PictureThis pup reminds me of Ella –
guaranteed to make you smile!

I’m a very happy person, 99.9% of the time, but it’s not without effort. Its not that depressing stuff doesn’t happen in my life, I just have been able to choose to be in a good mood. Can it really be as simple as a yes/no? Happy/Not Happy? Not necessarily, but I think that one must make a conscious effort to see the silver lining in every cloud.

I have always been a glass half-full type of person. Situations just seemed more tolerable when you could hold close to the positive. Choosing to be happy to me is not an innate skill, but one that is learned and practiced. So, how do I keep my happiness muscle in shape? By practicing gratitude daily.

Ella has truly helped me to be a more grateful person, teaching me the number one exercise to remain positive – to live in the present. Here’s a great quote that has been attributed to Lao Tzu.

If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

PictureWhen all else fails, try this ;)

The best part is that is very easy to be grateful for that instant in time. When walking with Ella, I always try to express gratitude for the sun shining (I love you, LA), the sound of the neighborhood birdies, and the fact that I am able to walk my doggy however, wherever, and whenever I want. 

Self-care is also a big player on the road to happiness. If you aren’t carving out the time to love yourself, how will you be able to express love to others (and the world)? It may be as simple as changing your negative self-talk to positive or starting (or maintaining) a daily self-care practice of self-massage, hot tea, quiet time, or whatever you need to stay charged. As long as you have money in your gratitude bank, you can share your joy with others. 

Being able to love what you do is a huge privilege, but can be achieved by refocusing your energy. It goes back to gratitude – instead of thinking of all the ways your job annoys you, think of how many little things that can bring a smile to your face. Maybe its when the clock strikes 5, but that’s a place to start!

What do you do to stay recharged and positive?