Get Rid of the Green

I've been talking about a lot of how to promote happiness, but sometimes thoughts creep into our minds that make it hard to be happy? One of the biggest of these is jealousy. You see the seemingly endless supply of your friend's clothes, or the expensive furniture in your neighbor's house, or all the dates that girl in school seems to have all the time and before you know it you're green with envy. So how do you combat the feelings that threaten to destroy your happiness.

First, it's very important to remember that happiness is a choice. No one can give you happiness, but no one can take it away either. Second, stop comparing. Comparison always leads to misery in some form or another. It's also unfair. We tend to either compare our worst with another's best, or our best with another's worst. It's never a good idea to think that someone has the perfect life just because they have more of something than we do. But it's also wrong to think that we have it all and everyone else should be jealous of us.

Quit the comparisons, and then think about what you have. You may not have all the hottest fashions, but at least you have clothes to wear. You may not be the belle of the ball at school every day, but at least you have friends and people that care about you. Changing your focus from what you don't have to what you do will you open your eyes to how wonderful your life really is.

One of my favorite movies is "It's a Wonderful Life." In the movie, George Bailey gives up many of his lifelong dreams to keep up a business his father started and to help people less fortunate than him. When he encounters a very difficult trial, he considers ending his life, but a special friend is sent to show him what a wonderful life he really has. You can see an awesome clip from this movie here.

No matter what your struggles, no matter what you don't have, you always have the right to happiness.

-Sarah :)

How to be an Eternal Optimist

We all have that friend that is just always happy. No matter what life throws at them, they just always seem upbeat and optimistic. So how can you achieve this eternal optimist view? I find that I learn best through observation, followed by application. And what better examples to analyze than some of our favorite movie characters?

1. Olaf from "Frozen"

The latest Disney classic follows the story of Elsa's ice powers and her struggle to control it. Amidst all the chaos, Olaf the snowman appears with songs of summer and constant puns that keep you laughing through the whole movie. Even as Anna approaches freezing to death, Olaf is right by her side keeping her spirits and hopes alive.

From Olaf we can learn that the greatest happiness comes from friendship and sacrifice. As he states so perfectly, "Some people are worth melting for." Who in your life would you be willing to melt for? Focusing more of your energy on your relationship with that person will allow you to forget your problems and increase your overall happiness.


2. Dory from "Finding Nemo"

Dory is one of my favorite Disney characters. While Marlin is the eternal worrier, Dory is the eternal optimist. Even when the two are trapped inside a whale with no hope of escape, Dory still adopts a happy-go-lucky attitude and refuses to give up.

Dory teaches us that there is always a silver lining. Even when we are surrounded by trials and struggles, there is always something to smile about. She also expresses many times the power of song in keeping hope alive.


3. Donkey from "Shrek"

I absolutely LOVE Donkey!!!! He is hilarious and can always think of something funny to lighten the mood. While Shrek is overly annoyed with him in the beginning, he soon gets used to his presence and can't help but love him.

Donkey is the perfect example of learning to laugh. The most embarrassing or awkward moments can become the funniest and most memorable ones. Sometimes on bad days all we need are a good laugh.


4. Pollyanna from "Pollyanna"

Pollyanna is famous for always finding something to be "glad" about. She claims that when she found herself becoming sad or disappointed she would play the "glad game" to lift her spirits.

Pollyanna teaches us that we can always find something to be grateful for. Our situation will never be perfect, but it will also never be completely hopeless.


5. Rapunzel from "Tangled"

Rapunzel always dreamed of seeing the lanterns light up the night sky. Despite her mother's disapproval and the odds being against her, she never gave up the hope of discovering her dreams.

Like Flynn Rider, we can all learn from Rapunzel's example. The greatest joy is found not in wealth in riches, bu in dreams and optimism.


6. Annie from "Annie"

Annie is a classic musical centered on the story of an orphan who goes from rags to riches. Despite not having a family and never feeling loved, Annie learns to focus on tomorrow and the promise of a better future. She sings "the sun will come out tomorrow," even after "a day that's gray and lonely."

Annie shows us that just because our situation isn't ideal right now, there is always tomorrow. Live in the present, but don't get too caught up in the stresses of today. Look ahead to the promise of tomorrow.


I know that although life comes in with struggles every day that threaten to ruin our happiness, we can all learn to be eternal optimists and to focus on the bright side of things.

