Tips for Happiness

I needed, or felt I needed, to be encouraging to someone this morning, as she asked me for advice. It’s challenging to be optimistic when you or someone is going through a tremendously discouraging time in their life! Advice can be dangerous – because it is often rejected – so I do tread lightly sometimes. Instead of advice, I gave a few tips. I like tips! Little nuggets. Simple things. You can carry them around in your mental pocket all day – and incorporate them if you want to.

It is human nature not to feel happy 24/7 – but we can do things to help propel us forward. To keep going! It’s good not to get stuck in a mental or spiritual rut!

Here are some quick tips in random order:

1)    Play your favorite Christian song as loudly as possible – and sing along! If you’re at the office right now…use good judgment on the volume level. But we know that music can lift our spirits and bless our soul even when we don’t feel particularly joyful.

2)    Call someone you love. Hearing someone’s voice cannot always be substituted in text or email. Refrain from negative conversation. Just offer a quick “Hi – wanted you to know I love you,” moment.

3)    When you spend time in God’s Word today, or this week, ask Him to help you identify the people who are holding you down. Discouraging you. Distracting you. You probably know who they are already! Then start asking for help, from HIM, in letting them go, to a healthy point.

4)    Smile at someone you don’t know. Greet them with a smile. You’ll probably make them smile, which will really make you smile inside.

5)    Read your favorite Bible passage 3 times – at different times throughout the day.

6)    Accept the things you cannot change…the good, bad, and the ugly. There’s a reason this Serenity Prayer is a theme in AA and other addiction groups.

7)    Understand that most often, WE are or own worst critic. Imperfections allow you to experience God’s grace. To recognize our own humanity is to better understand God’s divinity.

8)    And last but not least…Talk to Jesus. He will comfort you, heal you, guide you, and bless you. Knowing Him within your heart is to know the true meaning of joy. Real happiness. 

Take your thoughts back to the time in your life when you accepted Him as your

personal Savior. Those memories WILL remind you of happy times! Probably one

of the VERY BEST days of your entire life, if not the best...

Look UP my friends!