Remember, Oscar, he was that green furry thing on Sesame Street that lived in a garbage can. He was always grumpy, no matter what. What Oscar didn’t realize is that he could change. There are just as many ways to be happy as there are to be unhappy. While in some cases, it is not necessarily a matter of choice, the fact that happiness feels better makes it more enticing. If you are down in the dumps, how do you pick yourself up and be happier?

First of all, be grateful for what you do have. Even though it may not be very much, it is yours and it serves a purpose in your life. We all have something to be grateful for. It might be as simple as a nice hot bath or walking by a beautiful display of flowers in the park. If you are blessed with a nice house with lots of things in it, then you have lots to be grateful for. There are lots of big and millions of small things to be grateful for. Take notice and appreciate how your life has progressed. Start a gratitude journal and every evening, write three things that you are grateful for today. Write something new each time, without duplicating any of your entries.

Enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Notice how blue the sky is or how the sun shines through the trees. There is nothing more uplifting than beauty to make your heart sing. Relish the taste of your favorite foods, really notice them. Make a point of wearing your favorite color and notice how it accents your eyes or your skin tone. Make it an important event every day to bring pleasure to yourself and really savor how delightful it feels to be aware of all the wonderful things that surround you.

Be happy with what you have, not what you don’t. Sooner or later you will realize that retail therapy will not make you any happier than you are right now. Buying stuff now will not make up for the credit card bill doldrums at the end of the month.  We live in a consumer driven society where everything we purchase is meant to be used for a short time before it breaks down and is thrown away. We are conditioned to buy, buy, buy, not fix or reuse. If you look in your closet, you will find that you only wear about 20 to 30 percent of what is in there. Maybe you should try to wear something you haven’t worn for a while or put a different accessory with it to give it a new look. Give your kitchen a good scrub so that it sparkles and shines. Have your car detailed so it looks new again. Find ways to make do and be happy with your accomplishments.

Enjoy your passions as fully as you can. Just because you may not have that stellar job that has you bounding out of bed in the morning, doesn’t mean you have to live in a passionless desert. There is always time, even if it is a few minutes here and there to have a quick roller blade around the block or put the finishing touches on that cabinet you just finished building. By living what you are passionate about, you enhance your own happiness and sense of well-being. It’s just fine to be creative in how you weave your passions into your day. After all, bringing meaning and pleasure into your life is what life is all about in the first place. Try writing that poem or knitting the sleeve of that sweater in your coffee or  lunch break. The transit commute to and from work offers possibilities as well.

Eat good mood foods. Eating foods that are high in potassium, magnesium, tryptophan and B vitamins help to smooth out your mood and knock off the jagged edges. Besides eating a nutritionally dense diet where every calorie counts for awesome nutrition, you can add mood boosting foods that tip you into the happiness scale. The Cerra Water is also called  “happy water”since it helps to stabilize moods while balancing the pH. An acidic body creates an acid mind and chaotic thinking while  a balanced alkaline  body means your mind is  tranquil.

When you have things that you look forward to doing because they make you feel good, you will feel happier and more content within yourself. If you don’t seem to be able to find your passion, try listening to music or look up short videos on YouTube. Things that uplift you and make you feel good are important to find. Step outside your comfort zone and go walk dogs at your local animal shelter or join a local square dance club. Hey, if you don’t like it, go try something else. There are millions of things you can do that will turn your green fur yellow, get you out of the garbage can and even put a smile on your face. It’s worth a try, don’t you think?

©Copyright 2010 by Innovative Ionizing  Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved

Posted in Health, Stress

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