Another 5 Ways to be Happy without being Perfect!

"Happiness is not a matter of good

fortune or worldly possessions.

It's a mental attitude.

It comes from appreciating what we have,

instead of being miserable about what we don't have.

It's so simple - yet so hard for the human mind to comprehend."

Bits and Pieces

This is an extract from an article written by the psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos and printed in Woman & Home June 2011. It is so relevant to my current blog thread that I couldn't have put it better myself, so I haven't tried.

I hope you enjoy it.

6. Don't let yourself be pigeonholed - Challenge the ideas that you're "less perfect" as you get older and never allow age to define you.

7. Be Open to Change - Naturally happy people tend to be better at accepting change. Being adaptable is a great asset and if you can be open to what life throws at you, you're likely to feel happier. Change, especially when unexpected, can be scary, but try and roll with the punches instead of fighting it.

8. Find your own "Good Enough" - Look at where your goals have come from and learn to define success on your own terms. For instance, you may have taken a mega-stressful job, deciding your value lies in a big salary, buy maybe this stems from parental expectations. So ask yourself "When am I happiest?"

9. Live in the moment - Every day, look in the mirror and ask yourself "If this was my last day, would I be happy doing what I'm doing today?" If the answer is no for too many days in a row, perhaps it is time to change what you are doing. Of course, we all have obligations, but this exercise can be a real wake-up call.

10. Laugh at yourself - When you are able to laugh at yourself, it shows you accept the real you, imperfections and all. Once you get in the habit, it is amazing how easy it becomes. It's a trait that many happy people share -they could have exactly the same day as someone else, but would find snatches of humour in little moments, which others might miss. Retrain your brain to think like an optimist and find something to laugh at every day.

If these simple steps, feel too difficult to work through on your own, then just get in touch with me at Nicholl Consultancy and we can work through them together.

Until next time - Be happy!

Sharon