What are your tips for happiness?

Stay at home, eat chocolate, watch a decent film.

- I'm sending this from home.............. :-)

I think that Happiness is as dangerous a condition as misery.

The day you don't think you're one or the other is the best day of your life.

I live a happy life as I assume responsibility for my own happiness. I don't expect anyone else to 'make' me happy. I try to do things that make me happy and avoid those things I can that make me unhappy. I don't do what is 'expected' of me, I do what I think it right.

This means if I was not happy I would have to do something about it- it's my life, no good blaming someone/something else!

Have a good day :o)

My number one 'happy' tip: stop reading the newspapers and listening to the tv news every day. A few times a week is fine. After all, we wouldn't have known we were supposed to be 'blue' had the media not jumped onto the story. Lady-bird is right: it's up to us.

I think happiness is not about what we have or don't have but our state of mind. People where I work in West Africa seem to be very happy and they have very little. When I see the Thai people when I go there they seem to be happy. Probably doing what makes you happy helps. Itcould be something to do with the weather as well I hear people who live in cold dark climates such as the Nordic nations get depressed and unhappy sometimes to the point of suscide. My formula is simple, get down the pub with my mates, take the micky out of each other and have a good laugh followed by a takeaway and a good film on the box. If I meet a lady in the process thats always a plus as well.
However what also makes me happy is to spend time with my daughter, stepson and Mum and Dad. (Obviously this is the formula for a divorced male however I bet it would work for a female as well)

My number one tip: Stay well away from miserable people! Nothing drags you down more than being in the company of people who won't, or can't, cheer up. My personal motto for years used to be 'What, me, worry?' as uttered by the famous Mad Magazine character Alfred E Newman over a portrait of a spotty inane face on the cover. That's how I approach all of life.Stay cheerful, stay sane.

exraf64 has a valid point, perhaps; depressed people can be difficult to be around. However, being told to pull ourselves together, or cheer up, does not cure the condition and knowing we are a burden to others only makes our illness worse. Please remember that no one chooses to be depressed.

There's a difference between depressed people and miserable gits! A good way to feel better is go out, get some fresh air, a bit of sun (if there's any about), and some exercise. I was in a really bad mood this morning because everythings cancelled due to snow. But after wrapping up warm and building a snow penguin and igloo, and coming in to a nice hot-chocolate I'm all warm and happy.

Know thyself

Get a dog, then you will get out and meet people, dogs break down barriers. Only a few people hate and fear dogs, most really open up when they meet a nice friendly one. Nothing is as happy as a dog's tail so share it!

All the best to everyone

Bill.

It's the same with a baby! But you shouldn't get a dog or a baby unless you are 100% commited to looking after it!

Even if you can't manage a dog there's plenty of happiness to be had out in the woods with the birds & squirrels. Can do a lot of good just watching & reasliing how simple things can be.

I agree with watch and read less news.
I also cant believe no one has said thh old cliche - laughter, you should laugh every day even if there's nothing funny to laugh at.

I remember someone once saying or singing but I cant think of the source and it will be terribly paraphrased:

you should never ask yourself if you're happy, because if you have to ask, you cant be

Living in Thailand is enough to keep me happy - most of the time anyway!

I'm currently in the process of downloading all episodes of "Allo, Allo" - about half way through Season 6 just now. I also have most of the episodes of "Only Fools and Horses" and the first 3 seasons of "Dad's Army".

I still have plans to download Red Dwarf, Married With Children, Hogan's Heroes, Cheers, Father Ted, Steptoe & Son and Brittas Empire.

In addition, I have many Horizon and Sky at Night programmes along with quite a few others.

Alan

as a 75year old student with a pacemaker ,if i wake up and can get going its a good day.enjoy life as you have it and remember this is your only shot make the best of it!

Follow your heart, dont worry bout what others think and connect with people.

PeteTheBubble

Count your blessings! In most cases, no matter how horrible things are for you, there's usually something in your life that's good. This comes from someone who's suffered with depression, and thinking psitive is one way I keep depression at bay.

Oh, and I've a number of pets - but no dog! :(

Me too! It seams like every couple of months we get a new animal! We've had rabbits, guinny pigs, a cat, a dog, and loads of goldfish! Plus two kids(children, not baby goats! Although I've always wanted a goat. Or a lama. I almost convinced my boyfriend to get an alpaca, but he changed his mind and got a dog!)
Also, and this is where a dog or kid helps, going for a walk. After having a bad week I decided I'd had enough of 'having enough' and took dog+kids for a walk in the rain. We all got soaked, but came back de-stressed and cuddled on the sofa with a warm drink and a buiscuit.
If it had been cold enough to light the fire it would have been perfect!

As long as the weather's reasonable, I take the horse for a ride across the farmland, where we keep him. Living in a rural area is pretty good for the soul anyway, on horseback, even better. (If I sound smug, sorry. After many years in suburbia, can't believe I'm here!)

Put some Sylvester on youtube ('Do you wanna funk' or 'you make me feel mighty real') and have a boogie round the room...it might not make you happy, but it will put a smile on your face :o)

'Things' dont make you happy, you do and people do, get up each morning and just decide to not let the world or the people in it take away the good feeling of being you and alive.

Lie on your back and look up to the sky. It always gives me perspective as you realise how big the world is, or if the stars are out how big the universe is, and how small we are in comparison. Might not be happyness, but you definatly get a sense of peace.

Happiness is found in doing things which bring joy to you. It's easy to feel disappointed or sad, but you allow yourself these emotions. I believe it's good to express all emotions to be well balanced... you just need to be at peace with yourself and be doing what you feel is right to be doing. Don't worry about what everyone else says, or does. If it's not for you, why follow suite? Individuality is the key to development and if something makes you smile or someone makes you feel fantastic, then stick with it. Also, if someone makes you feel sad or drains you then talk to them or walk away. life is too short to allow people to make you feel worthless.

And I agree... looking at the sky is very relaxing. Opens up the mind to a whole new reality and realisation. Very tranquil. :)

Meditate and do/have Reiki

My advice is to recognise self improvement! When you learn to improve yourself in different ways you start to become more happy. Although to improve yourself can mean determination and change. For example you may want to loose weight to improve your physical appearance and confidence but to do this you have to be dedicated to eating a healthy diet and exercice. To a point you have to be strong minded and avoid the pitfalls in life. I don't think anything really ever comes easy in life and to acheive real happiness you start by understanding yourself and improveing your weaknesses and deal with your fears and problems. This may be mean different issues for different people. There are lots of changes i have made to my life over the last few years and I can honestly say that I feel more happy as a result of self improvement. I really think true happiness starts with understanding your self!

Leave the problems to the problem makers. It's the small things in life that often make the biggest differences.