3 Cheerful Eco-Friendly Tips to Brighten the Darkest Days of the Year

1. Purchase live trees, flowers, and plants instead of cut varieties

Beautiful bouquets of flowers are hard to resist, especially in winter when it seems so little is blooming. But, there are a variety of winter-blooming favorites that would be happy in your home, either year-round or temporarily. Three that come to mind are cyclamen, Christmas cactus, and, if you like to have a tree up at this time of year, a live, native tree that you can plant in the spring (or return to the store for them to plant).
 
Why it’s Eco-friendly: live plants sequester carbon, purchasing locally-available varieties reduces fuel consumption for transport, supports local economies

2. Bring your own containers to the grocery store

We are all familiar with the “Bring your own reusable bag” movement, but you can bring your own containers too! If your grocery store has a bulk section, bring in those tupperware, old yogurt containers, or whatever else you have on hand and fill those babies up! Be sure the containers are clean and try not to touch the scoop to the container – a watchful attendant will appreciate your attention to public health. Then, just write the code on the tags they make available, snap it between the lid of the container and the container itself, and you’re good to go. Easy!

Why it’s Eco-friendly: reduces the consumption of packaging materials, fewer plastic bags are used for bulk items, reduces food waste because you can buy as much or as little as you want, encourages the market for bulk buying (reinforcing the previous three points)

Seattle stores with bulk areas: I especially like the Ballard Fred Meyer and Uptown Metropolitan Market.

Bonus tip: If you want to save a few extra pennies, weigh your container and write down the weight on the tag so the cashier can subtract it from your purchase. I find that a larger plastic container such as the 64 oz. tub of Nancy’s yogurt weights about 1/8 lb. (0.125 lbs).

3. If driving, get warm and cozy in the car before starting your trip

With chilly weather the norm these days, a toasty car always brightens my spirits. I love to sit there as the car warms up: shoulders hunched, hands snugly ensconced in mittens, radio on, shivering a bit as the car’s engine moves from a somewhat-noisy rattle to a low, purring hum. Once I hear that hum, both my car and I are warm and ready to go!

Ten Tips To Make Yourself Cheerful

Human life is the greatest gift of God. We have been created on this earth to live happily. Happiness comes by sharing with others. It is the greatest bliss. Bliss is the happiness beyond the senses, beyond laughter, or merriment.

All the human beings are destined to be happy. We have to live happily and make others happy. A happy and harmonious life is the purpose of our existence. We have to take some efforts to make our lives happy and cheerful. Cheerfulness keeps up the spirit of the one who possesses happiness and brings a smile to the lips of others.

 Here are ten tips to keep you cheerful

1) A fresh get up
“Well begun is half done” Begin your day with a cheerful mood. Get up with a smile on your face and saying the words, “Good morning, Lord!” on your lips. Have a trustful feeling in your heart that it is going to be a cheerful day for you. This starting attitude adds a new dimension to your life.

2) See that your face always wears a smile
A smile can make short work of any difficulty. When you smile, not only do you feel happy but you bring a ray of light into the lives of others. Smile is like a drop of water in a desert. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You are not completely dressed until your face wears a smile!” there is a saying that if you wear smile you will have friends and if you wear a scowl you will have wrinkles.

3) A smile is infectious
A smile is mirrored in the face of the one you smile at. Therefore, whatever you do, keep on smiling. Always be careful that your smile announces sweetness and goodness and never betrays sarcasm, bitterness or pride.

4) Laugh heartily at least thrice a day
Make it a point that you laugh at least three times a day—before breakfast, before lunch and before dinner. If you find it difficult to laugh, look into the mirror and make funny faces. I have seen a happy family following this principle that only after laugh they begin to eat.

5) Develop a healthy sense of humor
The Japanese Professor Yoji Kimura believes that laughter is a weapon that in healthy doses can end all the problems of the war that lead to wars. Hence we have to develop the habit of laughing. He says further that laughter is developed in four emotional stages—letting loose, then deviating from the norm, followed by free laughing and laughter in overflow. It can be attained by practice.

6) Learn to laugh at yourself
We often laugh at the weaknesses and oddities of others but not at our own. We must learn to laugh at ourselves. The person who can laugh at himself is a delight to be with. He applies the most soothing balm to his ills and errors.

7) Always look at the bright side of things
There is a saying that two men looked out of bars; one saw the mud and the other saw the stars. Pessimistic view brings only despair and dejection. Looking at the bright side brings success.

 8) Trust in God
To forget your troubles remember God. When all your attachments are with God, then your achievements are many. Be aware that if there is no filament in a bulb there is no light, and so if God is not in your life there is no life at all. God is in charge of the whole universe and He is the Controller of everything. In our life we may not be able to understand the “why” of many things. Sudden deaths, natural calamities, unexpected losses, etc. may upset you. But faith I God gives courage.

9) Be in the driver’s seat
Co not let any one else drive you. Be our own maser. There are so many people who do things to you and you feel hurt or insulted. By doing so, you merely let them drive you. Whatever may happen, you must be on the driver’s seat and nothing should upset you.

