Dec 6, 2011

Songs That Make You Happy

Sometimes, when we are bogged down by the stresses of life, listening to songs and music, can elevate our mood and make us feel a lot better. There are a number of songs that make you happy, every time you listen to them, sometimes even motivating you to live life to the fullest. There are certain dance songs, listening to which you yourself feel like dancing. Then there are love songs, songs about traveling to far away places, friendship songs and songs about good old days, which invoke a feeling of nostalgia and never fail to bring a smile to our face. So, there are different songs which make us feel happy for various reasons. Scroll down for a list of songs that make you happy, for one reason or the other.

Top 10 Songs That Make You Happy
  • What A Wonderful World ~ Louis Armstrong
  • Never Give Up on a Dream ~ Rod Stewart
  • Unbreakable ~ Bon Jovi
  • It's A Beautiful Life ~ Ace of Base
  • Beat It ~ Michael Jackson
  • Bubbly ~ Colbie Caillat
  • Pink ~ Aerosmith
  • Hotel California ~ Eagles
  • Don't Stop Believin' ~ Journey
  • All You Need is Love ~ The Beatles
Songs That Make You Happy When You Are Sad
  • Life is What You Make It ~ Hannah Montana
  • Star ~ Bryan Adams
  • Heart of a Champion ~ Nelly
  • Macarena ~ Los Del Rio
  • Whenever Wherever ~ Shakira
  • What a Wonderful World ~ Ramones Cover
  • Like a Rolling Stone ~ Bob Dylan
  • Magic ~ Mozella
  • I'm Walking on Sunshine ~ Katrina and the Waves
  • Take it easy ~ The Eagles
  • Perfect Day ~ Hoku
  • Three Little Birds ~ Bob Marley and the Wailers
  • Looking for the Next Best Thing ~ Warren Zevon
  • One Love ~ Hootie and The Blowfish
  • Van Halen ~ Right Now
  • Livin' la Vida Loca ~ Ricky Martin
  • What's On Your Mind ~ Information Society
  • Do You Believe in Magic? ~ The Lovin' Spoonful
  • Don't Worry Be Happy ~ Bobby Mcferrin
  • I Feel Good ~ James Brown
  • We Will Rock You ~ Queen
  • Tom's Diner ~ Suzanne Vega
  • You Light Up My Life ~ Debbie Boone
  • I Had the Time of My Life (dirty dancing) ~ Bill Medley and Jennifer Warne
  • On The Radio ~ Regina Spektor
  • Ventura Highway ~ America
  • I Made It ~ Kevin Rudoff (feat. Birdman, Jay Sean and Lil Wayne)
  • Just Wonderful ~ Stevie Wonder
  • Swing It Around ~ Nikka Costa
  • Under the Bridge ~ Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • It Was a Good Day ~ Ice Cube
  • Lay Down Your Weary Tune ~ Bob Dylan
  • Life (Everybody Needs Somebody To Love) ~ Haddaway
  • Beautiful Day ~ U2
  • Dreams Be Dreams ~ Jack Johnson
  • Whisper of a Thrill ~ Thomas Newman
  • Roots, Rock, Reggae ~ Bob Marley
  • I'm Yours ~ Jason Mraz
  • Mambo Number 5 ~ Lou Bega
  • Like a Prayer ~ Madonna
  • Real Love ~ Mary J. Blige
  • Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats ~ Los Campesinos
  • Shout Out Louds ~ 100 Degrees
  • Sexy M.F. ~ Prince and the New Power Generation
  • Tom's Diner ~ Suzanne Vega
  • Livin' on a Prayer ~ Bon Jovi
  • Drops of Jupiter ~ Train
  • Do You Remember ~ Jay Sean
  • Dancing Queen ~ ABBA
  • Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off ~ Joe Nichols
  • Mamma Mia ~ ABBA
Songs That Make You Happy After a Break-Up
  • I Will Survive ~ Gloria Gaynor
  • Not Goin' Cry ~ Mary J. Blige
  • Just By Myself ~ Greg Brown
  • I Don't Care Anymore ~ Phil Collins
  • I Can't Touch the Sun for You ~ Shel Silverstein
  • I'm Walking Away ~ Craig David
  • Stronger ~ Britney Spears
  • I'm Movin on ~ Rascal Flatts
  • How It Ends ~ DeVotchKa
  • I Used To Love You ~ Johnny Legend
  • I Believe I Can Fly ~ By R. Kelly
  • These Boots Are Made For Walking ~ Nancy Sinatra
  • Goodbye Again ~ John Denver
  • Let's Say Goodbye, Like We Said Hello ~ Ernest Tubb
  • You Ought To Know ~ Alanis Morissette
  • My Happy Ending ~ Avril Lavigne
  • Life Goes On ~ Leann Rimes
These are, according to me, some of songs that are sure to uplift your mood. Listening to them is sure to make you feel good about yourself and your life! 



How to Raise Happy Children

Before learning how to raise happy children, parents should know what exactly does happiness mean. The popular culture says that happiness is related to the amount of money a person makes, how good looking he is, how much power he has and how many people know him. On the contrary, this is not what happiness depends upon! A happy person is the one who has loving relationships, who knows how to care for other people, who can give, be responsible and is ready to compromise, if the situation demands. A person is happy when he is positive, confident and values himself as well as others. As parents, it is very important to incorporate all these qualities, in kids, right from childhood itself.

