I will see it through.<br />
7.    I am becoming more focused and confident every day.<br />
8.    I welcome positive energy and I use that feeling to accomplish more.<br />
9.    My life is already full of success.<br />
10.    I keep only two mental snapshots of myself: where I am and where I want to be in life.</p>
<p>And a BONUS my favorite Inspirational Saying &#8230;. Compliments of <a title="Wayne Dyer" href="http://nightingale.directtrack.com/z/10164/CD658/" target="_blank"><em><strong>Wayne Dyer</strong></em></a> &#8230;.</p>
<p><strong>&#8220;I Want to Feel Good.</strong>&#8221; By continually telling yourself you want to feel good, things will begin to happen to make you feel good. Remember you can not be sad enough to make another person happy, healthy or wealthy.</p>
<p>These are all very simple inspirational sayings that work to affirm positive thoughts and attitudes in your mind.  Affirmations are simply positive statements that remind you of your goals and positive uniqueness so you can boost your self-confidence.</p>
<h2>Accomplish More with the Power of Inspirational Thinking</h2>
<p>Inspirational sayings and affirmations can help us move forward in life and accomplish greater things than we could have ever imagined.  After all, we can&#8217;t deny the power of a can-do attitude.  If more of us incorporate inspiration into our lives, we would all be happier and more successful people.  When you incorporate positive sayings into your life, you&#8217;ll find that you&#8217;ll respond on a subconscious level and you&#8217;ll no longer need to look very far for inspiration!</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re down or lacking confidence, you can use inspirational sayings to find the courage to move forward and force out any negative thoughts that may be cycling through your mind.  When you say these statements with gusto, you are re-affirming positive thoughts in your mind, making them a part of who you are.  Remember to use these sayings at any and every occasion to give you the inspiration you need to get through any challenge, both big and small.</p>
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		<title>Top Ten Ways to Find Peace at Home</title>
		<link>http://cindysense.com/top-ten-ways-to-find-peace-at-home</link>
		<comments>http://cindysense.com/top-ten-ways-to-find-peace-at-home#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2011 04:57:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cindy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[-Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[peace]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cindysense.com/?p=1950</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In an ideal world, our home is a place of peace away from the hectic outside world. Unfortunately, ideal worlds don&#8217;t exist!
In order to make your home a sanctuary, you have to put in a little effort, but thankfully, it&#8217;s easier than you think.
Here are ten ways you can find peace in your home:
1. Clear [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="size-medium wp-image-1951 alignleft" title="find-peace-at-home" src="http://cindysense.com/wp-content/uploads/find-peace-at-home-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" />In an ideal world, our home is a place of peace away from the hectic outside world. Unfortunately, ideal worlds don&#8217;t exist!</p>
<p>In order to make your home a sanctuary, you have to put in a little effort, but thankfully, it&#8217;s easier than you think.</p>
<p>Here are ten ways you can find peace in your home:</p>
<p><strong>1. Clear the Clutter</strong><em></em>. Many people never feel at ease when they&#8217;re at home because their home is disorganized. Of course, a cluttered environment leads to a cluttered mind, and a cluttered mind is a chaotic one. If you take one weekend to clear the clutter from your home, you&#8217;ll feel an immediate difference in your peace level.</p>
<p><em><strong>2. Find a Hobby.</strong></em> Sometimes it&#8217;s boredom that gets the best of us when we&#8217;re at home. When you have a hobby to turn to, you&#8217;ll find that it&#8217;s a lot easier to feel peaceful and fulfilled.</p>
<p><em><strong>3. Turn on the music</strong></em>. Listening to calming music will allow you to let go of the stress of the day and enjoy your time at home. Choose whatever kind of music you like, as long as it relaxes you.</p>
<p><em><strong>4. Leave your work at work.</strong></em> If your home is an office away from the office, how can you ever find peace? Except for the rare occasion, leave your work at work, both physically and mentally. If you work from home, work in one dedicated space. Also, never work in the same room as you sleep, otherwise, you&#8217;ll associate your bedroom as a workspace.</p>
<p><em><strong>5. Create time to decompress.</strong></em> Do you rush home from work and immediately take on more responsibilities and chores? Instead, allow yourself even 10 or 15 minutes to relax and unwind before you begin tasks for the home. Doing so will mark a clear separation in your mind between work and home.</p>
