Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass;
it's about learning to dance in the rain. 

Happiness comes only from appreciating what you have right now.

Working through your troubles helps you build character.

Ways to be a Whole Lot Happier...

from the editors of Prevention

Experts attribute about 50% of a person’s happiness to genetic endowments and another 10% to circumstances - where we live, how much money we make, how healthy we are. That leaves 40% of our happiness in our control. Fortunately, science has much to say about how we can make the most of that 40%. Even small improvements in mood can have cascading effects. The trick is to pay attention to what strategies work best for you. Recent research finds that the little things we do regularly, exercising or attending religious services, can have a major impact on our happiness.   When you’re feeling down, break out your kids’ baby albums or pics from your favorite vacation. It may actually make you feel happier than a square of Godiva chocolate would!   Music and chocolate left most people’s moods unchanged; alcohol and TV gave a slight lift (1%), but the winner by a long shot was viewing pictures, which made people feel 11% better. To keep your spirits high at work, upload your favorite pics to your computer and set them as a rotating screensaver.   Putting on a happy face, even if you don't feel like it, actually induces greater happiness, says Loyola University Chicago psychologist Fred B. Bryant, PhD. So be exuberant. Laugh out loud at a funny movie.   Cultivate an "attitude of gratitude," Bryant says. Pinpoint what you're happy about — a party invitation from a pal, a seat on a crowded subway, and acknowledge its source. It's not always necessary to outwardly express gratitude, Bryant notes, but saying thank you to a friend, a stranger, or the universe deepens our happiness by making us more aware of it.   Disorganized heaps of paper in your office or home can make you anxious. For some, "Clutter is a reminder of things that should be getting done but aren’t," says Elaine Aron, PhD, author of "The Highly Sensitive Person." "It can make you feel like a failure." For a quick fix, straighten up a few surfaces in your office or in the areas of your home where you spend the most time.    To get more happiness for your dollar, splurge for experiences instead of stuff. Psychologist Miriam Tatzel, PhD, of Empire State College surveyed 329 shoppers and found that “experiencers" who spend money on a great meal out or a concert, for example. are happier than those who lavish their money on material goods such as clothes or jewelry.   Socializing with a cheerful person in your neighborhood increases the likelihood that you’ll be happy too.   “A couple of studies show that people who get more light exposure during the day have fewer sleep problems and less depression, and evidence suggests that light can keep you alert and productive,” says Daniel Kripke, MD, a University of California, San Diego, light and sleep expert.

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have."

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