Tips on How to Raise Happy Children

Appreciation and Positivity...
Appreciate your child. If he has learned something new or achieved anything, even if it is very small, point it out and praise him. Appreciating the child and positive reinforcement goes a long way in making a child confident and happy! At the same time, do not overdo it! Do not use words like "the best" or "perfect" or "brilliant", as it will raise expectations, which can pressurize a child and cause him stress.
Allowance for Mistakes...
Tell your child that it is all right to make mistakes as long as he remembers them and does not repeat the same! Childhood is a time of experimentation. Children are up to trying all kinds of things and in the midst of it, can end up making many mistakes. Instead of scolding and criticizing the children, parents should instead talk to them about it, explain to them why a particular action is wrong on their part and that they should not repeat it. Scolding, being aggressive with the children - these are some things that parents should completely avoid as they can have an adverse effect on a child's psyche.
Secure Relationships...
Build a healthy relationship with your child. Provide him a secure family environment where love, trust, support and encouragement are visible in each and every interaction. Be the perfect role models to your child as he is watching, observing and incorporating your each and every habit. Researches have shown that the kind of relationship a child sees between his parents, he looks for similar one for himself in adulthood. So, if you and your partner are loving, the child will learn how to create nurturing relationships himself, in the future.
A Loving Family...
A touch is very important in building relationships. So, hug your child, kiss him and embrace him, to show that you truly love him. Also, take out some "family time" every day and eat together, while discussing how the day went for everyone. This will also give you an opportunity to assess whether your child is facing any kind of problems in school or how he is faring, in terms of his relationships with his peers and teachers.
The Art of Giving...
Teach your child to be "giving". You can do this by taking him to an NGO and involving him in doing something for the have-nots of the society. Let him join some charity too and help him raise funds for it. If you want to keep things simple, get him a pet or keep a potted plant on his bedroom window sill and make it his responsibility to take care of it. These are some ways in which you can teach your child not to be individualistic and self-centric, but to help others, do something for fellow beings, animals and plants, without any kind of expectation. As true happiness lies in "giving", your child will become happy from within, while caring for and nurturing, those around him.
Balancing Life...
Finding a balance in life is very important. Children should be taught this, right in the beginning itself. Parents should see to it that it is not just academics which children are involved in, but in all other activities as well, like sports, singing, dance, drama, reading, exercising, etc. Children should also be taught that their worth is not dependent on how well they are doing academically. If they are creative, helping and loving, they are as good as any distinction holder.
Finding New Passions...
Children are said to be naturally creative. So, if you want to really see them happy, provide them a creative outlet, by introducing them to either singing, writing, sports, or any other creative activity. If children are passionate about something in their life, they are much more likely to remain stress-free. This will make them happy and relaxed adults.
A Fit Body...
Healthy children are happy children. So, provide your child with healthy meals, which are preferably cooked at home. Suggest healthy food choices to your children. For instance, instead of sodas, ask him to drink low fat milk, instead of pizzas, give him fresh fruits to eat. Make most of his diet from fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. If healthy eating habits are inculcated from childhood itself, it is much more likely that they are carried right through adulthood, thus keeping a person disease-free and happy.

As you can see, there are no fixed ways and rules with regards to how to raise happy children.
Good parenting is all about being positive, giving time to your child, supporting him, being there for him and involving him in all kinds of activities which enhance his creativity, natural goodness, knowledge and intelligence.

Dec 3, 2011

Foods that Make you Happy

You had a bad day at the office, or had a fight with your spouse and are having a bad day? What to do? You have tried all means of entertainment also, no result. Most people also turn to food for comfort, in times of depression. Yes it's true, some super foods have the properties of antidepressants. But it's very important to know which are the foods that make you happy.

If you have a balanced diet, you are going to have good body and a good mood. But sometimes we need something more, a little extra comfort. Stress, quarrels and negativity in life, to a large extent, can actually depress you. Well, there are certain special foods that can cheer you up in this time of depression. Nutritionists have long proposed a direct relation between food and mood. Medical research also indicates that foods in our diet influences behavior, mood and overall well-being. So let's have a look at some
high energy foods that make you happy.

10 Foods that Make You Happy

Chocolate
One of my favorite anti-stress foods. I think everyone in this world loves chocolates. People are just looking for excuses to have a bite. Chocolates contain anadamine, a chemical that makes us cheerful. Scientists believe that other components in chocolate help anadamine to stay longer in the brain. The sugar content boosts our levels of glucose and endorphins (another hormone which makes us happy). Don't have chocolate in excess though.

Salmon
Salmon fish is a sea of omega-3 essential fatty acids which are regarded as one of the top antidepressants in the world. No one is quite sure how it works. But according to a recent research it has been found out that, people who consume omega-3 fatty acids daily, are always in a good mood than others. Other fish which have similar effects like salmon are mackerel, eel, and tuna. All of these are also known to fight symptoms of depression, persistent pessimism and erectile dysfunction.

Bananas
I have always heard the phrase the "mighty banana" from my mother and trust me, it is. Banana has tryptophan, a protein when consumed is converted into serotonin by the body. Most of us know that serotonin is directly associated with cheerfulness. Bananas also contains carbohydrates and high levels of potassium which are good for our body. Health experts believe that banana is one of the most healthiest foods. So, include a banana in your daily diet.

Rice, Bread, Noodles or Pasta
Carbohydrates, a favorite with many. Following all these low carb diets will make you thin, but trust me they are going to pull the life out of you. Eating carbohydrates increases serotonin levels in our body which has a calming effect. Choose healthier carbohydrates like brown rice, noodles, wheat bread and vegetables. These are some of the few healthy foods that fill you up.

Bake Potato
Heat one of these high energy potatoes and it will improve your concentration to a high extent. Have baked potato with salsa and low sodium salt. This is a great snack before going for a heavy workout. It gives you the energy that lasts.

Beans and Soybeans
Beans are filled with soluble fiber, folic acid and omega-3 fats, these three ingredients work best to make your mood cheerful. Beans are also an excellent source of iron and calcium which increases the number of blood cells in the body. Soy products contain genistein which helps in preventing prostate and breast cancer. You can also have soy milk and taho, they are also excellent sources of fiber which keep you healthy and happy.

Fresh Peas
Yes fresh green peas are also one of the healthy foods that make you happy. Peas contain high amounts of folate, a nutrient which helps body to produce serotonin. You can buy fresh frozen peas for your food, but avoid the canned ones as they have a minimal quantity of nutrients left. Peas are very easily included in salads and various other gravies.

Milk or Skim Milk
Milk and milk products are rich in tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid which is needed by our brain to develop serotonin which helps us stay calm and cheerful. Milk also contains antioxidants, vitamin D and vitamin B12 that helps us brain to fight stress and old age. You can also go for skimmed milk, it makes you happy and is rich in calcium.

