7 Things Happy People Have
In Common
By Kathy Gates
Ever notice how some people just seem to be able to be content and bounce back
no matter what the circumstances? Research shows that this isn’t a
gift or a talent – it’s a skill that they have developed. Surprised?
Well, the real surprise is that you too can put to work their techniques and
make your life happier too.
1. Happy people cooperate with life.
Each person has a destiny to fulfill. You can fight it or cooperate with
it. Does that mean you just lay back and let life happen? No.
But you can adopt the attitude that you will play the cards you are dealt the
very best you can. When you begin to cooperate with life, you will notice
new ways in which you are motivated. Life wants you to realize your
destiny. Wouldn’t you rather cooperate than battle with life?
2. Happy people don’t just think positive, they act positive. Thinking
positive definitely has its place, and you’ll need to change your thoughts to
ever be truly happy. But don’t wait on the feelings to come. You
have direct control over how you act and what you think (feelings and physiology
are indirectly affected). If you want to be a happier person, act happier.
If you want to be a more compassionate person, act more compassionate. If
you want to be a friendlier person, act friendlier. The feelings will
follow.
3. Happy people ask for what they need.
Good things don’t generally just fall out of the sky. Complaining gets you
nothing, except to attract you to other complainers. If you believe that
“you reap what you sow”, then asking for what you want makes much more sense
than sowing complaints. It’s your choice-- you can choose to point fingers
and assign blame, and still end up with nothing. Or you can simply ask.
4. Happy people are willing to change.
It’s contrary to all laws of nature for things to stand still. If you try to
make that happen, you’ll always be disappointed. If you let fear of change stop
you, you are in essence *agreeing* to not having what you want. You can
believe that change will harm you and resist it. Or you can embrace it and
believe that it will help you. It all depends on what you decide to
believe.
5. Happy people don’t allow themselves to be defeated. A failure or set
back does not mean that the goal will never be yours, nor is it evidence that
you should quit. It simply means that you need more practice, more
experience. Be willing to make mistakes. Don’t give up. Don’t
allow one slipup, or setback from the outside, influence you to erase all the
progress you’ve made. Feel the joy of the finish line!
6. Happy people live in the present.
If you are alert to the present, and anticipating the future, you are better
able to take advantage of opportunities. If you are brooding over the
past, you’ll be blinded to present possibilities, and lose the advantage for
future prospects. A happy life is the product of living a great present.
And a well lived present is a guarantee of a wonderful future. You can
only affect your future by what you do today.
7. Happy people plan ahead.
Happy people know that they must exercise mastery in their lives, show control
in their life in order to guard against feelings of being helpless and victims.
Planning is essential to getting things done. Planning is essential to
making sure you are spending time on your priorities, and not just the next
thing that gets your attention. Plan for what’s important to you, and
choose to spend your limited time, money, energy, and resources on it.
Kathy Gates is a Professional Life Coach in Scottsdale AZ. If you liked
this article, you’ll love her “Beat the Procrastination Blues” program.
Get more information at her website Real Life Coach,
http://www.reallifecoach.com/
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