6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

Razarr69 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:34:24 GMT

I find that I can be happy in almost any set of circumstances. Drives my wife nuts. I don't worry about anything. $50,000 in debt? No worry. You make the changes you can and then forget about it. I'm not saying don't prepare, but once you have done what you can to remedy a situation, what will further though & worry do to make the situation any better? Nothing. But it will negatively impact your outlook, mood, happiness level, and ultimately your health.

So I go without worry. I figured that out as a kid. Of course I still consider myself a kid, so that doesn't say much. So lets see, in the Middle School / High School era of my life I figured that out.

Your thought patterns influence your health and the energy around you. If you expect to find a thing, you most likely will. Maybe I am just blind to the 'downer' things around me, but I'm more happy because of it. Course, I could be an airhead too! This concept goes hand in hand with 'The Secret' and that other movie that goes into you manifesting your reality. I don't think that either of those cover your entire existance, but they do hold some truth. My wife cringes when someone mentions it. But I still see her making statements of the same sort to our 6 yr. ould, "If you think you are going to be picked on at school, then you will." I agree. If you feel like a victem, you will be victimized. Ignore the fools around you and be happy. I know I do.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

Xen — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:23:50 GMT

This important idea of happiness is is well documented in a movie called "The Secret" which goes into the scientific, and quantum aspects..oh well happiness is all in your head.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

arliej — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:46:45 GMT

A very good article, I wish more people would believe in it. This world would be a much better place for all.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

Mary_Ascher — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:50:34 GMT

I don't know whether you'd say I'm pretty or not, but I'm pretty happy, because my husband does the cooking (and the dishes!) (;-0)

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

7thgirl — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:37:48 GMT

Anyone who has ever been clinically depressed and unable to function will tell you that it's at LEAST 50% chemical. Positive thinking can only get you so far.

Until science (meaning nutrition more than drugs) figures a way to stem the flow of the "negative" hormones/chemicals through our brain real depression is here to stay.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

INKY DINKY — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:03:15 GMT

It's obvious, to me, that empty lives sit around thinking about whether or not they are happy. There is so much that is not right in this world and SO MANY suffering from the consequences... if one finds himself with an abundance of happiness, maybe it is time to look outside yourself!

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

xenogenex — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:40:28 GMT

I agree somewhat with JPValdez26 on points 1. and 2., although mostly on semantics. Instead of "Accept Yourself" at all times I prefer "Accept Yourself where you are and once you have done that focus on how to always improve one step at a time." It also helps to divide your happiness into areas and do one little thing to improve each area at a time. And don't forget that the number one reason that Americans are so much unhappier than other cultures is our materialism and debt, so accepting yourself as materialistic and perpetually debt driven is probably not literally what you should do, is it?

All of the steps are crucial but I might also add an idea from The Art of Living - Avoid attachments to material things, for everything you have now there was once a time when you did not have it. And when you lose things - like money or your job - do not fret, they have simply gone back to where they were before you had them.

Someone once said to me after losing his job "Before I had this job I didn't have a job." What a great attitude? You don't have to dwell a single second on loss, just keep looking forward with a positive attitude.

But then where does debt come into play? Debt is really a poisonous negative arbitrage that exists when loss and gain are separated from each other in an unhealthy way. You can gain something of value along with debt but the value may shrink and the debt almost always increases unless you give up a great amount to end the debt. The entire cycle creates more angst than most people need to struggle with so to really be happy we have to admit that we are not as wealthy as we seem and that we have to wait much longer to have material things in a healthy, happy way instead of through debt.

Finally the really good news is noticing that all of the things that bring us true happiness cost us almost nothing! Especially sunshine and exercise!

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

hoolagirl — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:07:58 GMT

Thoughts and feelings are energy. You are what you think about, so choose carefully. If you're feeling down, don't expect to immediately feel better, but you can get there. To start, find a better feeling thought. Imagine scenarios that make you happy, remember good experiences. Before you know it, you will feel better, keep at it and you will start manifesting those good thoughts, but it isn't about what you manifest, it is about how you feel. Self-entertainment is everything! Try to suspend disbelief. Imagine good health, imagine world peace. That is why prayer works. Prayer Changes the one who prays.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

LuvToSki — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:47:55 GMT

Someone told me once "If you want to believe in something, believe in yourself, that will make you happy. And - getting more sunshine and taking Mercola‘s advice.

I am happy because I make myself that way.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

jpvaldez26 — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:16:00 GMT

Hi. I have an almost totally diverse idea on the first two strategies. The others seems great and the most important of all for me is gratitude. The strategies I don't agree are:

1-Accept yourself - I think it can only bring about deception and lack of attunement with our inner being or superego. My proposal is that we catch each oportunity to change as joy and we never be satisfied till we achive the higher ideal in our hearts about what we must be and what we must do.

2- Happiness is a state of mind - For me this can be true if well understood where mind is and according to oriental philosophy the mind is in the heart (this is also my opinion). Of course I recognize the brain's essential functon to outpicture that mind. But for me mind starts in other place.To fortify the mind just by an exercise of thought without fortifying the heart by meditation and prayer it's like trying to drive a car without fuel. It won't work. So happyness is a state of heart for me and should be regarded as so.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

HealthCoachSandraG — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:10:17 GMT

There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

CSR — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:40:07 GMT

I'm living proof of the efficacy of these strategies. I've spent the majority of my nearly 26 years of life depressed and troubled after some early incidents during my childhood. I stopped eating at a young age, put myself deep into school and other activities just to avoid how I was feeling, and I also entered some unhealthy relationships. It wasn't until I had a major realization that things wouldn't change for me unless I took care of myself and began viewing the world and interpreting my experiences in a more positive light. Today, I'm thriving, and can honestly say that I've never felt happier, slept better, and been healthier. I also have a wonderful significant with whom I have a healthy, stable, and loving relationship. I'm really lucky, and certainly Mercola.com has been a big part of that.

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

shaneperrone — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:49:03 GMT

I stay happy fairly easily, even when i almost got hit by a car i was
still pretty happy... same with when i got 2nd degree burns on my legs
from making pancakes for my brother and parents... or when i got 2nd
degree burns on my foot from hot cement... still was happy :P maybe i'm
weird, or just happy :)

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

Dekalb — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 16:14:32 GMT

All of that is true, but also as Jimmy Soul said in that song back in the 60's...
"If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life never make a pretty woman your wife, an ugly woman cooks meals on time, she'll always give you piece of mind."

re: 6 Simple Strategies to Stay Happy

PepperR23 — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:13:25 GMT

I felt that the statement, "An unhealthy body cannot be the home of a happy mind." rings true for most of us. I have learned to experience a deep sense of inner joy and peace as my body has been in the process of healing itself with the help of Dr. Mercola and Vital Voters sharing of great articles and true life experiences. I can not thank all of you enough, for without the knowlege that I have gained here, I would still be living with daily pain and deep despair!