Ten Steps to Happiness

We all wish to experience happiness but there’s no happiness without action. Here are some steps for achieving it.
1. Set intentions and goals- people who are proactive and focused on setting attainable goals and achieving them are happier than people who are passive about their life, waiting for happiness to come from the outside.
2. Keep active- people who keep physical, take good care of themselves, and maintain a healthy lifestyle are better off as a healthy body keeps the mind healthy and vice versa.
3. Rest- getting a sufficient amount of sleep every night, and taking short vacations from time to time allow our body, mind, and soul to rejuvenate. When we’re stress-free, we feel energized and we function better.
4. Think positively- teaching ourselves some better habits, and reframing our narrative are ways to show love and compassion to ourselves. Also, feeling gratitude for what we already have, lets us live with optimism and with joie de vivre (joy of living).
5. Control social media- limiting our TV watching to about an hour a day, distancing ourselves from negativity and violence around us, and not wasting precious time on social media allows us to engage in entertaining activities and have more fun. Activities such as playing games, going to the movies or to the theatre, or participating in a new hobby.
6. Humor- see the lighter side of things in life and even learn to poke fun at ourselves. Watch funny movies, go to a comedy club, and read funny books with a witty sense of humor.
7. Enjoy friends and family- having trustworthy relatives and close supportive friends makes us feel good. Set boundaries with people who take advantage of you. Weed out all toxic people and situations that no longer serve you or don’t encourage you in your vision. It’s okay not to be loved by all and please everyone. Treasure the people that make you feel special and happy.
8. Find joy- on those days we need to feel better, rather than binge on a bucket of ice cream to find solace, join a meditation or mindfulness class, or just go for a walk in nature to spiritually connect to yourself for inner peace and clarity.
9. Do good deeds- when we give of ourselves, either donating our money, and talent or volunteering our time, we connect with the rest of the world and get true satisfaction and tremendous joy in return.
10. Self-confidence- coming full circle to rule number one when we set goals, no matter how small, steps we take toward achieving them make us believe in ourselves. We deal with any problems that may arise fearlessly, fight self-doubts and all the nay-sayers, learn from our mistakes, and make them our motivation for our success, to see ourselves as winners. When we live to the best of our capabilities and full potential, we recognize our true value and strength. Confidence is the engine that keeps us moving.
Alan Cohen summed it up best:” Be happy with what you have. Be excited about what you want.”
We find joy, fulfillment, and happiness in the ways we live our lives, so we don’t just live to survive, rather, we truly live and thrive.
Naomi Young is a published writer and multimedia artist. She’s been a Bar/ Bat mitzvah and Jewish studies teacher in Santa Clarita for 40 years. Contact her at naomiyoung7@yahoo.com Visit her website at www.naomiyoung.com.