Find forgiveness
If you say you can forgive but not forget, maybe you haven’t really forgiven? Inability to forgive those who have hurt you means that you carry the burden of negative and damaging emotions like righteousness and anger, limiting your chance of happiness. You also stay...
Deal with the past
Is it worth your while to hang on to a grudge that is damaging your chance of happiness and someone else’s well-being? Was this friendship once a source of happiness? What will it take to make things right? At the time, negative feelings may have been appropriate but...
Ask yourself: “why am I here?”
What people say is important to them and what they do are often two very different things. Imagine one day when you are a 100 years old you get the chance to come back to today and give yourself advice about living the best and most meaningful and happy life. What...
Look for flow
Flow is that state you experience when an activity challenges you to use your ability and skill to the fullest, when what you are doing is so absorbing that you lose track of time. If a task is too difficult for you, you are likely to become anxious. Too little...
Find engagement
Many people sleepwalk through life, only partially engaged. Globally only 14% of people are highly engaged with their work, 24% are totally disengaged and 62% are somewhere in between. What a waste of all that talent and energy! People are most likely to be fully...
Play to your strengths
Throughout your life you will have been told about your weaknesses and areas for improvement but very little time has probably been spent checking and pointing out the talents you have. Do it for yourself by thinking back to an occasion when you were really at your...
Believe in yourself
Few people have the confidence they really deserve, caused by faulty perception and inadequate self belief. Do some research: What have you ever been told about yourself, the good and the not so good? How trustworthy are your sources? There are people whose opinion on...
Build hope
Hopefulness is mainly learned and is one of the key strengths that contribute to happiness. A hopeful person has the belief that future good events will outweigh bad ones. Yet pessimism is often the preferred thinking style. People claim that, if you don’t hope, then...
Cope with corrosive cynicism
Doubting the sincerity of everyone’s motives, negativity and disbelief, sneering sarcasm and condescension are all elements of cynicism that have become institutionalised in our society. People often confuse cynicism with intellectual rigour, and happiness with...
Bounce back
Think back to a difficult event in your life. How did you find your way through? What gave you the strength to carry on? Some of the factors that decide how easily you will overcome adversity and bounce back afterwards are having a strong support system, building an...