Let’s face it, Lou Holtz had it right when he said, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
The best thing to remember in the morning is that the attitude you pick out for the day is just as important as the clothes you put on. In most cases and on most days it can be your best accessory, that along with a smile.
Keeping a positive outlook will equal a positive outcome and can actually be good for your health.
Studies show that one minute of anger uses enough of your resources to suppress the immune system for 4-6 hours. One minute of laughter, on the other hand can boost your immune system for 24 hours.
You can not go looking for happiness because it is really more of an inside job. Too many times in life we rely on certain things, people or circumstances to bring happiness to us. We tend to think if only I could afford a new house or car, then I would be happy. If I could find a significant other, improve my health, lose weight or get a promotion, then I definitely would be more happy. It’s not to say that these reasons would not make you happier but the important thing to remember is that happiness is a choice.
You can take responsibility for your own happiness by making tiny changes in your mindset. A grateful heart is one sure way to a happy life.
The practice of gratitude is a powerful way to shift your energy and change your thinking. When you catch yourself getting stuck in a negative thought pattern you need a reset. Turn your thinking around and look for something, anything, to be grateful for. The act of practicing gratitude is actually like exercise for your brain and offers many positive attributes. Gratitude reduces feelings of envy, makes our memories happier, lets us experience good feelings, and helps us bounce back from stress.
When you are grateful for what you already have it has a special way of attracting more good into your life.
So choose happy and be grateful, one step and one day at a time.