Spinach
It's Popeye's favorite food. So, if you want to be strong and powerful like Popeye, have spinach. It is rich in folic acid which helps body to make serotonin which gives your body a feel good factor. Most kids don't like it but it's very necessary that spinach becomes a part of their diet. Eat a cup of cooked spinach to help you feel strong and full of positivity to face the world.

Blueberries
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which are also well-known stress busters. Antioxidants help eliminate free radicals (toxins) which keep moving in our body. These free radicals cause us to age faster and harm our internal organs. Blueberries are packed with fiber which aids in good digestion. Some scientists also believe that blueberries and strawberries also prevent cancer.

So, these were some of the healthy foods that make you happy. If you really want to find healthy foods that keep you happy, then you must stop focusing on junk food and eat such healthy foods that enlighten your mind and make your day bright. Believe me, the above mentioned foods can cheer you up. Just add them to your daily diet and you will see the effects in a short span of time



Dec 2, 2011

Why Music Makes You Happy

  

Music Makes You Happy

 


Music is found everywhere, in the whistle of the winds or the rustle of the leaves; in the clouds, in the rain, everywhere in nature! Be it from any source, music does make you feel good. It refreshes your mind and makes you happy. Owing to its benefits on overall health, it is even used in treating ailments. Exposure to music in any way, either playing it or even watching someone play can make you feel happy and excited.

Music is Bliss

Many a time, a certain piece of music or a particular song makes you happy because of the memories associated with it. It's the melody or the lyrics you can very well connect to and that's what makes you happy. Similarly, your interest in a particular genre of music or your skill in playing music can be the reasons behind your happiness derived from it. What type of music makes you happy depends on your interest or expertise in one of its forms. However, what brings happiness to everyone alike, is any form of good music. The blend of melody, rhythm and lyrics in music forms the basis of why music makes you happy.


Melody and Sound
Be it of any kid, pop, dance, gospel, rock, or blues; the melody is one factor that gives immense pleasure to the ears as well as to the heart. A good example here, would be of 'The Final Countdown'. Its powerful keyboard riff creates a kind of energy in the air. Now think of a singer you like for his/her melodious voice, or think of an instrument whose tone captivates you. There's something in their tonal quality, their sound that gives you pleasure. Now consider a piece of music that pleases the heart. There's something in the musical notes, the way in which they are arranged and played, it's the magic of the composition that pours melody into music. Anything that's 'music to your ears', is melodious music and that makes you happy!


Lyrics
Music gives happiness when the lyrics of a song are encouraging. For instance, gospel music which is characterized by its inspiring words. Remember the chorus of the Van Halen song 'Dreams'. We'll get higher and higher, straight up we'll climb, we'll get higher and higher, leave it all behind. These powerful words motivate you along with the tune and the way in which they are recited or sung. There are many such songs written or composed in such a way, that you derive inspiration from them; they have the power to ward off all the blues and motivate you to start life anew.

Rhythm and Beats
What makes you dance in joy on listening to music? Well the thumping rhythm and beats give you the enthusiasm to dance and dance gives you more joy. For instance, Madonna's 'Into The Groove' has good synth bass beats that gets you in a dancing mood. And that is why songs like these are played in discotheques and dance parties. They give you the high, they give you great joy. Listening to these foot-tapping numbers, you can't help shake a leg! Beats create excitement, they increase your heart beats. No wonder you feel excited and happy on listening to such rhythmic numbers.

Now let us look at what happens in the brain when we listen to music
.

Effects of Music on the Brain

Research says, that listening to music stimulates the production of dopamine in the brain. The brain reacts similarly to the sight of delicious food or anything that looks/sounds interesting. Dopamine is released even when a person just thinks of a musical piece he loves to listen to. Dopamine makes us feel motivated. This chemical binds to the dopamine receptors, and contributes to generating a feeling of happiness. This chemical is released in different areas of the brain. When a person listens to good music, more blood flows to these parts and to the nerve endings which release this chemical. It is observed that good music relaxes and opens up the endothelium of blood vessels, while listening to bad music closes the endothelium, leading to stress and mental fatigue. This is how deeply music affects the mind and brain.

Instrumental, soft and melodic tunes relax the brain and make you happy. Energetic music and fast beats make you feel excited and positive. Interestingly, both forms of music; be they numbers that make you dance, songs that make you sing to their tune, or soft musical pieces that relax your mind, all of them give you happiness. So, the next time you feel happy on listening to music, celebrate the strength it has, the strength to take you miles away to a different world where you can lose yourself to this beautiful form of art...music



Dec 1, 2011

Love Quotes by Shakespeare



Since time immemorial writers and poets have tried to capture the essence of the beautiful feeling of love in words. Love quotes or love poems are always a source of joy for those who are in love as well as those who wish to experience the beautiful feeling. Reading beautiful love quotes and poetry verses often brings a smile to our face thinking about how someone can describe our feelings and emotions with such ease and precision. When it comes to love quotes and love poems, what better option than quotes and verses written by Shakespeare, to describe this beautiful feeling of love? Here are some beautiful love quotes by Shakespeare, the creator of one of the most memorable love stories...

I'll follow you and make a heaven out of hell, and I'll die by your hand, which I love so well.

Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts.

They do not love that do not show their love. The course of true love never did run smooth. Love is a familiar. Love is a devil. There is no evil angel but Love.

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Parting is such bittersweet sorrow that I should say goodnight until it be 'morrow.

When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.

Teach not thy lip such scorn, for it was made
For kissing, lady, not for such contempt

So dear I love him that with him, all deaths I could endure. Without him, live no life.

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs

As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words.

Ay me! for aught that I could ever read,
Could ever hear by tale or history,
The course of true love never did run smooth;
But either it was different in blood...

No sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy.



Nov 30, 2011

Signs of Being in Love

Love is a holy, wonderful feeling, which is deeply rooted in your mind. It is an expression of intense feelings for another person. It makes your life cheerful and full of enthusiam. Sometimes it happens that you know a person very well. He/she is your best friend. And suddenly you start feeling that you are in love with him/her. Sometimes you get introduced to a person and as you start meeting him/her frequently, you realize that you have developed some special feelings for him/her. You experience loneliness, restlessness without that person. You don't understand what is it? It's nothing but a great, heavenly feeling what is called love.