-Sarah :)

His Hand is Stretched out Still

Okay, here's a warning to everyone; this post is going to be completely religious, so I apologize if you are not a religious person. My intention is not to offend you, only to share my beliefs because of how happy they have made me.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I found something that I absolutely loved when I was reading the Book of Mormon, our religion's book of scripture. There are a few passages of Isaiah quoted, and it was interesting to me that although God was disappointed with the unrighteous, he still loved them. 2 Nephi 20:10 reads, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still" (Isaiah 10:4). I love the fact that God and Jesus Christ are always there to accept us back, no matter how many things we have done wrong.

There is a video I absolutely love about the Atonement called Even When You're Broken It touches me and makes me cry every time I watch it because of how powerful it is. Jesus Christ is always reaching out, comforting us and helping us back to him. We just have to reach out and take his outstretched hand.

I have a testimony of the Savior's atoning love for us. I know that he suffered for our sins, pains, sorrows, fears, weaknesses, and infirmities so that we can be made whole. Whole, as in everything about us will be made perfect and pure! That is such an incredible promise! I believe in and love Christ with all my heart. He is my older brother.

If any of you would ever like to know more about my religion, please let me know! I would love to share with you the thing that has changed my life and brought me so much joy!

-Sarah :)

Seven Habits of Incredibly Happy People

For this post I decided to do a little research, and I found this awesome article at the following website:

7 Habits of Incredibly Happy People

I decided to take a new twist on it though and find a quote that ties in with each of the "habits described."

1. "In times of greatest stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive." -Lee Iacoccoa

If you're unhappy, then find something to be happy about. Read your favorite book, join a new club, start an exercise program, or doing something else you love! Keeping busy with things you enjoy in between the things you despise allows you to find balance and reduce your stress.

2. "Friendship may, and often does, grow into love, but love never subsides into friendship." -Lord Byron

Okay, this one may sound a little weird, but I don't mean the "true love at first sight" kind of love. I'm talking about the love that builds as you grow closer to someone, the love that is not about romantic feelings but about an emotional connection. This type of love is the greatest anyone can experience, and developing bonds like this with a few close friends gives you someone to turn to in times of struggle.

3. "Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude." -Dale Carnegie

I discussed this more in depth a few posts back, but it's true!!! If your happiness only depends on the weather or how many miles you can run in an hour or how attractive your boyfriend is, you will never be happy. Happiness only results when you can learn to find the positive in any situation, despite your current circumstances.

4. "The reason I exercise is for the quality of life I enjoy." -Kenneth H. Cooper

Exercise is a great way to stay happy! You not only improve your self-image by taking care of your body; you improve your attitude as well. Exercise is one of those things that can turn a bad day into a great one, just by allowing me to view life through a fresh lens.

5. "Where there is no struggle, there is no strength." -Oprah Winfrey

Weaknesses and trials are inevitable. We all have our own storms to conquer and our own mountains to climb. However, viewing struggle as a way to grow emotionally can be one of the most effective ways to becoming truly happy. Instead of treating hardships as a painful and impossible experience to endure, we should view them as an exciting challenge to overcome.

6. "You cannot create experience. You must undergo it." -Albert Camus

Focus your energy on creating memories instead of living in your possessions. That new car may look like just the thing to lift your spirits, but material wealth only brings temporary pleasure. Experiencing joy with the people you love is a treasure that will last forever.

7. "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney

And lastly, follow your dreams! Make sure when you reach the end of your life, you have no regrets. This has honestly been one of the most liberating realizations in my life. Once I had the thought that I can do anything if I'm willing to work for it, it made me immensely happier. If I want to travel to Europe, I can. Sure I'll have to work and plan and prepare for the trip, but I can certainly make it happen. It's a great way to look at anything. Live as if you're going to die tomorrow.

I hope these habits brought some form of enlightenment and allowed you to re-evaluate how you are contributing to (or withdrawing from) your own store of happiness.

-Sarah :)

Laughter: The Best Medicine

Wouldn't it be great if there was a magic, cure-all pill? This pill would not only heal the physical body from pain and disease, but it would also remedy emotional pain and depression. I just have to say, if I could market a pill like this I wouldn't be short on money for the rest of my life.

While there isn't a cure-all solution for every bad day or difficult experience that crosses our path, there are ways to overcome such stress. One of the best ways to improve your attitude is laughter. According to HelpGuide.org, laughter has both physical and emotional benefits. It protects your heart and improves your immune system while releasing endorphins that improve your mood. In a certain sense, laughter is a kind of medicine!

One of the best ways to bring laughter into your life is to surround yourself with happy people that have a good sense of humor. Also, when you're having a bad day, watch something that makes you laugh. I have a Pinterest board full of all my favorite jokes and memes. Watching a funny show or video gets you laughing and takes your mind off whatever caused your bad day in the first place.

