As much happiness as you want

Do you remember the song ‘Don't worry, be happy' by Bobby McFerrin? His repetitious words and cheerful tune was an effective way of putting his message of happiness across to everyone who heard it. I am sure that it did work to cheer and lighten the hearts of those who heard it.

Happiness is well worth the effort, it has been proven that those living a happy, irrepressible life with an optimistic outlook can actually have a positive on both your health and the stresses of everyday life. In fact, it has been proven to actually provide some protection against fatal diseases such as the dreaded cancer, strokes, and many diseases of the heart, all diseases of which stress is a contributory factor.

There's always something else around the corner. No matter what happens, there can be comfort in the fact that it will not stay constant forever. A good quote to remember is ‘The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change'. We should embrace the fact that change is a phenomenon that we ourselves do have some control over and can influence negative situations we may find ourselves in.

Humans are sociable animals and social groups and personal relationships have been and always will be essential for survival and happiness. Everyone is different thank goodness, and with acceptance of this comes the ability to discuss rather than argue, and dismiss resentment as it arises. Try to be understanding of the situation and, as has been said before, discuss, don't argue.

Everyone has the natural capacity for happiness, the trick is figuring out how to increase the levels of happiness to gain from its many benefits.

You can choose to be a happy person. Believe it or not, most people can make this choice and can influence how stressed or relaxed, how pessimistic or optimistic, or how happy or depressed they want to be. This is not a new revelation, Abraham Lincoln himself was known to have made this observation. So, make the choice to be happy!

How do I choose to be happy? Read on.

Say thank you. Appreciate little things and let others know they are also appreciated. Say thank you to the chef for a super meal, to the postman when he hands you your letters, the window cleaner. Most importantly, thank god for the sheer honour of being alive.

When do you ever read good news in a newspaper, or see good news on the television? Hardly ever, I am willing to bet. Avoid watching or reading too much of it, particularly in the morning. A does of depressing news isn't the best way to start your day.

Time is your most precious asset. Look after it. Manage it and make sure you build in free time for yourself. You can control time to some extent by planning, making lists, and help avoid stresses by prioritizing important tasks, after which you can tweak and fine tune your schedule for ‘you' time without feeling guilty.

Laugh. Laugh a lot and make others laugh. After all, ‘Laughter is the best medicine and you will feel all the better for it.