Alumni Association of Lincoln University - Malaysia

7 Things Happy People Have In Common

By Kathy Gates (Professional Life Coach)

Source: http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/alumni/malaysia/malaysia-ponder4.html

Ever notice how some people just seem to be able to be content and bounce back
no matter what the circumstances? Research shows that this isn't a gift or a
talent - it's, a skill that they have developed. Surprised? Well, the real
surprise is that you too can put to work their techniques and make your life
happier too.

1. Happy People Cooperate With Life. Each person has a destiny to fulfill. You
can fight it or cooperate with it. Does that mean you just lay back and let life
happen? No. But you can adopt the attitude that you will play the cards you are
dealt the very ways in which you are motivated. Life wants you to realize your
destiny. Wouldn't you rather cooperate than battle with life?

2. Happy People Don't Just Think Positive, They Act Positive. Thinking positive
definitely has its place, and you'll need to change your thoughts to ever be
truly happy. But don't wait on the feelings to come. You have direct control
over how you act and what you think (feelings and physiology are indirectly
affected). If you want to be a happier person, act happier. If you want to be a
more compassionate person, act more compassionate. If you want to be a
friendlier person, act friendlier. The feelings will follow.

3. Happy People Ask For What They Need. Good things don't generally just fall
out of the sky. Complaining gets you nothing, except to attract you to other
complainers. If you believe that "you reap what you sow", then asking for what
you want makes much more sense than sowing complaints. It's your choice -- you
can choose to point fingers and assign blame, and still end up with nothing. Or
you can simply ask.

4. Happy People Are Willing To Change. It's contrary to all laws of nature for
things to stand still. If you try to make that happen, you'll always be
disappointed. If you let fear of change stop you, you are in essence *agreeing*
to not having what you want. You can believe that change will harm you and
resist it. Or you can embrace it and believe that it will help you. It all
depends on what you decide to believe.

5. Happy People Don't Allow Themselves To Be Defeated. A failure or set back
does not mean that the goal will never be yours, nor is it evidence that you
should quit. It simply means that you need more practice, more experience. Be
willing to make mistakes. Don't give up. Don't allow one slipup, or setback from
the outside, influence you to erase all the progress you've made. Feel the joy
of the finish line!

6. Happy People Live In The Present. If you are alert to the present, and
anticipating the future, you are better able to take advantage of opportunities.
If you are brooding over the past, you'll be blinded to present possibilities,
and lose the advantage for future prospects. A happy life is the product of
living a great present. And a well lived present is a guarantee of a wonderful
future. You can only affect your future by what you do today.

7. Happy People Plan Ahead. Happy people know that they must exercise mastery in
their lives, show control in their life in order to guard against feelings of
being helpless and victims. Planning is essential to getting things done.
Planning is essential to making sure you are spending time on your priorities,
and not just the next thing that gets your attention. Plan for what's important
to you, and choose to spend your limited time, money, energy, and resources on
it.


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