It’s the New Year and with it comes a promise of new hope and new life. This is one of the reasons why the New Year is much celebrated. People go through the trouble of making elaborate countdowns with highly crafted fireworks and rich parties. I, myself is guilty of these merriments.
I love the air of New Year, the excitement, the hope and the optimism it brings. Optimism for happiness and serenity in the days ahead. I took a personal survey asking friends and family what is it they are hoping for this New Year and majority of them answered happiness.
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This comes as no surprise. We all want happiness. And I’m sure you are not an exception. So here are some realistic ways to be happy. When I say realistic ways to be happy, what I mean are the practical and doable stuff you can actually do to achieve that ever elusive happiness you ever wanted.
One of the practical ways to be happy is to stop living in a material world. Yes, money can give you a comfortable life but it can never give a peaceful life. I don’t mean that you are going to stop working and stop earning. Money is essential for our survival.
Money can give you your vital necessities but you should never allow yourself to be enslaved by cash or any other material object for that matter. Never exchange your reputation for monetary basis. It’s just not worth it. Money can never give you happiness but being good to people can.
You should look beyond temporary happiness and have a higher purpose in life. This brings us to another ways to be happy- be proactive. Instead of sitting around all day in front of your computer or lying on the couch texting for hours during your free time, go out and socialize with good friends.
Hang out, sing, dance, laugh. Connect with family. Do something fun, however trivial or ridiculously silly like singing in a karaoke when you know you can’t sing or dance in a dance floor ledge when you know you have two left feet. Having a good laugh can boost your spirit in an instant.
Another ways to be happy is doing some act of kindness everyday. Opening a door for a lady, or offering your sit for an old woman are examples of little act of kindness that can make you and some else blissful. In other words be a blessing to someone else.
Another ways to be happy is being friendly. Smile a lot. Never under estimate the power of smile. Every time you smile, the nerves in your face carry signals to your brain and in return releases feel- good hormones which makes you cheerful. Aside from counting your blessings being positive about life helps you to be cheerful.
Seeing change and adversity as creative destruction and as part of the cycle of life can strengthen your faith creating a joyful disposition. Some ways to be happy is to count your pieces of good fortune and internalize it. Internalizing that you are blessed gives you a benevolent heart making you charitable and generous to others.
Consequently giving you a higher purposeful in life. Learn by heart that happiness is not something to be pursued, it is something to be discovered from within you. Yes, happiness is already within you, all you have to do is acknowledge it, embrace it and live it. Happiness is an inside job, it is your responsibility.
Not a thing, not a place, not even a person can bring you your happiness aside from you. Just like life, happiness is a choice. So this New Year- choose to be happy.
About the author
The author of this article, Ruth Purple, is a successful Relationship Coach who has been helping and coaching individuals and couples for many years. Get your copy of Ruth's latest ebook on Finding Mr. Right. Read more info about "Finding Your True Love" HERE.
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It’s the New Year and with it comes a promise of new hope and new life. This is one of the reasons why the New Year is much celebrated. People go through the trouble of making elaborate countdowns with highly crafted fireworks and rich parties. I, myself is guilty of these merriments. 
