How to Coach Yourself and Others Happiness Is No Accident | Page 14

my post “Why Do I Wake Up At 6 am Every Morning” on my experiences benefiting from daily
morning run.
Have Enough Rest.
Happy people live active vigorous lives yet reserve time for renewing sleep and solitude. Many
people suffer from sleep deficiency, with resulting fatigue, diminished alertness, and gloomy
moods. If insomnia is the cause, try to restore balance in life, exercise regularly, have proper diet,
get a massage, practice yoga and meditation.
Give Priority to Close Relationships.
Intimate friendships with those who care deeply about you can help you weather difficult times.
Confiding is good for soul and body. Resolve to nurture your closest relationships: to not take
those closest to you for granted, to display to them the sort of kindness that you display to others,
to affirm them, to play together and share together.
Focus Beyond Self.
Reach out to those in need. Happiness increases helpfulness (those who feel good do good). As
true as the saying “what goes around comes around”, doing good also makes one feel good. Being
opened to the needs of surrounding people also help you avoid dwelling in your own misery.
Be Grateful.
People who keep a gratitude journal—who pause each day to reflect on some positive aspect of
their lives (their health, friends, family, freedom, education, senses, natural surroundings, and so
on.) experience heightened well-being.
“I cried because I had no shoes,” states a Persian saying, “until I met a man who had no feet.”
Learn Not To Compare.
Most of the misery of people comes from comparing with others who are better or have more. This
is the definite source of discontent and a perpetual sense of lack. It may continue to drive you to
achieve more, but for the wrong reasons. It is like the rat on the treadmill, constantly chasing its
tail until exhaustion. It puts a person on over-drive without any sense of fulfilment. If there is any
happiness from achieving, it is often fleeting. When you stop comparing with others, you get
started on the path of freedom.
“Our poverty became a reality. Not because of our having less, but by our neighbours having
more.” (Will Campbell, Brother to a Dragonfly, 1977)
Nurture Your Spiritual Self.
For many people, faith provides a support community, a reason to focus beyond self, and a sense
of purpose and hope. Study after study finds that actively religious people are happier and that they
cope better with crises.
May you live a life of pure and permanent happiness!

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