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Positive living does NOT mean ignoring the difficulties of life. That is not a good way to be happy. Everyone needs to learn that there will always be hard times. Happiness will only come by recognizing and working through difficulties, or learning to accept them.
Nobody feels emotions of happiness all the time. If they tell you they do, they are lying. Heck, it's not uncommon for me to feel like this on a normal day:
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There is nothing wrong with pain, fear, doubt, ect. It is a part of being human and part of the happiness we feel. If we didn't have the hard times, we wouldn't know what happiness is. That's a hard thing to remember sometimes. The world's definition of happiness is receiving pleasure from something right now. But it is impossible for that to last. There has to be something more.
Strong correlations with happiness:
gratitude
optimism
close relationships with others
employment
positive mood
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Is always being happy realistic? Moment-to-moment, no. But maybe it's what you choose to focus on overall. Make up your mind to be happy.
HAPPINESS: Picking out your values in life, cultivating them, and then living in accordance with them. Happiness has little to do with the feeling that you get from doing something pleasurable. I think it has to do more with your values, how you are living, and what propels you forward in your life. To be happy, we need to actively engage in what we value. This way, we are creating meaning in our lives!
FOCUS on the good in your life. Do things that are uplifting. If they don't uplift you, they aren't worth your time. Do more of what makes you really smile! Make time to relax and just laugh too!
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Did you know that smiling more has an effect of the chemistry in your brain? A study showed that even people who did a little half smile when they woke up in the morning had a much better day! Let loose. Be silly. Smile with your eyes.
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Develop what's best in you and use those talents and skills in the service of greater goods.
What do I want to be about?
And how do I do that?
Am I cultivating these things in my life?
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F0r me it is...
going outside
spending time with loved ones
curling my hair ;)
learning about the gospel
striving to be healthy
and serving others.
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Haha pushing the car instead of driving in it. Good exercise. Pool party, laughing, and spending time with friends... That was a good day. :)
If you know what you want people to say about you at the end of your life and you aren't doing them now, you better get started.
The experiment...
Tomorrow: Wake up with a smile. Say: "Today will be wonderful. I am happy for today." Do: Something nice for someone else. Do: Something nice for yourself. Do: Something that you value, that contributes to the greater good.
-Tiana
