Practice Happiness

If happiness were a tool in a carpenter’s toolbox, it would likely be a pair of needle-nose pliers. Many times these specialized pliers are the only tool needed for the mechanical fix. In life, our happiness pliers are often the tool we need.

WHY PRACTICE HAPPINESS

• Happiness is a specialized life skills tool.
• Happiness is a tool to solve life difficulties and challenges.
• Happiness is like high-priced Ray-Ban or Maui Jim sunglasses; it removes the glare of life and improves the real picture.
• Happiness is the growth product with consistent practice, just as biceps develop with dedicated weight training.

HOW TO PRACTICE HAPPINESS

1. Act like you are happy–stand tall, walk with confidence, smile often.
2. Speak happiness–words matter.
3. Journal 5 happiness thoughts/events daily.
4. Hang out with happy people, and disassociated with unhappy people.
5. Grow spiritually–faith grows happiness.
6. Go to church and connect with other genuinely happy people.
7. Seek to make others happy–love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.
8. Give more gifts and buy less for yourself.
9. Establish 15 minutes of daily solitude–be still.
10. Enjoy your Bible, and memorize meaningful passages.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)