The way I’m thinking of “swinger” today is in the way we remember it from when we were kids.  Climbing into the seat of a swing, pushing your legs out in front of you as you lean back to get the swing moving.  Then tucking your legs under the seat as you move your body forward getting the swing going in the other direction.  Do that a few times and pretty soon the swing is moving back and forth with ease.

Do you remember that feeling of freedom as you rode the swing when you were a kid?  Maybe you imagined you were a pilot taking off in a jumbo jet.  Maybe you were an astronaut headed for the moon.  Maybe you were just kicking high enough that you thought you could jump over the trees or the school.

You Need To Swing Regularly

When is the last time you were on a swing?  If it’s any longer than a year, that’s too long.  I’m being serious here.  Riding a swing is one of the most fun things you can do whether you’re a kid or an adult.  It’s something that even when you’re grown up you should do at least once a year.

Now, you may feel funny the first time you get on a swing as an adult, but don’t let that stop you.  Other grown-ups may look at you funny, but you know what they’re thinking?  They’re thinking, “Boy I sure wish I felt free enough to get on a swing; I used to love doing that when I was a kid.”

If you really feel self-conscious about getting on a swing, take one of your kids with you or a grandchild, niece or nephew.

You’ll find that after a minute or two, you’ll be having so much fun you won’t care what anyone else thinks.  In fact, my guess is that you’ll be swinging away thinking, “Look at those people over there, they don’t know what fun is.”

By the time you get off the swing, your happiness power will be at maximum strength and you’ll have a smile from ear-to-ear.

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Remembering Happiness
2. Don’t Make Resolutions
3. Life Isn’t Fair

The day before I started feeling very frustrated that my business wasn’t growing as quickly as I wanted it to.  I knew I had been working hard to improve things, but it wasn’t moving quickly enough.  I found myself getting frustrated, depressed even.

Then Friday morning, I looked at what I had actually accomplished over the last 35 days, and realized that things had been growing.  Just not as quickly as I originally hoped, but they had been progressing.  I realized that I had actually gotten a lot accomplished.  I had moved things forward from where I started.

Once I took stock of where things really were, I started feeling better about what I had been doing.  I felt better about my situation; less frustrated, and certainly not depressed.

So if you find yourself in a similar situation, take a look at what has actually been happening.  Have some patience with yourself.  As I’ve said before, refocus in the way you look at things.  You’ll most likely realize that things aren’t so bad after all.  That new perspective can give you a fresh start.

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Refocus To Improve Your Mood
2. Today Is Your Lucky Day!
3. Hard To Stay Positive

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Do The Right Thing
2. Find The Courage
3. Be Forgiving

Are you?

Are you more than somewhat happy?

What’s one thing you could do today to increase your happiness power?

Do that thing.

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Your Happiness Power
2. Is Happiness Genetic?
3. Remembering Happiness

Half-Empty or Half-Full?

The theory is, that if you’re an optimist you’ll see the glass as half-full, while if you’re a pessimist you’ll see it as half-empty.

Technically, both answers are correct.  Whether you can really tell if someone is an optimist or a pessimist by the answer to this question is beyond my area of expertise.

A Different Way to See It

Here’s how I actually look at that glass.

It’s completely full.

Now, you may be thinking I’m crazy, and who knows, you just might be right.  Please let me explain.

The glass is half-full of water.  However, the other half of the glass is full of air.

You may think this is silly, but here’s what I’m thinking.  When you see the glass as full of both water and air, you’ve changed your perception.  You’re looking beyond the obvious.  You’ve opened your mind to other possibilities.

Break Out of the Rut

The next time you find your thinking stuck, look beyond the obvious.  Is there another way you can look at a particular problem?  Can you change your perception of the situation?  Let your mind wander and be open to other possibilities besides the obvious ones.

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Self-Talk
2. Do Something Unexpected
3. What Are You Thinking?

Give Someone A Hug Today

If you want to feel love give someone a hug.  It’s as simple as that.

I wrote recently about the late Dr. Leo Buscaglia who always ended his public talks by giving hugs to everyone in the audience who wanted one.  I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of one of those hugs years ago.  I could certainly feel the warmth and love coming from this man.

When you give someone a hug, they feel the love coming from you.  And here’s the payoff, you can feel the love coming from them.

Giving and receiving hugs is a great way to give and receive love and it’s a great way to increase your happiness power.

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Share Some Love Today . . . And Every Day
2. Speaking of Love
3. Simple Pleasures

Each Sunday, I list some interesting things I found on the Web during the previous week:

Using Law Of Attraction To Be Your Own CEO

How to Turn Around an Unproductive Day

Writing It Down Makes a Difference

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. TIPs – September 6, 2009
2. TIPs – March 8, 2009
3. TIPs – June 7, 2009

Each Sunday, I list some interesting things I found on the Web during the previous week:

Simple Ways To Relax During The Day

Dealing With Dangerous, Deranged Thoughts

September is Self-Improvement Month: What Will You Commit To?

Detours on the Path of Life

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. TIPs – April 5, 2009
2. TIPs – September 20, 2009
3. TIPs – May 3, 2009

Each Sunday, I list some interesting things I found on the Web during the previous week:

Get Less Done: Stop Being Productive and Enjoy Yourself

14 Ways to Start Your Week Happy

Rational Optimism in Recession?

The Happiness Experiment: Lessons in gratitude and irony

To your happiness!

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. TIPs – August 23, 2009
2. TIPs – June 28, 2009
3. TIPs – March 15, 2009

Some other posts you may enjoy:

1. Forgiveness
2. You’re At The Crossroads
3. Stop And Enjoy It