No two people are exactly the same. Some are born with a joyful attitude that smiling and being light-hearted come natural for them while some still need to learn new ways and discard the old habits to become happy people. Every one of us wants to be happy as often as we can, right? The problem is as much as we'd like to be happy, there are just so many things in our daily lives that hinder us from having this kind of positive feeling. Responsibilities and problems at home, in school and at work all contribute to stress in our body that we tend to forget to slow down and rejoice in the little details of life.
Many people have this notion that happiness is something to work hard for as it is beyond easy reach. But this has already been proven wrong by the experts. Psychologists affirm that happiness cannot be found anywhere and in another time as it can be achieved right now wherever you are. A person does not need to wait for long to be happy because he or she can experience being joyful anytime of the day, every day. In feng shui, having a sunny disposition attracts positive chi and promotes a balanced life.
Attitude is the key
It's the attitude that counts in our pursuit towards happiness. It's all about how we deal with the issues of life and the things that make us happy that matter. To put it simply, it's about being wise. In fact, the high-quality happiness that we look for is just within easy reach and does not cost so much.
A recent scientific breakthrough called neuroplasticity has found that happiness is definitely attainable. This discovery involves not only psychology but neurology, chemistry and meditation as well. In other words, it's how we manage our brain that's important in our effort to achieve happiness. And we should look no farther because the things that can make us feel better are just around us.
Discovering our strengths is another step towards feeling good about ourselves. Honesty, forgiveness, kindness, ingenuity and love learning are all morale boosters, according to the father of positive psychology movement, Martin Seligman, Ph.D. Using these strengths to serve other people will further boost our happy feeling although not before solving our personal issues.
We should not wait for tomorrow if we can rejoice today. Creating whatever opportunities as often as we can to celebrate life even in the midst of a sad situation will surely lead to a higher self-esteem. Go for a walk in the park, treat yourself to a cone of ice cream or have a makeover.
To further boost your happy feeling, you can wear the infinity (the figure 8) which symbolizes unlimited happiness. The Chinese considers eight as a lucky number. Wear it or just carry it with you and attract good things in your life ? better relationships, more wealth, love and respect from other people.
Harmonious relationships
In life, relationships with our family and friends matter most to us. A common factor in many studies on what makes people happy is the need for close connection, friendship, physical touch and the embrace of love. A National Opinion Research Center survey covering 23,000 Americans over the past two decades found that 41 percent of married people claimed to be very happy than those who were never married, separated or divorced. The benefits of marriage such as commitment, intimacy and support also help make married people happier in their lives.
Our friendships, too, make life worth living. Apart from our family, it is our friends who provide comfort when we're down and who keep us going during tough times. The more we widen our circle of friends, the happier and wiser we are. Without these people we greatly value like our friends and members of our family ? spouse, children and siblings -- from whom we get support and affection and with whom we share our triumphs and failures, life will truly be lonely.
In enhancing our relationships, we can use many accessories in the home. Among them would be photos of family members in wooden frames, fresh flowers in water, wooden furniture, a bowl of stones in water, a potted tree or plant and a mirror. The color green also promotes harmony so you might want to experiment with this hue in the different parts of your home where the family gathers.
Contrary to popular belief, love of money is not the root of all evil, lack of money is. This issue is a major concern of most married couples today. Believe it or not, eighty percent of divorces are the result of disagreements over money. Though money and marriage may not be good topics to talk about together, the fact is -- marriages cannot go on without money; while money, fortunately or unfortunately, can very well exist on its own.
The following are tips to improve marriage especially when money and finances are involved.
Learn each other's spending styles
A couple is composed of two individuals with varying likes, dislikes and preferences, with differing financial lifestyles ? e.g., one is a big spender while the other is a spendthrift; one is an impulsive buyer while the other likes to think things through; one prefers to deal with money matters now while the other wants to think about it over night. These differences could cause friction and fights if the disparity is not appropriately resolved.
It is best if a couple finds positive and creative ways to use each other's unique styles to serve the interest of the marriage as well as their bank accounts. Different does not have to mean conflict and a clash of methods in saving and spending.
Differences are varying ways of approaching problems and opportunities to solve these problems and using these opportunities to the best advantage.
Spend on values
Couples must take the time and effort to get to know the values they would like to prioritize. Values such as financial stability, companionship, freedom from debt, etc. are a few examples. Partners should define these values and determine which are most valuable to them.
Sharing details about each other's financial capabilities and incapabilities is essential.
It is important that couples mutually agree on what it is they want to focus on and from there decide how best to serve each other's emotional wants and financial needs.
Have dates, will discuss
Money matters during dates used to be a no-no. But now, discussing money issues during dates is a practical and wise decision. It is a ?no-frills? way to maintain honesty and transparency. Conflicts may or may not be avoided during these discussions. The important thing is that disagreements must not in any way be the dominant factor in your relationship.
Talk about sharing financial responsibilities. Decide how much you must spend and on ?what, which and how?. This could be a great way to settle differences, if there are any, and could even improve a couple's relationship, especially after each has found out how open the other would be in handling finances.
Divide and conquer
Partners must distribute financial responsibilities to each other. Their decisions should be based more on one another's capabilities, means and interests than on outdated stereotypes based on gender. A man was to bring ?home the bacon? and the woman was to stay in the house to take care of the children. This scenario may or may not work in this day and age unless a couple finds this particular style actually is best for them. What is important is that a couple's uniqueness shines through and the financial lifestyle they decide on works best to their family's advantage.
Share any events, especially financial ones with each other as well as make sure that important decisions are discussed and mutually agreed upon with the best interest of each other in mind.
Plan it then spend it
There are couples who plan what they spend i.e. budget. There are also couples who spend and then plan later. The former is preferred over the latter. Although it could feel a bit restraining, the value of planning ahead enables couples to know what they need more than what they want. Planning also enhances a couple's creativity as it forces them to think of innovative and often better ways to cover expenses that they have. Planning also increases the chance of saving and decreases their spending. This ensures their long-term enjoyment in their financial future.
Money and marriage should not be a source of conflict unless couples make it that. All it takes is honesty, openness and genuine respect for each other's capabilities to make money and marriage work. And if couples wish it so, it will be.
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Both Gloria Smith & Ian Williamson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gloria Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Business Credit Cards and Poor Credit. Gloria Smith is an expert on feng shui and the author of Feng Shui Secrets, an ebook on the practice of feng shui that also includes tips and suggestions. Get more information on this ancient Chinese practice at www.fengshuidecoratingtips.com.. Gloria Smith's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Ian Williamson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar, History and Sports Car. For more by Ian Williamson please visit. Ian Williamson's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.