It may feel seeking happiness is a bit selfish. But it is not.  Being happy puts you in a place that allows you to show your best side to your loved ones. It makes a real difference in our relationships. I am sure many of you have heard the old saying, “If Mama ain’t happy, nobody is happy.” Well there may be some truth to that. Of course this saying includes Dads as well.  It is hard to be with someone who is not happy. And if the “not happy feelings” are more long-term they can affect others wanting to spend time with you, thus disrupting your relationship. In addition, children model their parents, so if you are modeling being unhappy, you may find your children follow this path. So taking time to be happy is a good thing for you and your family.

Ways to bring more happiness into your life and in turn to your loved ones. 

• Check in with yourself and see if you feel you are doing what you want to do with your life. We all want to feel we have a purpose for our lives. This may be different at different stages of our lives. So be flexible with your thinking on this one.
• Decide to find happiness in the NOW. Waiting until a particular thing happens or changes steals your opportunity to be happy at the present time. Yes we may need to make changes, but finding the things that we are currently grateful for can put us on the road to happiness in the present moment.
• Keep a daily  ‘gratitude journal’, listing 3-5 things a day that you are grateful or glad about. 
• Hang with Happy People. We are affected by those around us. When we choose to spend most of our time with others who are happy we begin to feel more happy too.
• Make a list of things you love to do.  Include these things as regularly in your life as possible. You deserve it!
• Acknowledge and honor your unhappy feelings, with then coming to a place where you can CHOOSE to BE HAPPY.  Use of positive self talk and affirmations that promote these happy feelings that you want to have can be a big help in this process.
• Talk to others when you feel happy. As humans we tend to be drawn to wanting to talk about what is making us unhappy. When we choose to talk more about what makes us happy, we get more of those feelings.

Being happy is not just for you, it is for your loved ones and those around you. Best wishes in your path to finding the happiness you were created to have.