10 top steps to extra happiness

There are many roads to happiness – simple and complex, short and long, fleeting and longer lasting. We can use happiness formulas, try different ways of life, or start new habits.

Allan K. Chalmers said: “The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

Howard C. Cutler wrote that: “…Determination, effort and time. These are the real secrets to happiness.”

I say that purpose, positivity and passion are three pathways to extra happiness.

Read my list below for more positive power paths to happiness, all centered around the theme of the letter P. Why P? Why not?!

1. Pursue the habits of happy people. There are many of them, some of which are in this list.
2. Passion – pursue past times, hobbies and jobs that we are passionate about, and make our hearts sing.
   “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
   – Oprah Winfrey
3. Purpose – have a purpose in life. We are all alive for a reason.
   “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.”
   – Robert F. Kennedy
   “Every job from the heart is, ultimately, of equal value. The nurse injects the syringe; the writer slides the pen; the farmer plows the dirt; the comedian draws the laughter. Monetary income is the perfect deceiver of a man’s true worth.”
   – Criss Jami
4. People – be around positive people. Make time to be with uplifting people who boost our spirits.
5. Praise – praise ourselves and others for jobs well done. Everyone wants to feel that they did a good job, and they are appreciated.
6. Persist and persevere through problems. Life is constantly changing. Tough times can pass. It’s how we deal with tough times that makes or breaks us.
   “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.”
   – Thomas Edison
7. Help – get help if we need it. To survive – and thrive – we rely on others for food, health care, emotional support, and all the other necessities of life.
8. Appreciate – appreciate the positive things in our lives. Write a list of the things we are grateful for, and read the list often. An attitude of gratitude enhances happiness.
   “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
   – Abraham Lincoln
9. Put in the time to gain extra happiness. Like any goal we want to achieve in life, being happier takes time and effort.
10. Positive – have a positive attitude. Think, talk and be positive!
    “Get going. Move forward. Aim high. Plan a takeoff. Don’t just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won’t happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you’ll love it up here.”
    – Donald Trump

written by Nyomi Graef