<p>* You might want to just lie on your bed for a few minutes, read a book, or take a shower. This short time will rejuvenate and refresh you.</p>
<p><em><strong>6. Be considerate</strong></em>. Be mindful of your family and their daily stresses as well. Too often, we take their presence and contributions for granted. Remember that the people you live with are human, too. Show your gratitude for them.</p>
<p><em><strong>7. Use positive reinforcement. </strong></em>When someone in your family does something to contribute to the peace, be sure to praise them to let them know you appreciate what they did. This will help foster more peace in the future!</p>
<p><em><strong>8. Pick your battles.</strong></em> You could fight a lot about little, insignificant things, but is it worth it? Instead, choose only the most important transgressions to challenge.</p>
<p><em><strong>9. Allow things to roll off your back.</strong></em> When something isn&#8217;t a big deal, just let it go. Instead, focus on maintaining your inner peace. You&#8217;ll be glad in the long run that you decided to go this route; it makes life so much easier!</p>
<p><em><strong>10. Cool off.</strong></em> When you&#8217;re involved in a conflict at home, give yourself some time to cool off. Doing so will help you calmly talk about your feelings and come to a resolution. Or perhaps you just may realize that the issue wasn&#8217;t as big of a deal as you first thought.</p>
<p>Maintaining peace in your home is important to the health and well being of every family member. Use these tips to nurture a peaceful environment so your home is a joy to come home to!</p>
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		<title>Listen to What Your Peaceful Moments Tell You</title>
		<link>http://cindysense.com/listen-to-what-your-peaceful-moments-have-to-tell-you</link>
		<comments>http://cindysense.com/listen-to-what-your-peaceful-moments-have-to-tell-you#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:49:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[-Be Inspired]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inner Peace]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cindysense.com/?p=1814</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Peaceful moments in our lives are like precious rare jewels that need to be appreciated, remembered and cherished. Each one of us regularly experiences wonderful moments of bliss and peace during the course of our daily activities.
Determine to become more aware of those moments, notice how you feel at such times, work toward extending those [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1815" title="DSCN9903" src="http://cindysense.com/wp-content/uploads/DSCN9903-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />Peaceful moments in our lives are like precious rare jewels that need to be appreciated, remembered and cherished. Each one of us regularly experiences wonderful moments of bliss and peace during the course of our daily activities.</p>
<p>Determine to become more aware of those moments, notice how you feel at such times, work toward extending those precious moments of peace, and listen to the subtle clues for your life that these moments whisper to your soul. Our very own private and intimate moments of peace are unique to each of us, depending on our own lifestyle and the unique interests of each of us that causes our own heart space to be touched.</p>
<p>For many people these moments of peace will be experienced just being in the presence of the beauty, solitude and sounds of nature. On a quiet, warm day, it is easy for anyone to feel very peaceful while strolling through a scenic park setting, or perhaps, just sitting in your own backyard if it is only for a few moments. Observing nature&#8217;s perfect color schemes, feeling the soft and gentle breezes brushing on your flesh, watching the squirrels scurrying about and the birds gliding through the air is enough to fill your heart with wonder, appreciation, and blissful peace.</p>
<p>Those moments of peacefulness will surely be yours as you are holding and gently rocking your baby to sleep, snuggling with your toddler in one of your favorite chairs while reading, &#8220;Adventures With Dora&#8221; one more time, or hugging your teenager just because it feels so good.</p>
<p>Those blissful moments of peace for many people will also occur while being immersed in a project or hobby that you truly enjoy. Painting, drawing, or sculpting, for instance, are hobbies that indulge your senses and satisfy your natural creativity so that you find yourself in a completely peaceful place, almost as if you have entered another space and time.</p>
<p>Whatever the activities or situations you experience that causes you to feel peaceful, notice the sense of clarity, gratitude, love, and comfort that you feel at those times. You feel as if your sole is smiling. You feel warm and fuzzy. In those moments of peace, life is flowing very well indeed. In those moments of blissful peace anything is possible. You are where you want to be, doing what you want to do, and you are completely fulfilled and satisfied in those fleeting moments of peace.</p>
