Happiness - How To Light Up Your Life

Happiness can sometimes seem very elusive.

However much you try to be happy, nothing seems to help.

Often this is because you’re trying so hard to find that single instant-happiness-in-a-box solution that will solve all your problems, you overlook all the small things in your life that actually do bring happiness.

And, through over familiarity, you don’t realise how the negative effects of other small things can add up and become overwhelming.

Every person, every event, every experience in life can be summed up simply into one of two ways.

1. This brings light into my life. These are all the people, things, experiences, events that somehow enhance your life, and give you more positive energy. They bring a smile to your face, put a bounce in your step, makes the world seem a little brighter and warmer place to be.

2. This steals light from my life. These are the all the experiences, events, people and things that bring unhappiness. They in some way drain your light and energy. They dent your hope and contribute to you feeling downhearted and pessimistic. The world feels darker and colder to be in.

So how can we use these two types to become happier?

The first step is to recognise them.

So take a sheet of paper and write “These bring light into my life” at the top. Write down every little thing you can think of that brings a little more happiness and positive energy into your life.

Be sure too to write about your own attitudes, beliefs and outlooks that bring light into your life, as well as external people and experiences.

Then take another sheet of paper and write the heading: “These steal light from my life.” Write down all the things you can think of that drain energy and light from your life.

Again, remember to include your own attitudes, outlooks, thoughts and beliefs that steal light from your life, as well as the external factors.

Now you have your two lists.

It’s time to take action towards being more happy.

Pick 3 from the “These bring light into my life” list. In the next week, take action to increase the amount of each of these 3 you have in your life.

Also, pick 3 from the “These steal light from my life” list. Take action, in the next week, to reduce the amount of each of these you have in your life. Do what you need to do.

After a week, you’ll begin to notice the difference to your happiness. Keep up the action, maintain what you’ve done in the first week, then pick more things from your two lists and take action on them.

Using this technique, you can learn what brings you happiness and begin to light up your life more often and more consistently.

Creativity and happiness are closely linked. When we’re using more of our natural creative talents, we feel happier, more fulfilled and more alive.

Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin publishes Create Create!, a twice monthly ezine of articles, tips and exercises to help you be more creative, and therefore more happy. Sign up for your copy now at www.CoachCreative.com