How to Find Serenity and Happiness in Life...BE HAPPY!!!

Here's how....

Stop struggling in this world, stop the insanity...Stop dreaming of and waiting for something in your life to change before you can be happy. Stop looking for that certain someone or circumstance to complete you, to make you whole, to bring you happiness. Realize that the world is not perfect, there are no guarantees and that your happiness must start with you...Understand that who you are as a person is largely a result of your life experiences, how you have been conditioned to think and feel. Start to sift through all the garbage and untruths you have learned over your lifetime. For example, how your appearance should be, what type of economic success you should have attained at this point in your life, what you owe your family emotionally, physically, financially, mentally, the idea that you need to totally give up who you are as a person to make others happy, guarding every word and action so as to keep peace and to have others approve of you, staying in a career you hate because it is prestigious and earns great income, etc.etc.etc.

Open yourself up to a new world and different opportunities, possibles, and other ways of viewing life. STOP TRYING TO BE PERFECT! Realize not everyone is going to accept, approve of, or like you for that matter...So what?? Who made them judge and jury? Why do you let other people determine your worth? Who are they? Are they in any way superior to you? Do you know the innermost recesses of their heart, their true character, or do you only see the mask they wear, outward appearances. How do you know that they are in any way superior to you? But yet, you enable them to determine your value??? Why let other people's assessments and judgments of you determine your actions? Realize the ridiculousness of this.

Begin to nurture yourself, respect yourself, love yourself, not for your accomplishments, but simply because you are...simply because you exist and have unique qualities and gifts that no other person, not one single other person possesses..Like a unique fingerprint, you are exclusive and beautiful just because you live...

Stop traveling through life thirsty for the next "high", in the form of a material item or admiration from people. Decide to use your unique gifts and talents to create, to give, and to contribute. Give back....There, in fact, lies true happiness.

Be appreciative of the things you already possess that many others do not, whether they be material, intellectual, physical, spiritual. Be grateful for the blessings right in front of your face instead of always wanting more..

Stop engaging in negative thoughts, destructive actions. Cut off all relationships that suck the life from you, dysfunctional relationships, relationships that bring you down instead of building you up. Learn how much to give of yourself without giving too much. Let your friendships and lovers be only those who build you up, respect you, love you for who you and not what you can do for them, relationships that do not try to mold you into someone or something you are not.

Forgive because in forgiving comes great freedom...

Differentiate between guilt and responsibility.. This is huge! Guilt destroys and causes you to make bad decisions..Free yourself of guilt by forgiving yourself for mistakes made in the past and those that will be made in the future. Mistakes can be beautiful if they can be learned from. Say no if you do not want to do something, or feel uncomfortable doing something, even if there are repercussions. Remember it is impossible to please everyone..

Stop trying to mold and change those around you and instead accept and love them for their uniqueness and who they truly are...

Understand that life isn't always a bed or roses so do not take every disappointment personally. Accept what happens to you as part of life, digest it, learn from it, and move on. Don't live in the past, live in the present and look to the future.

Never give up your your hearts desires. Fight for those desires, go after them with all the fiery passion you can muster and never quit till you achieve your dreams.

Lastly, keep things simple...simplify your life in every way possible..with simplicity comes peace.....