Happy New Year
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” Omar Khayyam
Every New Year we look back on the year gone by and reflect on all the things we ‘should have done’ or ‘didn’t do’. While it’s important to be reflective and think about the past it’s important that we not only think about all the things that went wrong but to focus on all the things that went right and all the things we did do.
It seems simple enough but many of us overlook the good things that happen in our lives, all the little things that bought a smile to our face or made us laugh out loud. There will always be good things and bad things going on in our lives but it’s how we view and deal with certain situations that impact on our life and our happiness.
Here are a few simple ways you can make yourself feel happy this new year and make others happy too, after all, happiness can be infectious!
- Gratitude
It’s a very human reaction to fixate on all the things that are going wrong in our lives. But while we’re focusing on all the negatives and what we haven’t got we completely overlook the things and people we have got that make a positive impact on our life.
A gratitude journal is a great way to help us remember and focus on the positive things in our lives. Take a few minutes a couple of times a week to make a list of all the things or people that you are grateful for. This could be something as simple as the warmth of the sun on your face or in my case today my little 6 month old niece blowing raspberries at everyone and giving a cheeky smile as she does it.
- Do something you love
Go back and read that favourite book of yours or watch a movie that makes you laugh. Listen to your favourite music. I have a playlist of all the songs that make me feel happy and songs that are associated to happy memories.
- De-clutter
It may sound strange but something as simple as tidying your room or going through and filing or deleting emails and files can make you feel really good!
- Practice random acts of kindness
Smile at a complete stranger. I know in this day and age some people might think you’re mad but you never know, you could brighten someone else’s day with this simple gesture and if they smile back it will make you feel so good too.
- Spend time with a friend and loved ones
Catch up with the people who mean a lot to you, whether it’s meeting up for a coffee, sending a text or email or chatting on the phone. You’ll be amazed how happy and energized you’ll feel.
Above all, don’t put things off till tomorrow. Live life to the full and live in the moment, because as the quote reminds us … ‘this moment is our life”
Happy New Year!
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