Here are a couple of gems that have never ceased to make my laugh. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.










I also absolutely LOVE this video of a laughing baby. It always makes me smile.

So the next time you find yourself in a bad mood, try for a few laughs.

-Sarah :)

Flipping the Mirror Around

Bad days are inevitable. No matter how hard you try to be positive all the time, there will still be days when it seems impossible to be happy. One children's book I've always loved is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day because we can all relate! We all have had days where it seems that every element of life is combining its forces together to destroy our happiness.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

But there's good news! There's a cure for the ever-looming darkness of bad day syndrome. And that cure is service!!! Now, don't start groaning. I know what you're thinking. "Service? As in serving other people? Isn't this supposed to be about helping ME?" Well I'll tell you a secret. Focusing on other people allows you to open up beyond your own personal desires and problems in order to recognize the needs of others. As a result, it makes you happy. It's a win-win; you help another person and have a positive experience in the process.

So what kind of service are we talking about here? Going out and handing out cookies to homeless people? Raking leaves for little old ladies? Reading to children in the hospital? These are all excellent forms of service, but it can be even simpler than that. Smiling at another person, giving someone a hug that needs one, and simply picking up something that someone dropped are all ways to make a person's day better. I heard a metaphor once that I really liked and I feel is worth sharing. Every day we hold in our hearts a mirror. When we first wake up the mirror is facing us. We use it to get ourselves ready, to take care of our physical and emotional needs, and to fulfill our self interests. But when we leave for the day, it's important that we turn the mirror around so it is facing others. Flipping the mirror around is one of the healthiest, beneficial, and most effectual ways to find happiness.

 To finish off the post I want to include the clip to this short video called the Kindness Boomerang. I love this video, not only because it illustrates the power of one simple act of kindness, but it also shows that when we serve other people, it comes back to us in unexpected ways.


Kindness Boomerang - "One Day"

Don't forget to smile and laugh. It's a beautiful day!

-Sarah :)

Finding Love in a Hopeless Place

Sometimes life seems hopeless. The world often seems chaotic and critical and it's hard to find a place where we fit in, much less a place where we can be happy. For me, the best way to find happiness in a messed up world is doing things I love. This includes hobbies, but it can also be something very simple. For example, music inspires me and excites me, even me on the worst days. When I'm in a bad mood it only takes about 10 minutes of Pandora to change that.

Finding simple "fixes" such as this can help when you really don't have time to devote to lots of hobbies and recreational activities. So what is your "guilty pleasure?" Well oftentimes you can make the time to do the things you love without giving up other endeavors. I like to go by the 15 minute rule. If you're feeling really stressed out, take 15 minutes and do something just for you. Whether it's music, art, reading, shooting hoops, or even social media, spend 15 minutes doing something you thoroughly enjoy. Taking a couple short breaks like this every day has helped me so much already through the stresses of school.

So keep your head up and treat yourself to a little happiness today!

-Sarah

Beauty that is More than Skin Deep

A lot of times we try to seek happiness from our environment. I find myself thinking all the time things like "I'm in such a good mood because this cute boy texted me" or "I can't believe I failed that exam! I'm so stupid!" Not only will this negative self-talk most certainly not improve your attitude, but these types of thoughts are ridiculous! Your worth is not defined by how many dates you go on or what your GPA is. You are priceless! And you should be happy with who YOU are, not what you think other people see you as.



Women especially seem to have a skewed perception of their physical attractiveness, believing that they are too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, too pale, too dark; their hair is too short, their fingers are too long, and their eyes are too squinted. The media doesn't help these insecurities at all. Models are often portrayed as being tall and skinny, with the perfect eyes, hair, lips, and breasts.

I posted links to the following videos because I think they do an excellent job of showing how wrong we are in believing that we are ugly and that others view us that way.

Dove Evolution
Body Evolution
Dove Real Beauty Sketches

Another thing we can learn from these videos is the idea that models are beautified and photoshopped to the extreme in order to portray the image of the most "beautiful," "desirable," or "sexy" woman. However, this image simply isn't real. The following are pictures of a few movie stars with and without makeup. They really open your eyes to that fact that they are just normal human beings like us, still plenty beautiful without all that makeup.











Part of finding happiness is learning to love yourself unconditionally, imperfections and all. We all have physical and character traits that we like about ourselves, as well as ones we wish we didn't have. Comparing ourselves to others is useless. Sure, they may have a strength that is our weakness, but they have weaknesses as well. Recognizing that we all have strengths and weaknesses will allow us to overcome our feelings of inadequacy and learn to love ourselves for who we truly are.

