#17: Live within your means
Life was intended to be simple.
There is nothing much beyond adequate shelter, food, water and warmth that you need to survive.
Work with what you have and be disciplined. Don't live beyond your present resource.
Take care of the essentials first.
Don't be tempted to try and keep up with Jones's.
Tip: Get back to basics
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #16
#16: Live without restriction
The freedom to live your life the way you want is the pinnacle of happiness.
Enjoy yourself. Try new things. Step out of your comfort zone. Learn something new.
Life begins when you move beyond the boundaries you place on yourself.
Don't approach your twilight years thinking 'what if.'
Tip: Live as you mean to
The freedom to live your life the way you want is the pinnacle of happiness.
Enjoy yourself. Try new things. Step out of your comfort zone. Learn something new.
Life begins when you move beyond the boundaries you place on yourself.
Don't approach your twilight years thinking 'what if.'
Tip: Live as you mean to
Sunday, 27 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #15
#15: Healthy relationships
Healthy relationships are about honour, dignity and respect for one another.
Regardless of the differing levels of intimacy from any one relationship to the next; spousal, parent to child, colleague to colleague for example, these basic principles should permeate throughout them all.
Healthy relationships uphold all three principles and each adds value to the other; they are liberating and ultimately mould us to our best.
Check the health of your relationship(s) regularly and look for warning signs.
Tip: If it feels wrong, it probably is.
Healthy relationships are about honour, dignity and respect for one another.
Regardless of the differing levels of intimacy from any one relationship to the next; spousal, parent to child, colleague to colleague for example, these basic principles should permeate throughout them all.
Healthy relationships uphold all three principles and each adds value to the other; they are liberating and ultimately mould us to our best.
Check the health of your relationship(s) regularly and look for warning signs.
Tip: If it feels wrong, it probably is.
The secrets to happiness: #14
#14: Get lots of rest
This is a hard one to master but worth every second.
Our ability to perform at our best relies heavily on this.
Although the benefits are widely known sleep is still grossly undervalued, readily substituted for deadlines, reports, assignments; the list goes on and on.
Many of us are familiar with the wonderful feeling of being well rested and the increased productivity that comes with it.
The trick is being organised so you're not always chasing your tail.
Your bodies need time to regenerate, rebuild and repair and these things can only be done properly when you sleep.
Who knew you could do so much with your eyes closed!
Tip: Rest as hard as you work
This is a hard one to master but worth every second.
Our ability to perform at our best relies heavily on this.
Although the benefits are widely known sleep is still grossly undervalued, readily substituted for deadlines, reports, assignments; the list goes on and on.
Many of us are familiar with the wonderful feeling of being well rested and the increased productivity that comes with it.
The trick is being organised so you're not always chasing your tail.
Your bodies need time to regenerate, rebuild and repair and these things can only be done properly when you sleep.
Who knew you could do so much with your eyes closed!
Tip: Rest as hard as you work
Saturday, 26 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #13
#13: Get physical
It is so important to keep our stress levels in check, particularly if we work in high stress environments and what better way to do it than to exercise.
There are so many options these days there's really no excuse.
Do what you can to take the edge off life but don't be wreckless.
Draining away toxic energy is vital and you'll find life always looks a little different after.
Don't bring your rubbish home and dump it unfairly on others; just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should.
Tip: Stay active
It is so important to keep our stress levels in check, particularly if we work in high stress environments and what better way to do it than to exercise.
There are so many options these days there's really no excuse.
Do what you can to take the edge off life but don't be wreckless.
Draining away toxic energy is vital and you'll find life always looks a little different after.
Don't bring your rubbish home and dump it unfairly on others; just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should.
Tip: Stay active
Thursday, 24 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #12
#12: Stay in touch with friends
Friends are an extension of your inner self and can be a great asset. Not only can they provide a regular outlet when you need one but also a reality check when you think you don't.
Keep in contact. It takes effort to stay in each others lives.
Be in for the long haul but be fair and share the load.
True friendship will see you through everything; love, loss, birth, death, success, failures and just about everything in between.
So if you're ever fortunate enough to find someone like this, treasure them.
Finding someone of the same heart, other than your spouse/partner is like a light in the darkness especially when you've lost your way; they sit amongst the few people in your life who can mirror back to you the person you know yourself to be. So take good care of them. You never know when you might need them.
Tip: Don't be picky about when you're available
Friends are an extension of your inner self and can be a great asset. Not only can they provide a regular outlet when you need one but also a reality check when you think you don't.
Keep in contact. It takes effort to stay in each others lives.
Be in for the long haul but be fair and share the load.
True friendship will see you through everything; love, loss, birth, death, success, failures and just about everything in between.
So if you're ever fortunate enough to find someone like this, treasure them.
Finding someone of the same heart, other than your spouse/partner is like a light in the darkness especially when you've lost your way; they sit amongst the few people in your life who can mirror back to you the person you know yourself to be. So take good care of them. You never know when you might need them.
