We all want to be happy in life, to enjoy life and live it to the fullest, but somehow we find that we are not able to do this. We find many reasons for not being able to be happy.

We think:

• we must “have” or achieve something (big) in order to be happy.
• we cannot define what we want in order to be happy
• our happiness depends upon other people
• we need to have perfect lives in order to be happy.
• we need to have perfect bodies to be happy..

This list can go on and on without you finding the reason to be happy. We have a high benchmark to demarcate an occasion as happy. We are quick to find fault with almost everything.

Happiness is a state of mind; an attitude that one needs to develop.

The first step to being happy is to start counting your blessings - NOW. All your life, you’ve looked for and found reasons to be unhappy, well, now change that attitude. Start looking for reasons to be happy and you will find them. These reasons to be happy need not be big, on the contrary, look for joy in the small everyday things, for example, the bus that came on time, no queue at the checkout line, a funny mail, happy that you can read, write, see, taste, smell, walk, talk etc.

We all seem to be surrounded by things/people that we do not want. Think about how they got to be in your life in the first place! They are there in your life because you’ve been thinking thoughts of them and they have materialized in your life. So the trick to being happy is think of things that make you happy, and they will start to show up in your life too.

The secret is that happiness rests within us, we only need to release it in to our lives.

Many people recommend meditation for this, it no doubt helps, but if you don’t wish to do something that sounds so serious then here is a simple exercise you can do.

Start each day on a happy note. Everyday, set an intention to be happy, just for today.

 It is quite simple to trigger the “happy hormones” that release the happiness that is latent within you.

1) clap your hands as though you are applauding something that really makes you happy, clap loud and hard like cheering your favorite team. You will find that the louder you clap, the happier you feel.

2) nod your head as though approving of something, and that too will have you feeling happy.

3) clap and nod your head, go on, it does not cost you any money to do this, do it now and observe how you feel. You will start feeling lighter and happier.

4) smile, laugh out aloud, watch funny movies, cartoons. The more you laugh, the more you find things to laugh about.

5) think of something silly you did, then, instead of criticizing yourself for it, laugh at yourself for it. It will help you heal.

6) put on some music and dance a lively dance.

Laugh and be happy.