Your job now is to love yourself unconditionally for the person you are, no matter what.

-Sarah

Perspective: It can change everything

"The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude." -Dennis S. Brown



Perspective is all about the way we look at life. If you're not happy with your life, maybe you just need to change the way you see it.

I'm going to illustrate this with a little exercise. Look at the picture below. Do you see the white vase? Now look again. Do you see the black silhouettes of the two people?



Next picture: Do you see both an old and young woman? (Hint: the old woman's nose is the young woman's chin.)



Now check out this picture. It defies gravity in a way that no architecture ever could. The question is, which staircase is the one facing upright?

You get the idea. Our outlook on life changes everything. So how do we change our outlook? While it's not always easy, the best solution is to take it one day at a time. Focus on the positive. You missed the bus to campus? Well now you have the opportunity to get some exercise running there instead. While it isn't always easy to focus on the positive, it is one of the key steps to maintaining the level of happiness you desire.

Another way to change your perspective is about other people. Oftentimes we assume the worst about others when we should be assuming the best. Here is a story that is both entertaining and applicable when it comes to changing your perspective:

A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be. . .grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude, why he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

By Valerie Cox in “A Matter of Perspective”

Submitted by Tom “The Colonel” Parker

So if you're seeking happiness and aren't sure where to look, maybe turn your pointed finger back to yourself and decide what YOU can do to improve the situation. 

The best way to change your life is changing the way you see it!

-Sarah

What a Wonderful World

Can you guess what this week's theme is? It's not necessarily a one-word answer. I think sometimes we go through life, not really noticing the little things. I tried to illustrate with the gratitude theme that one of the first keys to being happy is noticing your blessings. Sometimes those blessings are obvious, but other times we have to dig a little deeper. One of the greatest feelings in life is noticing the beauty all around us. Watching a sunset, listening to music, or playing with little kids illustrates in just a few simple ways how beautiful life really is.

So for this week's theme I'd like to focus on beauty; recognizing it, appreciating it, and sharing it. I love photography, so I'm also going to take some pictures that I'll post and hopefully open up your eyes to the wonderful things life has to offer.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder (which is actually you, so look around).

-Sarah

Put a Smile on it

Hey everyone! I apologize for not posting more this week, but I hope that we've all felt a little more grateful. I'm going to finish off the week with one last thought on gratitude, and then I'll post next week's theme tomorrow.

Today I'd actually like to feature another blog post I found while surfing through the Internet. I would definitely recommend this article! It really opened my eyes to how much we have as well as how much we take for granted.

http://momastery.com/blog/2014/08/11/give-liberty-give-debt/

So today your homework assignment is to think of something you have that you wish was nicer or better. It could be your car, your house, your family (only kidding!). Now think about it again with an attitude of how grateful you are for it. I promise you this mindset will save you a lot of grief in the future. Everyone stay tuned for tomorrow's post about next week's theme!

Gratitude for the Things that Hurt

It makes sense to be thankful for blessings, but what about being thankful for trials? Most of us agree that hardships aren't readily sought after, but there can be great power in thanking God for the things that seem to be making us weaker when in fact they are strengthening us. In the Book of Mormon, a historical book of scripture, a man named Nephi describes the "many afflictions" that he has had to face, but he proclaims, "nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days" (1 Nephi 1:1).

I absolutely love this verse because Nephi recognized the importance of having trials AND being grateful for them. Our hardships make us who we are. We would not have the same strength and courage without them. In order to turn coal to diamonds extreme pressure must be placed upon it. In the same way, people can only grow and become more like God through struggles and pain.

Even for those of you who aren't religious, learning to accept and embrace your weaknesses and hardships is the first step in overcoming them. Take work, for example. Let's say you want to buy the new dodge avenger, so you begin saving your money like crazy, working extra hours, and eating out of a can so you can get the money for this car. When you finally buy it, it will seem so much more valuable to you than if someone had just given it to you because you put in the time to earn it. The same goes for trials. Working through something very difficult will make the light at the end of the tunnel seem so much brighter.

I know that there is hope for each and every one of us. I know that gratitude for both blessings and trials makes us both stronger and happier.