Signs of Being in Love

Love cannot be taught. Sometimes, you are not even aware when it happens. Falling in love with someone is an exciting, wonderful experience. It may also be bit confusing, if you are unfamiliar with this experience. You don't understand what is happening with you. If you know the signs of being in love, it will help relieve your confusion and understand your inner feelings.
  • When you are in love with someone, you remember him/her all the time. You go on thinking about that person and the happy moments spent together. You are not even able to concentrate on your work.
  • When you are in love, everything in daily life reminds you of him/her. When you see anything or do anything, you tend to recall the related memories of the moments that you spent with him/her.
  • If you concern a lot about someone, then it indicates that you are in love. You always care about his/her safety and happiness. You experience an overwhelming urge that he/she should be happy and comfortable and should not be troubled by anything. It becomes your number one priority. You always try to protect that person.
  • When you start loving someone, you become more cautious about your appearance. You naturally wish that you should look more attractive to him. You become attentive about your clothes and hairstyle, so that you would get an appreciation from him/her. You look more attractive and cheerful and it's because of your romantic mood. You also try to impress him/her by updating your knowledge about the current issues.
  • When you love someone, you feel that no person is more attractive than the individual you love. You even don't notice the presence of other people. Your whole attention is concentrated on that individual only.
  • Now you deny spending much time with your friends. You want to spend more time with him/her. You want to be alone and think more about your special person. Even though you are surrounded by your friends, you will find yourself constantly thinking about being with someone special.
  • When you find someone interesting, you wish to know more about him/her. You want to know about his interests, likes and dislikes and career. You are eager to understand every detail of his/her life. You also try to do the things that he/she likes.
  • There was a time, when you were cautious about time or spending the money. But when you are with someone special, you even don't think about time or how much money you spend to buy a gift for him/her.
  • Loyalty is another name for love. You want to be loyal to him/her and expect the same from that person. He/she becomes the only concerned person for you.
  • When you love someone, you tend to think about his/her expectations. You think about his/her views and needs and learn to compromise.
  • You share some beautiful moments with him/her. You feel happy and excited when you plan about going to a party or picnics, attending a ceremony together. You start discussing the future plans.

Enjoy Life

Everyone wants to enjoy life to the fullest, and some people do it too, the only thing is that the people who know how to enjoy life and be happy are very less in number as compared to the majority of people in the world, who are unhappy with how their life is! By this statement I am not saying that they all are miserably sad and living forcefully, what I meant was that these people are living for survival and not enjoyment. Most of those who fall into this category will not agree to that, but the fact is, that in the race of achieving success, being ahead of others, making more money than others, at some point we all realize that life is not how we wanted it, it is however, just life! Before I tell you about how to enjoy life to the fullest, I want you to read this remarkable quote that inspires me everyday to appreciate the gift of life.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our Attitudes." ~ Charles R. Swindoll

Ways to Enjoy Life

I know, the first thing that you will expect on this list is spending a lot of money on luxuries! If you think so, then you will be surprised to know that money has nothing to do with real happiness! I agree, money is important for survival, but I somehow feel that that's how it should be! As quoted in the above saying, our attitude is the one responsible for our unhappiness. Another human tendency is greed, we have thousands of dollars but we crave for millions, we manage to get millions and then we want billions..., running to make a better life, we forget to live life. Money, after a certain point never gives happiness, on the contrary, it takes away what you have, it takes away your sense of valuing things, it makes you take things for granted and THIS is why we have forgotten how to enjoy life in the real way. So what should one do?

Be Grateful for What You Have
People tend to focus on their career, run after more money and work all the more hard. While their families look forward to spend some time with them, the weekends goes in playing golf with boss, yes, they do have a family, they are there, that's not important right now! Playing golf with boss might get them a promotion, more money! After all, they are doing the best for the family and the worst too. They are taking the most important thing in their life for granted. Yes, this would be your first step to learn how to enjoy life! The biggest mistake that we make is to take things for granted. What you need to realize is that if they are with you today, it's not necessary that they'll always be. If you analyze your life carefully, you will definitely realize what I am talking about.

Live Each Moment
Living each moment is the best way of how to be happy everyday, although, I won't blame the people who fail to do that. There is pressure - family, career, money - a lot of pressure. How do you expect us to enjoy each moment with so much pressure? Your kid comes to you to show his drawing, you are tensed, you shoo him away. What if you actually took a moment out to see what he has drawn, to see how your kid sees the world? What if you saw that drawing, praised your kid and then your kid kisses you saying 'I love you daddy'. Don't you think living that moment would have given you the strength to take the pressure, or maybe let go of it, even though it is for a few minutes? So live each moment, that's what actually counts.

Learn to Let Go
Letting go, the most difficult, yet the most important thing to be done in order to be happy and to be able to enjoy life. You can't enjoy with burdens of grudges and revenge, can you? As told by Charles R. Swindoll, "We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way", there are many people who hurt us, hurt us to such an extent that we change to a different person altogether. But why? After all, "we are in charge of our attitudes", right? Learn to let go of things by taking it as a lesson that life taught you. Very easily said, but equally difficult to do, forgiving others and letting go of negativity in your life will definitely make you enjoy your life to the fullest and focus on the more important things.

Look for The Positive Aspects
Letting go of the negative aspects and focusing on the positive aspects will make you view life with all the lessons and opportunities that it has. Every side of life has two coins, and your way to perceive it depicts how you lead your life! Read inspirational books that promote positive thinking, take great examples of people who flourished in life after great struggle and hardships. All you need to do is to believe in yourself, believe in the supreme power and believe that if life has brought you till the edge, it will either catch you when you fall, or teach you how to fly! That is why happy and optimists live longer as compared to people having a negative approach in life!

Slow Down, Life is a Journey, Not a Race
They say, "Life is a race, be quick or you will be left behind". They also say that "life consists of opportunities everywhere, you only need to widen your horizon and look closely". Reading these two statements make me wonder, if life is full of unseen opportunities everywhere, what's the harm in being left behind if that gives you happiness! Do you realize how many moments have you missed to enjoy in life just because of the fear that someone else might win the race! If racing gives you happiness, no problem, but if you are unhappy doing it, why do it?

