how to be happy?

Many people expect someone else to make them happy or blame others for ruining their happiness. And many wait until they have the perfect mate, ideal job, or a certain amount of money in the bank before they allow for the experience of happiness.

Happiness doesn’t come from anything external; it’s an inside job. Healthy relationships, fulfilling work and constant cash flow can add to one’s happiness, but they don’t cause it; it’s the other way around. Being happy creates a positive attitude which leads to creating and attracting positive experiences in life. Why would a truly happy person attract a negative partner, work in an unfulfilling job or sabotage their finances?

Choosing to be happy is a committed decision. It means letting go of negativity, limiting beliefs, and victimhood mentality, and instead choosing to bring acceptance and joy to every encounter and circumstance.
How to be Happy in Life

Choose to be happy. Try the following suggestions as a way to cultivate inner happiness, which will ripple into the rest of your life.

* Let go of unrealistic expectations and judgments. Expecting yourself, others or situations to fit your ideal is asking for disappointment. And judging yourself or others sucks the happiness right out of life. Practice self-acceptance along with accepting others and circumstances as they are. This will immediately bring relief and allow inner happiness to bubble forth.
* Don’t take things personally. It’s easy to let others bring you down when you take what they say or do personally. Remember that each person has their own story to write and drama to act out, which has more to do with them than anything else.
* Focus on the positive. Every situation has its pros and cons. Focusing on the negative triggers frustration, anger, hopelessness and, over time, even depression. Release negativity, stop worrying, and choose to focus on what’s going well, what’s working, and what you enjoy about another person or situation. This will magnify the positive and attract more of it.
* Let go of victimhood and own your power. Feeling done-by, done-to or just plain done is a form of victimhood where a person gives their power away to others and circumstances. Instead, focus on the lessons and gifts arising from difficult situations and own your power to create the life you want.
* Set your intention to be happy. Setting a goal, deciding on a path and taking action brings a person much closer to what they desire. The same goes for happiness; choosing to be happy, deciding what steps to take, and following through with action will lead to it.

What will you do today, tomorrow and for the rest of your life to be happy? As you develop inner happiness, it will be easier to find external ways to be even happier.

Read more: http://personaldevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_be_happy#ixzz0R74WUd15