Can I get an amen? :)

-Sarah

You don't know a Good Thing 'Till it's Gone

One of the things I do all too often is take blessings for granted. I think we all do it, almost without thinking. And suddenly when the blessing is gone we realize how lucky we were to have it. For me, an example of this is my mother. Growing up my whole life she has been the one to fix me food, drive me places, do my laundry, laugh with me on the good days, and cry with me on the bad days. And then comes that momentous day in every teenager's life to leave home and step out into the world, alone. I absolutely love college, but I can honestly say one of the things I miss the most about home is my mom. While she is still alive and I can still talk to her, she isn't right there like she always was. I'm trying to work harder in life at focusing on what I have NOW and being grateful for it. You never know when it might disappear.

Now go tell those you love that you love 'em!

-Sarah

P.S. Here's some lovin' from Calvin and Hobbes.

What Constitutes a Happy Life?

Let me guess. You're reading this because you saw the headline title and you want to know the big secret. What is it that makes you happy? And the answer is quite simple, but powerful. You. The only way to be happy is for you to decide it. Now you're probably rolling your eyes and wondering how a teenage girl could possibly know anything about bringing about your own happiness. Give me a few more paragraphs and I'll tell you.

Often the key to finding happiness isn't a change in experience, it's a change in perception. It seems we constantly finding ourselves saying, "Once I move out of the house and live on my own I'll be happy" or "Once I get married I'll be happy" or "Once I get divorced I'll be happy" or "Once I quit my job and travel the world I'll be happy." Unfortunately, while our brains try to convince us that outside sources will determine our happiness, it is really our point of view that does just that.

Let's say your single and looking to get married. Certainly marriage is a point in life that brings great happiness, but if your only reason for getting married is because you don't feel happy and you think marriage will allow you to achieve effortless joy, then you're in for a rude awakening.

The truth is, always living in the future prevents you from remembering you have a present. There is a right now that you need to be living in, otherwise you'll reach the end of your life and realize you dreamed it away. So what's the magical solution to this surprisingly common difficulty? The answer lies with gratitude.

The reason we aren't always happy with our situation in life is because we tend to focus on the negative and compare it with another's positive. An example might be comparing your neighbor's Ferrari to your old clunker. This really isn't a fair comparison because while your neighbor may have a nice car, he is also single and lives alone in his parents' basement with no prospects, while you have a successful career, a loving spouse, children, and a home of your own.

This simple change in perception suddenly changes your attitude about life. Counting your blessings makes you realize how many you actually have. So I have a challenge for you. This week you need to take a few minutes each day to come up with three things you're thankful for. Just three a day for one week. You can write them in a journal, post them on social media, tell them to your cat, or all of the above. It doesn't matter to me. The purpose of this exercise is to open your mind up to your blessings and to help you recognize that even on the hardest days, there is always something to smile about. It's about changing a negative attitude to a positive one. And I promise you that after a week of doing this diligently, you'll start to notice a difference in the way you view life.

An attitude of gratitude is the best latitude.

-Sarah

P.S. PLEASE share your experiences with this little "experiment." You can either comment or email me or both. I would love to hear from you!

Week 1: An Attitude of Gratitude

One of the tricky things about blogging is keeping information fresh and exciting. Instead of just posting all the time about simply being happy, I want to help you take the steps to get there. Each week I'll post a new theme for that week that will focus on changes you can make in your life to increase your level of happiness and become a more well-rounded individual and member of society. This week's theme is gratitude.

Sometimes the best way to be happy is to focus on all of the great things you already have! This last week on Facebook I was challenged to post three things I was thankful for every day for seven days. I didn't realize what a difference it would make! Stopping to think about your blessings helps you realize you have so much to smile about! As we focus on gratitude this next week I hope to see some comments about how being more grateful makes you happy.

Smile! You never know who's watching. :)

-Sarah

When you're [Not] Happy and You Know it

One of life's greatest questions is "How can I be happy?" To some it may seem obvious, while others have a more difficult time. I don't blame anyone that has trouble finding joy in a world with so much confusion, stress, and uncertainty. For me happiness is about taking it one day at a time and noticing the little things. But sometimes it's really hard to be happy, especially on those days when you're late to work and you lock your keys in the car and you get home and burn your ramen on the stove and then you realize the next season of Psych isn't out yet.

Well my job is hopefully to make your life a little happier, if not easier. With the popularity of blogs skyrocketing nowadays, I figured why not create one that focuses on making other people happy? My hope is that at least a percentage of the things I post will cheer you up and that we can all work together to make happiness a regular emotion and not just a once-a-month venture.

Happy reading!

-Sarah

P.S. I am in LOVE with Calvin and Hobbes, so you can expect some regular cartoons along with my posts.