<p>As you become more aware of how you feel and listen to your heart space in those moments of peace, you will notice that creative ideas flow through your mind, inspiration exhilarates you, you become energized with a renewed sense of purpose, and answers for troubling problems come to you effortlessly. Listen and remember. Those beautiful intimate moments of peace will softly and gently lead you to a more satisfying, fulfilling, joyful and purposeful life.</p>
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		<title>Creating Your Personal Puzzle of Life</title>
		<link>http://cindysense.com/creating-your-personal-puzzle-of-life</link>
		<comments>http://cindysense.com/creating-your-personal-puzzle-of-life#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 04:53:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cindy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[-Personal Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Responsibility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cindysense.com/?p=965</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;We are one big family of people, trying to make our way through the unfolding puzzle of life.&#8221;  Sara Paddison
For thousands of years people have been attempting to solve the puzzle of life.  The problem is that there is not one solution.  Each of us has our own unique puzzle to solve. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p>&#8220;We are one big family of people, trying to make our way through the unfolding puzzle of life.&#8221;  Sara Paddison</p></blockquote>
<p><img src="http://cindysense.com/wp-content/uploads/puzzle-of-life-300x299.jpg" alt="puzzle of life" title="puzzle of life" width="300" height="299" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-969" />For thousands of years people have been attempting to solve the puzzle of life.  The problem is that there is not one solution.  Each of us has our own unique puzzle to solve.  Your puzzle of life will look and feel completely different than anyone else’s.</p>
<p>Each piece of your puzzle has the ability to build confidence and help you to achieve goals you have set for yourself.</p>
<p>The amazing thing about your personal puzzle of life pieces is that you actually have the ability to design the pictures that are on each piece.</p>
<p>You are creating your life &#8211; your puzzle pieces each and every moment by the choices you make.</p>
<h3>Where Does This Piece of the Puzzle of Life Fit In?</h3>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;In our lives, things don&#8217;t always go the way we planned them. But life is like a big jigsaw puzzle, and as we enter these circumstances, we&#8217;re only able to see one piece.&#8221;  Mark Martin</p></blockquote>
<p>You may be holding a particular puzzle piece while trying to figure out where it belongs in the big picture.  You are refusing to let go of it.  You know that it belongs in your puzzle of life and you are determined to make it fit.  You have your mind set on the fact that it belongs.  You feel stuck and unable to move forward.</p>
<p>Why not try to set the piece down.  Take a good long hard look at it.</p>
<p>Ask yourself; &#8220;Is it possible that this piece does not belong in my life?&#8221;</p>
<p>Yes it&#8217;s possible to have the wrong piece.  The piece belongs to another not to you.  Are you willing to let it go?  Are you willing to look at other pieces?</p>
<p>On the other hand if it is a part of your life, you need to decide where it fits.  It could fit in as a learning experience, a challenge, an opportunity or an obstacle for you to overcome to be able to reach the next level in your life.  Remember that each piece plays an important part in the way you live and enjoy your life.</p>
<p>Every time a piece successfully fits in your puzzle of life you build confidence &#8211; that&#8217;s one more challenge that you have overcame &#8211; or more peace and happiness that you have shared with others.</p>
<h3>Where Is This Piece of the Puzzle of Life?</h3>
<p>You may have a section of your puzzle put together &#8211; but there is a piece missing right dab in the center.  Your mind’s eye tells you exactly what it should look like.  You search and search and search some more to no avail.  You wonder where in the world it can be.</p>
<p>For some reason you believe this one piece holds the key and will waste countless hours, days, months or even years to find it.</p>
<p>You become obsessed with finding that one single piece.  You are blinded to other pieces that surround you that may contain opportunities for love, peace, harmony, wealth, health and happiness.</p>
<p>Sooner or later you give up.  You believe that the piece is lost and you will never find it.  You go on to another piece &#8230; and what happens?  You find the piece you were looking for.  It doesn&#8217;t bring you the joy you thought it would.  It does make the picture look more complete, but you now see that it was not the key piece to your puzzle of life.</p>
