Category: HACK 201-301

None of us know what the future holds, but if you can remain optimistic about the future and your ability to accomplish your goals, then you will be happier. Surround yourself with people who nurture and support your optimism. Having a naysayer in your life who constantly tries to redirect you away from your goals or make you feel embarrassed about them will only tarnish your outlook. Nurture positive relationships with people who help lift you up. 

If you are experiencing obstacles to happiness and you can’t figure out how to overcome those obstacles, a life coach might be able to help you. Life coaches can help you evaluate your life and determine what you’re not happy about. Maybe you are sabotaging your own happiness without even realizing it! Talking with a life coach can help you discover what you can do better (or stop doing) so that you can live a happier life. 

We all screw up. The secret to being able to handle life’s stumbles is to forgive yourself. You’ll encounter setbacks, and when you do, you should not give up or become despondent—instead, tackle the setbacks. If you are doing the right thing most of the time, then you are doing pretty well. No one can make it through life without a few stumbles along the way, so forgive yourself for having made those errors and move on. 

This may seem like a contrary statement considering all the advice in this book about focusing on the good in life, but when you are faced with a frightening or anxiety-riddled situation and you cannot force yourself to find the good in it, some- times the best plan is to focus on the worst outcome. Figure out the very worst thing that could happen as a result of the situation and think about how badly things could go (in detail). In most cases, you’re going to discover that your anxiety about the situation is exaggerated. 

Each night after dinner, write down five good things that happened to you during the day. Most people are tired after a long day at work and can tend to drift toward the negative, but by doing this exercise, you can redirect your mood toward the things that are going well and thus increase your positivity. Pause for a few minutes to write down the things that went just the way you’d planned or perhaps some small surprises during the day that put a smile on your face. Writing down these gratitudes may sound trivial, but journaling this way has been proven to reduce stress and redirect people out of negative cycles. 

All too often, we hide ourselves behind a mask of who we think we are supposed to be. Stop censoring your life and say what you really think! Don’t worry about what other people may think of you. Of course, don’t hurl hate at other people—rather, just don’t be afraid to say what you feel about yourself and your desires. Don’t con- cern yourself about whether or not others are going to like your opinions or thoughts. They can have their own opinions on the matter. Feel free to express yourself the way you like, without concern for other people’s desires. 

There is so much to experience and learn about in life! You can’t help but be in awe of the world and its wonders. Be curious and explore. Never stop questioning why things are a certain way. Learn something new, read something new, try something new. Never lose your curiosity about life. 

Moderation may work in some cases, but if something is not bringing you joy, why are you keeping it around? Get rid of anything that robs you of happiness. And don’t get rid of it gradually—get rid of it cold turkey. Make a list of things that zap your energy, slow you down, or leave you feeling guilty or remorseful, and then simply cut them out of your life. That may not be easy to do, but your increased joy and feelings of well-being will be worth it. 

If you finish your most difficult task first, then the rest of your day will be easier and more productive. As humans, we tend to procrastinate and put off the things we don’t want to do, but if you can get the things you dread out of the way first, you won’t be anxious. That lack of anxiety will greatly improve your day. 

When you are engaged in a heated argument and people are screaming at each other, is there really ever a winner? Or are there just two sides who are angry and bitter and deaf to the other side’s opinions? Fight smarter, not harder. Engage the other person in rational and non aggressive ways so that you can both communicate your opinions clearly. Listen to what your opponent is saying and then try to summarize and restate their thoughts aloud so that they know you have heard them. We all have to deal with conflict, but you don’t have to explode to get your point across.