Another shout out to Mrs. Bring The Hope for having some good reading around the house over the Fourth of July weekend.
The cover of one of her magazines had a tease for a story about optimism. When I flipped inside, I found a top 12 list on "Cultivating Optimism" from Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. Here are the tips:
- Count your blessings...even on days when there aren't as many as you'd like. Jot a list and you may be pleasantly surprised to find that there are more great things about your life than you thought.
- Look again...most situations have a bright side, somehow.
- Don't stew...good rarely comes from dwelling on problems...
- Tell someone they look terrific...you might just make their day and elevate your mood too.
- Nurture relationships...strong bonds benefit everyone.
- Get lost...get so involved in a book or movie that you lose track of time.
- Remember when...recall happy memories to infuse your everyday actions with joy/positivity.
- Pursue a long-neglected goal...with passion!
- Cope calmly...manage stress in healthy ways by walking or talking with friends.
- Forgive...work on letting go of anger and resentment toward others.
- Embrace the spiritual...get more involved in your place of worship.
- Honor your body...exercise, meditate and laugh often.
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