Tip: Don't be picky about when you're available
The secrets to happiness: #11
#11: Stick with it
Set yourself some lofty goals and go for it but when you do, make sure it's with every intention to see it through. There's nothing more damaging to the soul than all the things left undone and nothing more annoying than people who just talk.
Be a person of integrity.
Always finish what you start; you don't want to go through your entire life always looking back over your shoulder.
Tip: Stay focused
Set yourself some lofty goals and go for it but when you do, make sure it's with every intention to see it through. There's nothing more damaging to the soul than all the things left undone and nothing more annoying than people who just talk.
Be a person of integrity.
Always finish what you start; you don't want to go through your entire life always looking back over your shoulder.
Tip: Stay focused
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #10
#10: Take care of yourself
Hobbies, interests and causes are a great investment of our time and there are many reasons why people do them. They not only give us a place to escape from the world but an opportunity to rechannel some energy inwards.
With so much going on, life has a tendency to pull out of us more energy than we have time to replace.
Recharge your batteries regularly by finding time to do something just for you.
Tip: Balance energy out, with energy in.
Hobbies, interests and causes are a great investment of our time and there are many reasons why people do them. They not only give us a place to escape from the world but an opportunity to rechannel some energy inwards.
With so much going on, life has a tendency to pull out of us more energy than we have time to replace.
Recharge your batteries regularly by finding time to do something just for you.
Tip: Balance energy out, with energy in.
Monday, 21 March 2011
The secrets to happiness:#9
#9: Think for yourself
It is easy to succumb to 'pack mentality,' 'group think,' and 'majority rules' if you're a person who is easily lead! If you're not, you already know the importance of acquiring some level of analysis on any given situation, independant of what others think.
The value of having your own thoughts and opinions often means you are less likely to be influenced by 'what the people say.' Although you may very well still come up with the same conclusions, there is satisfaction that you've arrived on your own merits. Now that doesnt mean you need to have an opinion on everything, but it's okay to have your own opinions on some things.
Tip: Don't sell out on yourself
It is easy to succumb to 'pack mentality,' 'group think,' and 'majority rules' if you're a person who is easily lead! If you're not, you already know the importance of acquiring some level of analysis on any given situation, independant of what others think.
The value of having your own thoughts and opinions often means you are less likely to be influenced by 'what the people say.' Although you may very well still come up with the same conclusions, there is satisfaction that you've arrived on your own merits. Now that doesnt mean you need to have an opinion on everything, but it's okay to have your own opinions on some things.
Tip: Don't sell out on yourself
Sunday, 20 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #8
#8: Slow down
It can be a real struggle to keep up with the unyielding demands of everyday life.
The pace is so much faster; the stakes higher. It is important however not to lose yourself in your quest(s).
Give yourself permission to take a breather. You are human after all.
Remember there are many roads that will lead to whatever it is you seek and all the time in the world to get there. You set the limits.
Choose the road that gives up the least of what matters to you.
Don't destroy everything around you just to arrive.
Tip: Push pause and take stock.
It can be a real struggle to keep up with the unyielding demands of everyday life.
The pace is so much faster; the stakes higher. It is important however not to lose yourself in your quest(s).
Give yourself permission to take a breather. You are human after all.
Remember there are many roads that will lead to whatever it is you seek and all the time in the world to get there. You set the limits.
Choose the road that gives up the least of what matters to you.
Don't destroy everything around you just to arrive.
Tip: Push pause and take stock.
Friday, 18 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #7
#7: Laugh uncontrollably
Not only has laughing already been proven to be good for your health, but it can help others to get well.
Being around people who laugh all the time and enjoy themselves is contagious. We've all had moments where we've been bitten by the laughing bug of someone else so overcome by something hilarious that we too have begun laughing uncontrollably not even knowing what we're laughing about half the time.
That part is usually irrelevant anyway but the feeling of enjoyment isn't.
Have fun with life.
Tip: Don't take yourself too seriously
Not only has laughing already been proven to be good for your health, but it can help others to get well.
Being around people who laugh all the time and enjoy themselves is contagious. We've all had moments where we've been bitten by the laughing bug of someone else so overcome by something hilarious that we too have begun laughing uncontrollably not even knowing what we're laughing about half the time.
That part is usually irrelevant anyway but the feeling of enjoyment isn't.
Have fun with life.
Tip: Don't take yourself too seriously
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #6
#6: Learn to let go
In pursuit of happiness it is important to know what to keep and what to discard.
Some things we hold on to are not worth the value we place in them.
Remove all the clutter around you; physically, emotionally, spiritually. That means people too. The challenge in doing this is that its brutal but some people really don't add any more value to your life.
Trust your instincts when they tell you its not worth the effort.
Tip: Clear out often.
In pursuit of happiness it is important to know what to keep and what to discard.
Some things we hold on to are not worth the value we place in them.
Remove all the clutter around you; physically, emotionally, spiritually. That means people too. The challenge in doing this is that its brutal but some people really don't add any more value to your life.
