16 Dec 57 Easy Ways to Be Happier and More Successful
via Inc.com by Geoffrey James
I've already posted most of the advice below but scattered among five or six posts. I thought it would be useful to collect all of my happiness and success rules in a single place. Enjoy!
1. Assume people have good intentions.
Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.
2. Avoid using negative words.
Stop using negative phrases…such as "I can't," "It's impossible," or "This won't work." Stop using profanity, too. What comes out of your mouth programs your mind. When you talk trash, you're transforming your brain into trash.
3. Avoid spending time with stressed-out people.
You may not realize it, but your physiology is programmed to mirror the physiology of those around you. In other words, you can "catch" stress from other people. So although it may not be possible to avoid stressed people all the time, avoid them as far as possible.
4. Begin each day with expectation.
If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought be, "Something wonderful is going to happen today." Guess what? You're probably right.
5. Breathe more deeply.
Breathing deeply calms you down but, more importantly, it helps ensure that plenty of oxygen is getting into your lungs and into your blood stream, where (among other things) it helps your brain work more efficiently.
6. Celebrate more frequently.
The small and large successes and accomplishments in your life deserve recognition. It's a mistake to head straight for the next task or the next goal without celebrating, even if it's only patting yourself on the back.
7. Daydream more frequently.
The idea that daydreaming and working are mutually exclusive belongs back in the 20th century. It's when you let your thoughts wander that you're more likely to have the insights that will make you both unique and more competitive.
8. Decide that you MUST achieve your goals.
When you approach a task that leads toward your goal, never start out by saying, "I'll try…." When you use that phrase, you're giving yourself permission to fail. Instead, phrase your action in terms of "I will…!" or "I must…!" No wiggle room allowed.
9. Define "failure" as "failing to take action."
Regardless of your goals and milestones, you don't have control over anything except your own behavior. Redefining failure as "failing to take action" puts failure (and therefore success) within your control.
10. Deflect partisan conversations
Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."
…keep reading the full & original article HERE