Follow Your Passion
Continuing from the above point, if you are unhappy doing what you are doing, why are you doing it? Are you doing it because everyone else is doing it, or because it gives you more money! I follow example of the people who followed their passion and excelled in their passion to such an extent, that people started following them, money started following them! Life is so dynamic and ever changing that you never know what comes next. Sounds impractical to many people but then, what's the point of being practical if it doesn't give you happiness and doesn't allow you to enjoy life!

Spend Some Time With Nature
In our daily routine of going to work, school, colleges, meetings, etc., do you get the time to admire what is around you? The best way to find inner peace and happiness is to spend some time with nature. Just sit on the seashore and watch the waves come and go, climbing on a hill and watching the view, go fishing with your family, watching the sunrise or the sunset, seeing the stars twinkle in the night...do you know how this will help to enjoy life? It will teach you to value what you have, it will teach you to not take things for granted, it will teach you to understand the meaning of the phrase, 'This world is beautiful and so is life!'

Make Your Family Your Priority
After all, family is the most important thing that teaches you how to be happy in life, it is your own world in this world! Earning money to meet family's demands is not more important than spending sometime with your family and understanding what is it that they actually demand, is it money, or is it spending some fun time with you. I remember a story I read sometime ago, 'A five year old boy went to his father who was busy doing his office work and asked, "Father how much do you earn in an hour"? Father thought it was weird for his kid to ask this question but then he replied, "About a $100, why"? The son replied, "Father, can you give me $50?" Father got really upset for a 5 year old to ask for $50 and shouted at him asking why would he need so much of money! The son replied weeping, "I wanted to give you that $50 so that you spend half an hour with me".'

Pray
Of course you need mental strength to keep up with the challenges you face in life. If you believe in God, ask him for strength to help you enjoy your life and find inner peace, to treasure what he has given you. Trust me, prayers give you an unexplained strength to simplify the complications of life! Even God tells us the value of life in The Bible, Mathew 6:25, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?"

Enjoyment and happiness never come on a physical level, it is a mental state which comes only when you manage to take life with a positive attitude and learn the secret of happiness. How to enjoy life is not difficult, what is difficult is to learn how to enjoy life with a resistant mind. There are a lot of ways to enjoy life, but all the ways require the same mindset...a positive one. So take a break and question yourself, how do you want to enjoy your life? You get only a single life, live it before you lose it! 



Nov 28, 2011

How to be Happy in Life

"If you want to be happy, be." Leo Tolstoy answered the eternal question that haunts the mind of every mortal human being in just one line. Why does happiness has to be so difficult to achieve, when it solely depends upon us? Newborn babies are the happiest lot in the world, with no fear, no worries about future, no grudges and no preconceived notions about anything or anyone. Unfortunately, as we grow up, worldly worries start working up their way upon our minds. Eventually, we become so possessed by these worries that we forget what happiness is. Then one fine day, it dawns upon us how unhappy we are and thereon, the pursuit of happiness begins. If you have begun your quest on how to be happy in life, then read the following advice. For more, read: self improvement.

How to be Happy in Your Life

Make a Choice
Happiness is a matter of choice. You either choose to be happy or you choose otherwise. It's that simple. A person who knows how to be happy, will always be happy, no matter what situation you put him into. On the other hand, a person who always finds faults with everyone and everything around him, cannot be happy, no matter how hard he tries. Thus, if you want to be happy, make a choice now, at this moment and you will indeed feel better.

Laugh a Lot
When you smile or laugh, the muscles in your face stimulate the brain to secrete 'happy chemicals.' These chemicals induce a feeling of wellness within you, which in turn makes you happy. Hence, find humor in everything around you. Laugh at yourself, laugh at your problems, laugh at your little worries and then see what difference it makes to your life. Sounds silly, but it does work!

Forget and Forgive
If you really want to be happy you need to forget others' mistakes and forgive them. Holding grudge against them will earn you nothing, instead it will make you even more unhappy. You don't need to be a saintly figure and have an extra large heart. Just letting go of others' faults every once in a while helps you to be happy. Also read personal development.

Blast the Past
Often, the dark shadows from our past loom large over our present and future. They ruin every single second of our life and turn it into a bad memory, which again comes to haunt us. Hence, let go of your past and any bad memories associated with it. Cut off any strings from the past that might be holding you and preventing you from leading a happy life in present. Read more on confidence.

Learn to Give
'Giving' is an immensely satisfying experience and the joy of giving cannot be expressed in words. Giving anything, be it wealth, art, skill, wisdom, can bring happiness to your life. One who gives all his life ends up leading a happy life than the one who concentrates only on making money or deriving large profits.

Develop a Vision
How you view things around you depends upon your own perspective. If you have a very positive outlook towards life, you will develop a vision, wherein you would start taking everything in your favor. As a result, you will find nothing wrong to complain about. This will make you happy in the long run.

When Hope is Lost...

Hope is almost always,
A companion of a good heart.
A heart that pours in seamlessly,
And where reasoning is set free.

That seems to know the equation
Between action and reaction.
Brimmed with patience, where
You still believe that truth always wins.

Who says hopelessness is hopeless!
Nevertheless...
Hopelessness is hopefulness in disguise...
Hopefulness for the unexpected,
Readiness to accept all that comes one's way,
Expecting to take over the worst.

The best part about hopelessness is
When it comes...
There are no strings attached,
It comes splashing in the face.

TO remind you about the practical
Difference, between truth and reality.

Teaching you a lesson
That you got to keep learning
Each step, every moment.

Dreams would be "simply" imaginations,
As most of them always are!
That aspirations, emotions
And the "very" hope
That are ALL invisible entities,
Cannot choose to have visible repercussions.

And that brains would create
Far more ripples and always win
Over heart and soul...

When hope is lost
Everything is lost
So, then there is nothing precious
To lose thereafter...

Rendering an empty heart,
With no fluttering.
And a soulless soul,
With no life.

Waiting...
Just for the sequence of destined events.
To re-occur time and again...
With no hope or perhaps a 'new' hope! 