<h3>Are You Forcing the Pieces of the Puzzle of Life?</h3>
<p>Other times we are convinced that one piece of the puzzle fits in a particular space.  We jam it in. We do whatever it takes to make it fit &#8211; without thinking about the consequences.</p>
<p>If you force a puzzle piece to fit where it does not belong &#8211; what happens?</p>
<p>It will distort the rest of the picture.  Other pieces will appear to fit -where they don&#8217;t.  Pieces that should go in a particular place won’t fit.  It causes confusion, anger and blame.</p>
<h3>Creating Your Puzzle of Life</h3>
<p>Know that you are the creator of your life.  Your life is your choice.  You cannot put together another person’s puzzle and they cannot put yours together.  Your puzzles may compliment or contrast one another.  In life you will be drawn to puzzles that compliment your own.<br />
If you are not where you want to be, then you need to begin today by creating your puzzle of life to resemble those of  people that have the type of life you desire.</p>
<p>You have the power to choose your thoughts, your actions, your attitude, your beliefs, and your reactions to every obstacle and challenge you face in life.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s your choice how you create your life.  Choose to create the life of your dreams while utilizing your gifts to help others.</p>
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		<title>Reducing Stress with Laughter</title>
		<link>http://cindysense.com/reducing-stress-with-laughter</link>
		<comments>http://cindysense.com/reducing-stress-with-laughter#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:36:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cindy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[laughter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cindysense.com/?p=73</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Is there too much stress in your life?
Is everything piling up and weighing you down?
You may have tried herbal remedies or pharmaceuticals to relieve the pressure &#8211; but they don&#8217;t seem to work.
Maybe it&#8217;s time you tried a natural therapy that&#8217;s been used for hundreds of years that has been PROVEN to relieve stress and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-887" title="reduce-stress-laughter.jpg" src="http://cindysense.com/wp-content/uploads/reduce-stress-laughter-300x221.jpg" alt="reduce-stress-laughter.jpg" width="300" height="221" /><strong>Is there too much stress in your life?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Is everything piling up and weighing you down?</strong></p>
<p>You may have tried herbal remedies or pharmaceuticals to relieve the pressure &#8211; but they don&#8217;t seem to work.</p>
<p>Maybe it&#8217;s time you tried a natural therapy that&#8217;s been used for hundreds of years that has been PROVEN to relieve stress and make your feel better.</p>
<p><em>So what is this miracle cure that makes us feel so great?</em></p>
<p>It’s laughter. Laughter is nature’s way of easing tension and helping us relax. So take some time to laugh every day and you’ll be feeling better in no time.</p>
<p>So how does laughter work exactly?</p>
<p>Well, laughter works on several levels to make us feel better and less stressed.</p>
<p>Laughing relieves physical stress. Studies show that stress hormones in our blood (like cortisol) actually reduce when we laugh. Laughter improves our health and releases hormones that make us feel happier.</p>
<p>Laughing boosts our immune system. When our immune system is Strong we tend to feel better overall and are prepared to meet life&#8217;s challenges.</p>
<p>Laughing also eases emotional stress. We are designed to release our emotions physically through laughing and crying. Laughing releases our negative emotions.</p>
<p>Laughing can change our thought process &#8211; and we know our thoughts are what lead us to our emotions.</p>
<p>Laughing helps you to think positive, worry less and be happier. Laughter makes us forget about our negative thoughts and worries.</p>
<p>When you laugh with your loved ones and your friends you are actually promoting social bonding. Bonding with people promotes supportive relationships. When we feel supported we feel less stress about our personal situation.</p>
<p><strong>You might be saying</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>&#8220;My life just isn&#8217;t that funny, So what do I do?&#8221;</li>
<li>&#8220;What if I just can&#8217;t find any thing to laugh at?&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Fake it!!!</strong> Yes, that&#8217;s right just laugh. Let out a loud hardy laugh. Keep doing and you&#8217;ll begin laughing at yourself &#8211; you just can&#8217;t help it.</p>
<p><em>A study done on forced laughter</em>divided participants into two groups. The first group was asked to watch a movie and not laugh at anything. The second group was asked to laugh at all the jokes &#8211; whether they thought they were funny or not. After watching the movie the participants filled out a survey on how much they liked the movie.</p>
