True Happiness begins with the here and now

Do you think you’ll be happier after you’ve achieved a particular goal, such as moving into a new house, getting a new job or earning more money? Or do you yearn to be as happy as you were in “the good old days” when your expectations were brighter and your responsibilities lighter?

If either of the above are true, you mistakenly placed a “grass is greener” emphasis on the future or the past – at the expense of enjoying the present.

Happiness is the only sensible goal, not for days gone by or days still to come, but for the here and now. If you end up earning money to splurge on yachts, luxuries and exotic vacations, the pleasure they may bring you will not make up for the years of making them happen – if you were miserable.

Like anything worth having, happiness doesn’t happen accidentally. If you sit around hoping for it to come to you, you’ll have a long wait. If you think it will come to you in some fantasized glorious future, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment – these are the good old days.

Happiness is appreciating what you have, not longing for what you’ve lost or what you hope to attain. Because the past cannot be relived and the future may never happen, the present should always be your priority. If your mind wanders to the past or future all too often, recognize that you may be missing out on immediate happiness. Stop those backward-forwards thoughts and concentrate on making “now” the best it can be.

If your long-term goals demand that you push yourself, ask yourself “Why do I want them?” Would you be happier succeeding with today’s goals, such as job gratification, peace of mind, family contentment or an improved physical appearance?

Make the most of what you already have. Build on whatever attributes and skills you possess and appreciate things you’ve always taken for granted. Happiness may be as simple as making an exciting adventure out of a previously dull routine.

Take care of your body by giving it the nutrition and exercise it deserves. You can’t have genuine happiness either today or tomorrow if your physical machine is run down.

Enjoy happiness yourself by giving it to others. If you make it a habit to give three honest compliments every day, you’ll find that you will get the rebound of cheerful feelings. Few things can be more heartwarming than someone else’s smile that you made happen.

Devise a specific plan for being more observant. Promise yourself to notice something new every day – a tree, a house, a person. So that no detail will elude you, pretend you’re writing a description so complete that your reader will be able to visualize it from your words.

Remember to keep your sense of humor, especially when things go wrong. Laughter’s healing powers make “happy” contagious.

Tranz Talkz puts positive emotional power in your life:

1. Practice joy: Make “down in the dumps” a thing of the past.
2. Practice immediacy: Make it a good day.
3. Practice kindness: Make a point to give three honest compliments a day … and keep score of the results.