27 things to make you happier
by Sunil Bali, 22-01-12
Sometimes life can become a struggle because we’ve forgotten a few simple truths.
Here are 27 things worth remembering:
1. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
2. Do what you love and play with whoever turns up.
3. Believe in miracles. 250 years ago Man couldn’t get off the ground, let alone walk on the Moon.
4. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
5. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
6. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
7. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
8. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
9. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
11. Take a deep breath and be still. It calms the mind.
12. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear the colours of the rainbow.
13. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
14. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’
15. What other people think of you is none of your business.
16. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
17. Get outside and keep showing up every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
18. Have one hour of totally uninterrupted conversation with your partner or a friend every week. Give yourself permission to be warmer – people love it and no one will think you’re weird or intense.
19. Spend some time every week doing a hobby or activity which completely absorbs you and time seems to stand still.
20. Don’t be a party wallflower. Self-absorption undermines happiness because it stops you from being brilliant at developing close relationships.
21. Have a good laugh at least once a day. On a bad day, give yourself a break. Listen to a comedy station, CD of stand-up comedy or read the humour section of this column.
22. Take half an hour of exercise three times a week and your general feeling of happiness will improve by 10-20 per cent. It doesn’t need to be anything too masochistic: anything that gets you moving. A brisk walk will do.
23. Be your own best friend. Check your internal dialogue. The way we talk to ourselves is often worse than the way we talk to those we dislike.
24. Be grateful for what you have and be generous. In the game of life givers gain and takers lose. It’s one of life’s great paradoxes that you can’t give without receiving.
25. Don’t wait for your boat to come in – swim out to it.
26. Don’t live your life – live your dreams.
27. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Quotes
A man is only as good as what he loves – Saul Bellow
The more you say, the less people remember – Francois Fenelon
Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement – Barry LePatner
If everything seems under control, you’re just not going fast enough – Mario Andretti
Humour
More from the inimitable Tommy Cooper:
- Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly. They lit a fire in the craft, it sank, proving once and for all that you can’t have your kayak and heat it.
- I visited the offices of the RSPCA today. It’s tiny: you couldn’t swing a cat in there.
- Two blondes walk into a building………you’d think at least one of them would have seen it.
- This cowboy walks in to a German car showroom and he says ‘Audi!’
- I was driving up the motorway and my boss phoned me and told me I’d been promoted. I was so shocked I swerved the car. He phoned again to say I’d been promoted even higher and I swerved again. He then made me Managing Director and I went right off into a tree. The police came and asked me what had happened. I said ‘I careered off the road.’
- I bought a train ticket to France and the ticket seller said ‘Eurostar.’ I said ‘Well I’ve been on telly but I’m no Dean Martin.’
- Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van covered with hundreds and thousands. Police say that he topped himself.
To your success,
Sunil
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