Nov 27, 2011

Happy Life!

The world so big
The morning so bright
We get up early
And behold the sight

The daily routine we follow

Each task never to be left hollow
Strive to achieve in a fashion
That will just prove your passion

The day to a close it draws

It's like we've been through life's little wars
The sense of achievement we feel
Lets us sleep in peace after our meal

Only to face another day

Hoping to be happy and gay
Life is what we make of it
So run along and enjoy every bit. 
 
 
 

How to be Happy Everyday

All of us wish to be happy in our life. It is happiness for which we work hard and earn money. But, to be happy, only money and status is not sufficient. It is important to have the right attitude towards life. It has been observed that many people are frustrated, unsatisfied and unhappy even though they have achieved great heights in their career. The tips and methods of how to be happy everyday given below will help you in a big way.

Can We Be Happy All the Time?

Is it possible to be happy everyday? Being happy everyday is possible only by doing those things which we like from our heart. If we look around ourselves, we will find many people who keep doing things due to the pressure from their parents, peers or other members of the society. When you do a task which you do not like at all or which does not give you any pleasure or satisfaction, you end up being unsuccessful in it. So, when you see people with you getting great success in the same job, you naturally feel frustrated and heart broken. This feeling of sorrow after failure could have been avoided if you had recognized your talents, skills and strengths by yourself and entered only those fields which you feel comfortable in.

Our lifestyle too, plays a major role in keeping us happy. If you are looking for the answer to how to be happy in life, you need to change the way you look at life. A fully stressed out person who has no time for recreation is more prone to physical ailments and emotional troubles such as anxiety and depression. Whenever our body does not assist us, we naturally feel very unhappy. So, to beat this situation, one should maintain a good lifestyle by exercising daily and waking up and going to bed early. Eat good homemade food instead of the outside food to satisfy the nutritional requirements of your body. Learn the techniques of meditation and yoga to keep your mind stable even in adverse conditions. By doing these things, you will observe that you are much happier than you used to be earlier.

Your hobbies can definitely be included in the list of things to make you happy. If you like singing, join a singing class and learn it right from the basics. Playing musical instruments like guitar, synthesizer and violin can make you feel happy and peaceful. Drawing sketches, painting, sculpture are some other hobbies which you can try for happiness and pleasure.

Socializing is a big way of being happy. When you step out of your home and meet people who are senior as well a junior to you, you get to learn a lot of things which you can't learn by sitting inside your home. Interact with people, understand their way of living and make amendments in your own ways for improving your living. For all those who are fond of traveling, going to a beautiful holiday destination with your friends can be a bundle of joy for you.

Another suggestion on how to be happy everyday is to find your love. Relationships, if running smoothly, can give you a lot of happiness. You will always cherish the romantic moments you spent with your loved one. These moments can give you more joy than any other achievement in your life. If you want to know how to be happy in a relationship, you have to keep in mind that not giving up is the key. In every relation, what works best is honesty and trust.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you will surely understand how to be happy everyday. You should remember that satisfaction in life is the key for happiness. 


Nov 26, 2011

Why do Happy and Optimists live longer?

Bobby McFerrin sang the ever-popular song "Don't worry, Be Happy". Ever wonder where he got the idea from? Or what made this song so popular? The song and now mantra "Don't worry, Be Happy" makes people feel good about life. Joie de Vivre, Happy and optimism are all words associated with optimistic people.

So life is the gift for people who are happy and optimistic. Or rather long life is the gift for them. Why is this, who do happy and optimists live longer? The reasons are several but the result is the same, people who are happy live longer, seven and a half years longer than those who are pessimists and depressed all the time.

Notice here that I am not talking about people who live life with rose-colored glasses or those who are extremely optimistic and live life on the edge. Here we are discussing those people who look on the brighter side of life and do not get depressed easily. These are the people who live longer and better.

Happy heart, healthy heart.
Studies across the world have proved that people who are happy and have a positive outlook of life live healthier and longer lives. Now let's figure out why. Those who are happy and optimistic have lesser cardio logical problems; these also refer to coronary diseases and angina. People who are more optimistic also heal faster and have a faster recovery rate than those who are bleak and pessimistic about their health. The rate of rehospitalization after heart surgery also drops with the more optimistic lot.

Strike out strokes with optimism
According to research and studies conducted, those who are optimistic are less likely to suffer from strokes. Depression can lead to strokes, which can be fatal. Those who are less depressed, and less likely to have a stroke as compared to those suffering from clinical depression. Remember a stroke can lead to partial or full disability when not fatal. So avoid the occurrence of a stroke with a more optimistic outlook to life.

The 'age'-old mantra: Optimism?
What is your outlook on aging? Don't think this question is important? Think again! Research proves that those who are happy and optimistic about aging live longer, seven and a half years longer. So instead of working so hard on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels (and I am not saying don't) why not just think happy and live longer!
And the result is...
  • Optimists have fewer health complications as compared to pessimists
  • Those who are happy experience less pain.
  • Happy people are more energetic.
  • Being happy also leads to being peaceful.
  • Optimism leads to lesser problems at work and lesser amounts of stress.
So let's just say...if you want to live longer, you need to be happy and optimistic about it. 

Nov 24, 2011

How not to be happy

Why my son, you make such a ridiculous question?
Or are you just landing on earth from somewhere in galaxy and really don't know how not to be happy?
Or for any other weird reasons, you still want to be not happy?
Well my son, if you choose not to be happy, it is something quite easy to be achieved. I will tell you ten sure ways of how not to be happy


1) Make your best friend hates you.
You can lie to him for instance, or break some promises or you can even snatch his girl right in front of his eyes. Then he will start to hate you. The more he hates you, the better it will be.

2) Make your lover think that you are really lousy and also happen to be a womanizer.
You can take pictures with nasty girls in some hot pose and show it to her. Make her heart break. Give her hope and then break it spectacularly.

3) Let you worst enemy be your boss.
You happen to be a subordinate to a man that you really hate and despise. You have no choice, but to follow his order. And let him belittle you. You do it day in, day out.
4) Call the one who happens to borrow your money for a long time but still reluctant to pay your hard earned money. What you must do is really simple. Offer him some more money to be borrowed. 