<p>The second group &#8211; the participants that laughed at everything, found the movie to be significantly better and funnier.</p>
<p>This just goes to show you that laughing improves the you view the world and the circumstances around you. Laughter makes you happier and helps reduce the stress from your every day life.</p>
<p>Another benefit of laughter is that is has been shown to help people eat less, boost your immune system, increase your pain threshold, and even help you heal faster.</p>
<p>So start laughing! Watch funny movies, tell jokes, listen to jokes, laugh at yourself and learn to laugh for no reason &#8230;</p>
<p>Laughter really is the best medicine! Start laughing your way to a less stressful life today.</p>
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		<title>21 Habits of Happy People</title>
		<link>http://cindysense.com/21-habits-of-happy-people</link>
		<comments>http://cindysense.com/21-habits-of-happy-people#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:12:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Cindy</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[habits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Happiness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cindysense.com/?p=793</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Happy people have a different way of thinking and doing things.  They maintain a positive attitude about people, things and life in general.  They interpret the world that they live in.
Happy people generally have the following habits that express their values and beliefs …
1.  Love Self
Be your own best friend. It sounds simple and like [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-796" title="Habits-Happy-People" src="http://cindysense.com/wp-content/uploads/Habits-Happy-People-285x300.jpg" alt="Habits-Happy-People" width="200" height="210" />Happy people have a different way of thinking and doing things.  They maintain a positive attitude about people, things and life in general.  They interpret the world that they live in.</p>
<p>Happy people generally have the following habits that express their values and beliefs …</p>
<p><strong><em>1.  Love Self</em></strong><br />
Be your own best friend. It sounds simple and like a &#8220;no-brainer&#8221; but learning to truly love yourself can be a challenge. It&#8217;s absolutely the most essential step in being a happy person. After-all you have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Learn to enjoy your own company and to embrace everything about yourself.  Like who you are on the inside.  Accept your flaws. Claim the fact that you are a wonderfully flawed human!  Focus on your greatest strengths and gifts.</p>
<p><strong><em>2.  Take Care of Self</em></strong><br />
Take care of your body and health.  Get regular medical checkups.  Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water.  Pamper yourself.  Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.</p>
<p><strong><em>3.  Love Others</em></strong><br />
Love is what makes the world go around.  Live by the rule “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you”.  Treat everyone with kindness, compassion and respect.  Allow others to be who they are, accept them.</p>
<p><strong><em>4.  Choose Friends Wisely<br />
</em></strong>Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals.  You want comrades that will build you up and help you to accomplish your dreams and goals.</p>
<p>It’s your choice with whom you associate with on a regular basis.  If you don’t want to become like someone, then be involved with them as little as possible.</p>
<p><strong><em>5.  Dare to Dream</em></strong><br />
Dream BIG!!!  Happy people know that when they dream big in every aspect of their life – that their life is set in motion to bring their dreams into reality.</p>
<p><strong><em>6.  Do What You Enjoy</em></strong><br />
Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs!  No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around.  We spend a great deal of our life working.  Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it.</p>
<p>Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests. Doing things you enjoy makes you happier and more productive.</p>
<p><strong><em>7.  Look to the Future</em></strong><br />
Happy people focus on creating the future of their dreams.  They take the time to learn the skills and strategies to create the outcome they desire.  Happy people set their goals, make a plan to succeed and take action.  People are happiest when pursuing something of value.</p>
<p><strong><em>8.  Accept that which is Unchangeable</em></strong><br />
Happy people don’t waste their thoughts or energy on situations beyond their control.  They know and accept their limits as a human.  This means they don’t worry about the future and they don’t fret over the past.  They don’t waste their precious time trying to change other people.  They know they can only change themselves.</p>