Trust your instincts when they tell you its not worth the effort.
Tip: Clear out often.
The secrets to happiness: #5
#5: Own your own baggage
To come to a place where we are even aware of what we hold on to from our past is not easy at all.
I think of it like peeling an onion. The closer you get to the source, the harder the work becomes as you fight to control the tears. As the layers keep coming off and we are faced with our own truths, our own realities, we don't often like what we see. There is always tempatation to look for the easy way out which usually means we aint dealing with jack!
It takes courage to work through your own issues and backbone to persevere because we know that going to the source means pain, but without it there is no road to healing.
Sadly some may never feel the need to take that journey and it is they who will continue to manipulate and punish others unfairly for their own past hurts.
Tip: Start peeling those onions!
To come to a place where we are even aware of what we hold on to from our past is not easy at all.
I think of it like peeling an onion. The closer you get to the source, the harder the work becomes as you fight to control the tears. As the layers keep coming off and we are faced with our own truths, our own realities, we don't often like what we see. There is always tempatation to look for the easy way out which usually means we aint dealing with jack!
It takes courage to work through your own issues and backbone to persevere because we know that going to the source means pain, but without it there is no road to healing.
Sadly some may never feel the need to take that journey and it is they who will continue to manipulate and punish others unfairly for their own past hurts.
Tip: Start peeling those onions!
Monday, 14 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #4
#4: Know your own limitations
Set limits for everything; life, friendships, careers, intimate relationships.
Ask yourself, how far will you go? How far will you let someone else go?
It is wise to know the limits of your input but also to know the limits you will allow others to input into your life. Ponder this in the broadest spectrum of both positive and negative.
Tip: Know when to walk away.
Set limits for everything; life, friendships, careers, intimate relationships.
Ask yourself, how far will you go? How far will you let someone else go?
It is wise to know the limits of your input but also to know the limits you will allow others to input into your life. Ponder this in the broadest spectrum of both positive and negative.
Tip: Know when to walk away.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #3
#3: Invest in the happiness of others
A kind word, thought or gesture can have long lasting effects with the same true of the opposite.
A simple act of kindness is an investment that costs nothing but pays forward, with dividends returned in kind; it's the gift that keeps on giving.
The investment I'm talking about is in people and simply requires time, heart and compassion, without expectation.
Deposit this in your bank and watch how those you've invested in will grow.
Tip: Give some to get some.
A kind word, thought or gesture can have long lasting effects with the same true of the opposite.
A simple act of kindness is an investment that costs nothing but pays forward, with dividends returned in kind; it's the gift that keeps on giving.
The investment I'm talking about is in people and simply requires time, heart and compassion, without expectation.
Deposit this in your bank and watch how those you've invested in will grow.
Tip: Give some to get some.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #2
#2: Live with purpose
So much of our time is wasted on pointless meandering in the absence of any real sense of direction. If you're anything like me, I'm not a big fan of wasting time.
One of the biggest time wasters is worry and it's usually over things we have no power to control.
Find some meaningful purpose in your life and live for it. Rid yourself of everything else that does not bring you happiness, otherwise you will try to control it.
Tip: Find purpose = Find meaning.
So much of our time is wasted on pointless meandering in the absence of any real sense of direction. If you're anything like me, I'm not a big fan of wasting time.
One of the biggest time wasters is worry and it's usually over things we have no power to control.
Find some meaningful purpose in your life and live for it. Rid yourself of everything else that does not bring you happiness, otherwise you will try to control it.
Tip: Find purpose = Find meaning.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
The secrets to happiness: #1
#1: Discover who you are
Now many people will probably be thinking...omg not another cliched writer wanting to fill our heads with these all inspiring quick fix remedies to fulfillment. Thankfully I'm not one of those people; atleast i hope not.
In pursuit of my own happiness it became apparent at a young age that ultimately the journey would begin at ground zero. Easy as it may sound, many who have embarked on this journey know that this it never quite the case. Self discovery is a gradual process greatly influenced by circumstance and your experience of the world up until that point. Lessons about ourselves are often learned in the way we've responded and in the way we hope to be able to respond in future.
Tip: Cultivate your ability to reflect on the how's and why's of your thought processes/responses/actions.
This may help you to gain better insight into to where you've come from and where you want to be going.
Now many people will probably be thinking...omg not another cliched writer wanting to fill our heads with these all inspiring quick fix remedies to fulfillment. Thankfully I'm not one of those people; atleast i hope not.
In pursuit of my own happiness it became apparent at a young age that ultimately the journey would begin at ground zero. Easy as it may sound, many who have embarked on this journey know that this it never quite the case. Self discovery is a gradual process greatly influenced by circumstance and your experience of the world up until that point. Lessons about ourselves are often learned in the way we've responded and in the way we hope to be able to respond in future.
Tip: Cultivate your ability to reflect on the how's and why's of your thought processes/responses/actions.
This may help you to gain better insight into to where you've come from and where you want to be going.
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