Staying Happy in an Unhappy Time

There is no doubt that the present recession can cause many to forget what life is all about and ultimately some unrest with their life and situation but there are a number of things that you can do to improve your life and your level of happiness. And it all starts with realizing that in all likelihood the situation that you may be in that causes your unhappiness will not go on forever, that there is an end. Not all problems can be solved today and it isn't healthy to worry yourself sick over something that can be changed right away. There are a few simple ways to clear your mind and worry about each days ups and downs rather than everything all at once.

One way to increase your happiness is to get up every morning and decide that your going to make that day a good day. It shouldn't matter what yesterday was like and you shouldn't always be worrying about what tomorrow will be like either. By concentrating on the day that is beginning you can put those days you don't want to think about in the back of your mind and think about all that you can do to make this day so good that it makes up for the last bad day you had or even the one you think you're going to have.

Another way to improve your happiness is to not let the small things bother you so much. Do you ever go into a grocery store and get excessively frustrated over that person in the line taking to long to dig out exact change, or the person that brings up an item with no tag and you have to wait for a price check? Well, next time try to find something to occupy your time while your waiting. Take the time to make a mental to-do list or to brainstorm for a project you may have coming up, but most of think about that person and what kind of day they might be having. Sometimes that person you get so frustrated with is having a worse day than yourself, and besides is it really worth ruining your day over standing in line a few extra minutes?

Finally, one of the easiest ways to improve your happiness is to improve your perception of yourself. Those that love themselves often find the greatest happiness in life and will find it much easier to get over life's little speed bumps. There are a number of factors that contribute to our perceptions of ourselves and they shouldn't all have to do with the way we look. The way we feel is the most important contributer to how we look at ourselves. Getting the right exercise and eating the right diet can drastically change how we feel about ourselves. Many people do not even recognize the guilt that they feel by blowing off exercise and healthy eating because they have gotten so used to it but paying attention to this not so small detail can really make a difference in someones life.

Paying attention to these few simple things can put you on the road to true happiness even during a time when happiness has become a rare commodity.