Changing Direction

It's the start of another month and we are in the thick of Summertime.  The heat is on!  I've been staying cool though and taking each day in stride.  Choosing my battles and trying to remain balanced in all things.   This morning I saw a segment on Good Morning America with Dr. Ian Smith .  He has a new book out called "Happy".  This is a topic that I have posted about a few times.  I know there are a lot of people going through some tough times but you CAN be happy in the midst of challenges.  Here are some boosters from his book that I actually already practice that will help bring you happiness. Commit 5 Acts of Kindness Each Week Keep a Gratitude Journal Write Someone a Thank You Letter and Visit Spend Money on Someone Else Strengthen and Deepen Personal Relationships Develop a Spiritual Life Forgive YOUR HAPPY PLAN Each week perform three of the above happiness boosters. Each week read an article about a person, place, or thi...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy 9 Ways to Get Happy in the Next 30 Minutes by Real Simple Magazine http://bit.ly/qrqlK In the next half hour, tackle as many of the following suggestions as possible. Not only will these tasks themselves increase your happiness, but the mere fact that you've achieved some concrete goals will boost your mood. Jay Gosney 1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you're on the phone, stand up and pace. Walk to a coworker's office instead of sending an e-mail. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better... 2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning. Find the best walking workout for your exercise style. 3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven't seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other peo...