<p><strong><em>9.  Are Proactive<br />
</em></strong>Happy people instinctively find their circle of influence.  They actively participate in creating the outcome of any challenge or obstacle to be in their favor.</p>
<p><strong><em>10. Attitude of Gratitude</em></strong><br />
Happy people have an attitude of gratitude.  They constantly and consistently count their blessings.  They see the glass as half full.  They have the ability to find the positive side to most situations.  Find at least 5 things every day to be grateful.  It’s great to have a buddy that you share your grateful list with on a daily basis.  Studies show that people who write a grateful list daily are happier within 6 weeks.</p>
<p><strong><em>11. Steer Clear of Negativity</em></strong><br />
Happy people steer clear of negative people and negative thoughts.  Negativity breeds negativity – just as happiness can breed happiness. Happy people do not blame, criticize or condemn others.  They are not jealous of other peoples successes and goals.</p>
<p><strong><em>12. Forgiveness</em></strong><br />
Forgive others as well as yourself.  Many people have an easier time forgiving other peoples shortcomings than their own.  When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.</p>
<p><strong><em>13. Honesty</em></strong><br />
Every action you make should be based on honesty.  Conduct all business with honesty and integrity.  Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.</p>
<p><strong><em>14. Persistence</em></strong><br />
Practice persistence with patience.  If you fall – get up and get going again.  It’s all a part of learning and helps us to become all that we dream of being.  Children naturally have this persistence – when learning to walk how many times do they fall?  How about when learning to ride a bike?</p>
<p><strong><em>15. Positive Thinking</em></strong><br />
We gravitate in the direction of our thoughts.  Happy people know this and practice the act of thinking positively daily.  Happy people have formed the habit of  thinking positively, thus it is ingrained in their subconscious and it seems unnatural to them to think negatively. They subconsciously replace most negative thoughts with a positive one.</p>
<p><strong><em>16. Mental Rehearsal</em></strong><br />
Happy people have also learned the art of visualization.  This is simply a practice of mentally rehearsing their desired outcome.  This includes everything from a pleasant night out with friends, to a successful sales call or winning that all-important game, and everything in between.<br />
It’s also visualizing your future soul-mate, your dream car, your dream job, or your dream house.</p>
<p><strong><em>17. Laugh</em></strong><br />
Don’t take yourself – or life too seriously.  Instead of stressing out over situations – Find humor in them.  When appropriate laugh and make light of it. It’s proven that laughter is one of the best stress busters there is. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)</p>
<p><strong><em>18. Enjoy Life</em></strong><br />
Happy people try to have a good time – ALL of the time.  They whistle while they work.  They find joy in every task they perform – no matter how menial.</p>
<p>Happy people have fun trying new things to do and see.  To them life is one long adventure trip.  They see the beauty of a sunset.  They enjoy walks in the park.  They have learned to live in the moment and enjoy it while it’s there.</p>
<p><strong><em>19.  Decision Making</em></strong><br />
When making personal or business decisions, happy people have learned to trust their gut instincts – which are almost always the right decision!  They don’t see a problem; they see a challenge or a situation.  (The word problem can birth negative thinking.)</p>
<p>They look at the whole picture and weigh the pros and cons before taking action.  They don’t waste time wallowing in self pity.  They immediately get to work at finding a creative solution.</p>
<p><strong><em>20. Continuous Learning</em></strong><br />
Happy people are continually working on improving themselves.  They know that they will never be perfect.  They strive to be the BEST they can be.</p>
<p>They understand they are constantly changing, and by working on ones self – they will be growing and changing for the better.</p>
<p>They keep up to date on the latest regarding their careers and hobbies.  They listen to motivational tapes and read books like “Habits of Highly Effective People” and “Think and Grow Rich”.</p>
<p><strong><em>21. Take Responsibility</em></strong><br />
Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life.  They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words.</p>
<p>They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.  And usually have a plan of action to rectify it before others find out about it.<br />
<em>Note:  The more of these habits you can adapt into your daily life – the faster you’ll be on the road to finding true happiness that endures.</em></p>
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