5) Spend a lot of time doing something you really hate to do. It must be something that will waste your energy, time and probably money. In case you really hate to go fishing for example, go fishing then.

6) Do something that could damage your reputation or bring down your dignity. For example you could try to be a cleaner in a factory which happens to have lots of young women employee. And one of these women happens to be the one who you really admire and want to be serious.

7) Make a guilty plea to a serious case of criminal which you are absolutely not guilty at all. Spend some time in prison. You shall get first hand experience of how not to be happy.

8) Go to somewhere really far and cut all your family and friends relationship. Don't tell them your whereabouts. Let them suffer for missing you. At the same time, you suffer alone in a foreign land.

9) Marry somebody which you really hate. To make it even better, marry someone who are already menopause and happen to have lot of kids. And don't forget to invite your favorite girl to come along to your wedding. 

10) Do something stupid. Anything. For example like asking this kind of question and getting a really serious answers which are hard to swallow.
Do all or some of these steps. You are sure not to be happy. By the way, happy reading. Or are you not?


Nov 23, 2011

Make Your Girlfriend Happy

Tips to Keep Your Girlfriend Happy

 
Loyalty is the best policy
If you want to keep your girlfriend happy, be loyal to her, it is as simple as that. We know that those occasional flings are too hard to resist, but those can have catastrophic effects on your relationship. Being loyal doesn’t really mean that you won’t be infatuated by other women, but what it really means is that every time you become vulnerable, remember that there is someone who loves you and trusts that you won't do any wrong. Faithfulness should be looked upon as a virtue rather than a lethargy of custom.

Sweet nothings
Start the day with a good morning message and wish her a great day ahead. If you have a busy schedule and don’t really have time to talk, texting can always be a great option. Tell her that you miss her and are looking forward to spend some quality time with her. With the help of some nice love things to say to your girlfriend, you can ensure that she is happy and excited with the relationship.

The first date
To break the monotony, try meeting her with the same vigor and excitement that you had when you met her for the first time. Dress the way you used to in your courtship days and propose to her once again. A romantic evening can bring life back to your relationship. Public displays of affection will also make her feel happy and special.

Gifts
All of us like to be gifted but women seem to have an extraordinary fascination for them. No surprises then that the best way to make your girlfriend happy is to surprise her with some cute gifts. If you are someone who is not good at expressing your feelings then gifts are the ideal way to make her happy. We can't really advice you what you should gift her as women seem to have varied tastes and it essentially depends upon your girlfriend's personality type. If you have been in a relationship long enough, you might exactly know what gifts would make her happy.

Apologize
In a relationship, there are always moments when saying sorry becomes a prestige issue. Both the partners feel that they aren’t the one to blame, so there is no way they are going to apologize. Well, remember that someone needs to budge otherwise the issue may keep lingering on. You have to remember that the person on the other side loves you earnestly, so your ego should never come in between the relationship.

Make her laugh
A good sense of humor can really turn the clumsiest moments into moments of benevolence. In a relationship, there will always be situations wherein both partners will get worked up, but as a boyfriend, it is your responsibility to make her see the funny side of it. Laughter can work as an elixir in troubled times and help your relationship to flourish.

These were some tips that can help you in making your girlfriend happy. We haven’t stated anything that you might not know but as we said earlier that over a period of time in a relationship, we get so used to things that we start taking the other person for granted. It is essential that we always put in an effort to make our relationship much more special. We hope this article would have helped you with so much information on how to make your girlfriend happy

How to Be Happy in a Relationship

It's always an exciting feeling to be in a relationship. The most important thing that's on your mind when you think of being with your Mr. Right is how long will this relationship last? Well, the more important thing to worry about is how to be happy in a relationship. At the end of the day, healthy relationships are those where the guy and the girl are just happy to be together! So given below are a few tips on how to be happy in a relationship





Happy Relationship Tips

How to be Happy in a Relationship: Equal in All Matters
Always remember that you and your partner are equal in all matters. Irrespective of who earns more or who works longer hours (at work or at home!) never draw comparisons. This only leads to unnecessary fights, which may turn really ugly. So always try and instead amicably split all the work and responsibilities. If one person is doing the dishes, the other one shouldn't have a problem with getting the laundry done. Once you establish that you're partner is as good as you in all matters, it will help you understand and appreciate what all he /she does for you.

How to be Happy in a Relationship: Communicate
The most important tip when it comes to maintaining a happy relationship is to communicate. Most couples create distances between themselves because they fail to communicate. And it is this communication gap that leads to small issues being blown out of proportion. Often many relationship counselors claim that it is the failure of couples to talk out matters that lead to the failure of a relationship. Hence, the best thing is that if you have something on your mind, talk it out. Nothing should be swept under the carpet, as it will only resurface later, bigger and meaner. Furthermore, saying some nice things, or reading out some happy relationship poems and happy relationship quotes will only make it better.

How to be Happy in a Relationship: Get That Spark Back!
It's often seen that after a while any relationship becomes monotonous. Everything that a couple does seems to be repetitive and boring and there's no romance left. In such cases, it is best to do things which will help bring that spark right back into your relationship. Go for a trek, join a dance class or just think of some other creative way which will ensure that you two spend some quality time together. In the end, what counts is that you should always have something fun to do at hand. Don't wait for your relationship to stagnate to such an extent that the damage becomes irreversible. Read more on healthy relationship tips.

How to be Happy in a Relationship: Give Each Other Space!
Any relationship is meant to be comforting. In other words, you shouldn't get claustrophobic while being with the other person. You do need to spend quality time together but at the same time, you also need to give each other the required space. Let him go out for his boys night outs and let her enjoy some quality time with her girlfriends. If he or she wishes to spend some time with his pr her own group of friends or even with colleagues at work, don't immediately get suspicious and let any kind of jealousy in relationship jeopardize what you have. Instead let him or her have fun with his or her friends to such an extent, that he or she starts missing you! After all, you can't miss someone unless they go away! Read more on how to make a relationship last.

