10 Secrets for Happiness and Success

by Christopher Westra
(Gunnison, Utah, USA)

This is my personal list of ideas, habits, and techniques that have worked for me in my life. In the list I give lots of links to other resources. Success is not just wealth, but health, peace and happiness.

1. Change your schedule once in a while. What's the difference between a rut and a groove? A groove is shallow and a rut is too deep. Try exercising at a different time. Experiment with getting up earlier, and then having a nap. You may find a new groove, but don't keep it too long!

2. Accept and really feel your emotions. Let yourself feel your feelings. As you feel them, they will transform into other feelings and you can let them go. Watch a quick video on the eight steps of Emotional Transformation.

3. Set SMART Goals for your life. S.M.A.R.T. goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Oriented. Time Oriented means that you want to achieve the goal by a certain time or date. Set your SMART goals in writing and watch your success soar.

4. Enjoy nature. Go outside and see the world. Smell the pines. Hear the leaves rustle and crunch under your feet. Watch the sunrise and the sunset. Pick fruit from a tree and enjoy it fresh. Go hiking.

5. Get more sleep and rest. Your wonderful body and mind need the rejuvenating power of sleep. Most people hardly ever get enough. Get enough sleep and you'll have more energy, you'll think more clearly, and you'll even be better looking!

6. Tease your brain. Use mind puzzles and benders to exercise your mind. I've used little puzzles, tricks, and mind questions for years to sharpen my own mind. I also use them in teaching classes and lessons. Give the puzzles to your kids too.

7. Meditate every day. We need to exercise our mind, and we also need time to quiet and still our mind. Meditation has helped millions to focus energies, develop spiritual insight, and just calm down. You can just set aside time to be still and think.

8. Accept your trials and hard times. Difficult times come to all of us. Trials are a part of life and are part of why we are here. Accepting this actually makes it easier to handle them. Some of our greatest accomplishments will come from overcoming hard times. I'm writing this at a time when I've been very sick from Lyme disease for 4 years.

9. Take initiative in your life. I've got a pin-on button that says, "If It Is To Be, It's Up To Me!" I used to wear it to classes and groups. I keep it by my desk to remind me. I've taught my boys to take action toward their goals. If you want a job, or a relationship, then take action. If you want to be an author, start writing.

10. Use your powerful imagination. Practice using your imagination to prepare for events in your life. When you have a test, date, party, competition, or interview coming up, see in your mind's eye how you want it to go. This will help the event go the way you want. This is called Holographic Creation.

Enjoy my list and take those secrets that work for you to create happiness and success!