Ho-Hum, Hi-Hum

 

If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap clap)
If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap clap)

 

I bet that childhood song has you singing, smiling, and clapping right about now.  Yes, you want to announce to the world that you’re happy as a lark.  Or, are you? 

 

What fills your thoughts?  Unhappy people are out there living ho-hum lives.  They choose to view the glass as half empty and let their negativity get the better of them.  Life is what it is, neither good nor bad; it is how you look at your life that makes all the difference in your happiness. Don’t settle for a ho-hum life.  Choose to live hi-hum.

 

Psychologist Dr. David Niven took thousands of happiness studies and condensed the findings into a book titled The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People.  Several of his secrets follow.
• Accept yourself – unconditionally.  This is not to say that you can not improve your lot in life and continuously grow; it is to acknowledge the fact that you are indeed a valuable person, faults and all.
• Friendship beats money.  Life is not about the money; 70% of personal happiness comes from relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.
• Be open to new ideas.  Never stop learning, reading, and stretching yourself.
• Believe in yourself.  Be your cheerleader.
• Pay attention.  You may have what you want.  Your tendency is to go out and acquire and accumulate more stuff when you already have what is important to you.  More may not be better.  Be grateful for what you have and who you are.
• Do what you say you are going to do.  Walk your talk and be credible.
• Don’t think “what if”.  Thinking about and kicking yourself for what has happened in the past will leave you unhappy. Learn from the past and move on.
• Volunteer.  Volunteers have a purpose and feel good about themselves.
• Exercise.  People who exercise feel better, have more energy, and are healthier and happier.
• It’s not about what happened, it’s how you think about what happened. 
• Make your work a calling.  Have it be an expression of you, not just a job.
• Never trade your morals for your goals.  Honor your values as you live.
• Events are temporary.  Remember that “this too shall pass”.  It always does.
• Do things you are good at.  Recognize your strengths and use them to your advantage.  Do ask for help when you are struggling.
• Smile.  It’s contagious.
• You always have a choice.
• Don’t ignore one part of your life.  Life is better when all the pieces are balanced.
• Listen to music.  Great music does wonders for your mood.
• Don’t forget to have fun.  Be silly, laugh, and play.
• Reminisce.  Remembering past times of happiness brings the happiness to the present.
• Be conscientious.  Care about what you are doing and do it right.  Feel the sense of accomplishment.
• Enjoy the ordinary.  Take pleasure in the moment no matter how mundane it is.
• Focus on what really matters to you.  Why chase after the unimportant?
• Help the next person who needs some minor assistance.  Giving is a win-win.
• Accomplish something every day. 
• Be positive.  Exude optimism.  No one wants to be around a sourpuss.

 

How many of the above secrets do you recognize in yourself?  Put your glass on the table and take a close look.  Is it half empty or half full?  You have a choice as to how you view your glass and how you lead your life.  It’s up to you.  When you wake up in the morning, choose to be happy and enjoy the day.  Live HI-HUM! 

“Happiness is a daily decision.”
 Andrew Matthews

 

“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”
 Hugh Downs

 

Writing of happiness, joy, and fun leads me to share with you the eight irresistible principles of fun created by a colleague of mine. (www.eightprinciples.com)  Michael Bungay Stanier is a professional keynote speaker and author of the best selling coaching tool, Get Unstuck & Get Going….on the stuff that matters (www.getunstuckandgetgoing.com).  A certified coach and Rhodes Scholar, he works with teams and organizations to help them get unstuck and get going on the stuff that matters.  This short movie has taken the internet by storm. Turn up your speakers and click HERE for a real treat. Enjoy!

I’ve been guilty of choosing sadness and having pity parties way too often.  Once I got into that pattern it was easy to settle in and difficult to find a way out.  But as I’ve said before, “this too shall pass” and it does, although sometimes way longer than I would have liked.  I’ve learned a lot over the last few years; I now find myself on a more even keel, balancing on the beam often, and picking myself up more readily when I tumble.  Life sure flows and is more enjoyable these days when I make that conscious decision to choose happiness.  It is a daily decision and I remind myself of it every morning when I wake up and many times throughout the day.

 

Life is a gift and it is too short to be miserable.  I seek out the joy present in the world and check myself off on the secrets presented above.  I have much to be grateful for: my family, friends, career, and my home, to name a few.  I view my glass as full, with room to top it off.  That’s my choice!

 

Speaking of fun, two more of my favorite TV programs start their season this week. (I really don’t watch that much TV, just my four favorites.)  24 is an action packed show, and Kiefer Sutherland is an awesome Jack Bauer. He packs more action into 24 hours than anyone I know.   I’ve been watching since season one and it keeps getting better and better.  It will leave you riveted.  This week also marks the start of American Idol.  Yes, I enjoy all the singing and the antics and it is fun entertainment.  Simon does have a way of telling it like it is (reality check).  Thank goodness for TIVO – more joy.

 

Have a great week and choose to be happy.

 

Stephanie

 

FORWARD to your friends and colleagues.