In the end, no matter how much relationship advice you are given, unless and until you want the relationship to work, no one else can help you. So, now that you know how to be happy in a relationship, go out there and make the magic happen

How to Become Happy

Some people say that they are happy when some gives them gifts, some people say that they are happy when they are promoted and so on. But, to tell you the truth that is not the correct definition of happiness. A person experiences happiness when he is at peace with himself, when he experiences none of the negative human feelings like jealousy, grief, anger, frustration, etc. I don't know how many of you agree but some say that achievement of complete happiness, by getting rid of all the negative emotions (for a normal human being and not a saint), is not possible. People travel miles in search for complete happiness. If not complete, this article can at least tell you how to become happy most of the time in your lives. If you need the answers then you have to read about the various ways to be happy in this article



Some Simple Ways to be Happy

If you are expecting that this article will help get rid of all your sorrows and sadness, then don't do that because they are a part of our lives. If our life was only full of happiness and joy, then it would have been boring. It's the combination of both, which makes life more enjoyable. This article will tell you how one can lift up their spirits when they are sad and how to become happy again.

Love Yourself
The next time when you think and brood over the fact that 'No one loves me', just pause and ask yourself, 'Do I love myself?' Most of the time the answer will be no. People who love themselves, will never ask this question. Until and unless you learn to love yourself, you can never expect others to love you. Start loving yourself first, love the way you look, the way you talk etc and only then will people start loving you. Loving yourself makes you more confident and that confidence brings you happiness. Everyday, after you get up in the morning, say to yourself, 'I love myself and I am the best', and you will see the difference within days. So the first thing that you have to learn is how to become happy with yourself.

Smile Always
Remember that song by Boyzone, Smile, an everlasting smile, a smile can bring you near to me..." They couldn't have said better. A smile can take you miles. When you are sad and depressed next time, just look into the mirror and smile at yourself. It will be difficult when you are really sad but there is no harm in trying. Keep that smiling face for several minutes and soon you will realize that your spirits are lifting. No matter where you are, a smile can do wonder, it can make your day. Remember, that you look beautiful when you smile and when you look beautiful, how can you not be happy.
"Always wear a smile. The gift of life will then be yours to give."- Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810)

Clean Your Surrounding
Trust me when I say that no one can ever be happy in a place when things are all scattered around, where fresh air cannot move freely, where sunlight cannot enter and so on. If you want to know how to be happy in life, then one of the most important things that you have to do is declutter your room, your surroundings and get rid of all negative vibes because that is what an unclean surrounding gives out; negative vibes. Be in a place with lots of sunlight and fresh air. They will get rid of all the negative feelings that one gets staying in a dirty and dark surrounding. This is a great thing to make you happy. Try it!

Do Something for Others
Nothing makes a person happier than the joy that he feels after helping someone in need. Whenever you get the opportunity, go out and help a person who needs it and whom you do not know and might never meet. When you are sad, just look around you and you will see people who are suffering, who are dying of hunger and illness and when you think about it, you will realize that the reason for your depression is nothing compared to them. There are so many people out there who need your help. After they receive your help, the smile that they give you (trust me) will make you feel happier than a million dollars placed in front of you will. A great way to learn how to be happy all the time.

Positive Thoughts
Fill your heads with positive thoughts. Do not for once, let negative thoughts enter your head as they tend to drag down your spirit. Always see the positive side of things. When you are sad, try to see the positive side of it, and you will feel much better. If you see only the negative side of people, then one can never be happy. Positive thinking helps a lot.

Listen to Music
This is another best way of learning how to become happy. Listen to some songs that will help you lift up your mood. Usually people, when they are depressed loves to listen to songs that are sad and that suits their mood. That drags you down further. Just do the opposite; listen to some happy songs and hum along with it, that will make you happy.

Compliment Others
Compliment at least three people everyday and mean it. It will only make them happy and feel good about themselves and if you make at least 3 people smile a day, that automatically makes you happy. This a great way to learn how to become happy instantly.

Count Your Blessings
Learn how to become happy with your life by counting your blessings. If you are feeling sad that your eyes are small, think for a minute about those people who has no eyes to even complain about, if you are sad that your friend forgot your birthday then think about those people who don't even know when they were born. Always count your blessings, and be grateful to God for what He has given you and you will see that you will feel much better.

Now you know the answer to your question how to become happy. Learn how to be happy with yourself and others. Just follow these steps and slowly with time you will be a person filled with positive energy, and who does not like a person who is always happy and cheerful and gives out positive vibes

Nov 22, 2011

LOVE

Are You Happy in Love? How Do You Keep the Happiness That You Could Have In Focus? think

 

 Being happy in love is one of those things that everyone longs for. While this can be an amazing feeling, it can also be fleeting. Too often love is lost or it gets bogged down by your day-to-day stresses. When this happens, it can be devastating. Or you may not even realize that you have love in your life that you can be happy about. The question is how do you keep the happiness that you could have in focus?
The first thing that you must do is realize that love is a gift and it comes in many forms. It can be romantic love, familial love, or even a friendly love. Take a look at your life and really be honest with yourself so that you can identify the love that you have in your life. When you get a solid look at it hold it close in your heart. Remember, when everything else is going wrong you have this love in your life and it is truly a blessing.
To be truly happy in love, you must also recognize that to have love in your life you are a very special person. You are lucky and you have been given a gift. Accepting this requires that you feel gratitude for your circumstances. Finding this gratitude can actually be a source of the happiness that you are longing for.
Now, how do you keep this happy feeling strong? The truth is that any relationship needs to be cultivated. Love needs to be reciprocated and nurtured. You need to put time into cultivating a relationship with the important people in your life. This may need to be a variety of different things.
The best thing to do is to determine how those special people give and receive love. What makes them happy? Now you need to try to give that to them. For example, if your child really thrives when you spend time together they may need you to spend more quality time with them. That quality time can bring even more depth to your relationship, which will more than likely make you feel more happy and content with your relationship.
When you are happy in love you must be cautious because it is easy to take for granted these relationships that have the power to make you so happy. Our world is filled with many different stresses and difficulties. It can be easy to let these overwhelm you. You can use the love that you have as sort of a home base to rejuvenate you. If you do that, you may be surprised at how much better you can handle the trials and tribulations that life may throw your way.