Use This Checklist To Increase Your Happiness

Use This Checklist To Increase Your Happiness
It is possible to be happier. On-going research in the
area of Positive Psychology is helping to identify thinking
and behavior patterns of happy people.

According to recent studies, your genes are responsible for
fifty percent of your happiness level. Circumstances in
your life are responsible for another ten percent. The good
news is that the remaining forty percent of your happiness
level depends on choices you make.

In addition, research is helping to identify more skills
and factors that help maximize your potential for reaching
your goals and enjoying life. This is important because
feeling happy has many benefits. Some of the benefits are:

* Being healthier and living longer.

* Having better relationships.

* Having more energy.

* Being more curious and willing to learn new things.

* Making more money.

The book, "The How of Happiness" by Sonja Lyubomirsky
(2008) discusses how what you do and how you think affects
the choices you make. Since the daily choices you make
fall into the forty percent area of happiness that is under
your control, it is important to know which choices will
enhance your happiness level.

You may be surprised to see what choices happy people make.
Use the following checklist to discover what you are
currently doing and what you might want to add to increase
your sense of well-being. Happy people do as many of the
following things as possible:

 Set aside time for family and friends, nurturing
and enjoying those relationships.

 Feel comfortable expressing gratitude for what
they have.

 Freely offer to help coworkers or strangers.

 Practice optimism when they think of the future.

 Try to live in the present and savor pleasures.

 Exercise regularly.

 Are committed to lifelong goals and ambitions.

 Are resilient during challenging times.

To reap the reward of feeling happier, it is important to
find a place to begin. Think of your strengths and what is
important to you. You do not have to do everything listed
on the checklist to increase your level of happiness. It
is best to chose one or two strategies that will work for
you.

Use this checklist to establish what is working for you
now. Then which one or two strategies might you choose to
add to your daily life? It may take some effort at
first. Make sure you have people around you that support
the choices you are making. This might be your partner, a
friend, or a coach. Enjoy the benefits.

----------------------------------------------------
Maurine Patten, EdD. CMC, Maximize Your Possibilities
http://www.PattenCoaching.com
Mailto:mdpcoach@pattencoaching.com
Visit my website at the above link for a free ezine and
more information about how to increase your sense of
well-being.