10) Make others happy
Happiness comes by sharing. It is reciprocal. The happiness that goes out to others comes back to you. Remember that shared happiness is always double. Therefore do good deeds to others and make them happy.

Difficulties and disappointments melt away before a man who is cheerful. As the famous Psychologist Deepak Chopra says, “happiness is usually situational and can be learnt,” let us learn to be cheerful and make the world happy.

 

10 ways to stay cheerful and have a ‘Stress Free’ life

Ten ways to stay cheerful and have a stress free life:

1. Lessen stress through better time management and also by being kind to yourself.
2. Have the company of good people.
3. Do cheerful things like playing, listening to music etc
4. Meditate to bring in a rhythm to yourself. This is as important as playing, music.
5. Say positive things to yourself.
6. Don’t think too much - we should be able to discern what things are beyond our control, and then tell ourselves that mere thinking about them will not solve them
7. Don’t antagonize people - saves a lot of time and energy
8. Good health. Eating right- Makes a big difference to our level stress.- the kind of food you eat reflects on the energy it inflicts
9. Ignoring people’s words - regulate criticism
10. Competing with oneself-not getting caught in comparisons.

Lessen stress through better time management and also by being kind to yourself

There has been lot that is said about ‘Time Management’ but one thing to be pointed is to have a mixed bag. Yes, you have to be serious about how you use time, but also don’t try to be a perfectionist. Go easy on yourself at times. Having a balance this way will keep extremist thoughts at bay.

Have the company of good people

This is very important. Life is no more about being hep and being in company of people who want to just have fun. Bring in the aspect of being useful to each other either through good humor, helpful tendencies, fruitful conversations etc. There is also a explicit difference between having the company of good people and being in the company of good people. ‘Having’ is entirely under your control. By this, the things you are influenced by, intrigued by and the things you cultivate will be more a spontaneous extension of your likes and the aspect of stress can always be kept under check.

Do cheerful things like playing, listening to music etc

It has been proven beyond doubt that activities like sports, music impacts your body, mind and soul. For example, in the case of music, the impact can go either way depending on what kind of music you hear. Music can be used to your benefit. If you want inspiration, listen to your favorite music. For me it is ‘Shimshai’ or Rocky’s Theme Music. If you want to calm yourself, soothing music will do a world of good. Similarly, use music to bring optimism and to reduce stress thereby maintaining a cheerful attitude.

Meditate to bring in a rhythm to yourself

This is as important as playing music. Meditation is not only about sitting in one place and practicing silence or concentration or contemplation techniques (as it pertains to different form of traditional meditation techniques). A walk along the beach, a walk early in the morning in a silent/fresh environment -all these contribute towards meditation, people call it ‘Nature Meditation’. I have found it very helpful and it sure will be for people who find it heard to follow the traditional forms of meditation.

Say positive things to yourself

Devise a personal pep talk protocol. Reinforce belief in yourself with positive thoughts and positive outlook. Starting the day with a pep talk would do a world of good to you. I believe strongly in this and feel that when you have positive thoughts and intend positive outcomes at the start, it will manifest throughout the day.

Don’t think too much - we should be able to discern what things are beyond our control and tell ourselves that merely thinking about them will not solve them

Sometimes in an effort to be productive, we try and decipher happenings beyond the required levels. In pursuit of perfection or workaholism, we end up reading too much between the lines and evolve into being too judgemental beyond imagination. One needs to understand his roles and responsibilities. Irrespective of his stature in his company or society, he or she needs to understand that if things are beyond his control or execution capabilities, it probably is wise to let that no affect the work or other routines. More so that it should not blind or cloud one’s decision making capabilities. Being an observer always helps and only when requested should one be judgemental. But you might say that you are good at analysis. If that’s the case, it is ok to analyze, but pick you communication mechanisms to convey it to the concerned entity and leave it at that. Don’t expect anything beyond that.

Don’t antagonize people - saves a lot of time and energy

No matter what it is, people have the right to say what they like and be stupid (if I may say). If you take this approach, then you will be within the ‘Safe’ zone. This is because by antagonizing people, you probably go no where. You might be right in your own way of doing so, but in this world, you can not antagonize anyone. You may end up to find the same folks being critical to your career progress later. Who knows when sides might change and such a situation might present itself!! If you don’t want to feel awkward later, don’t antagonize now!

Good health and Eating right

Our intake and maintenance of our body makes a big difference to our stress levels. Eating right and burning them subsequently needs to strike the right balance. This might differ from person to person. If you are a person who works out regularly or have a very active routine, then fatty foods might get burnt in due course of the day. If not, then you need to take care of it. Also, for people who work under tight schedules or deadlines, cutting out junk food helps along with regularizing eating patterns. There is no universal routine to follow but there is one thing you should do - listen to you body always. 

Ignoring people’s words - regulate criticism

You might consider yourself to be good natured, but there will always be elements to disrupt. Criticism is always going to be a factor in your life that you cannot run away from. Analyze them and choose to ignore if it puts you in an uncomfortable situation or in a situation from which you have no clear way out.

Competing with oneself and not getting caught in comparisons

The biggest differentiators, as years go by and you are put through different phases and situations, is to focus on improving yourself. Especially when things are not going the way you want, it is important to compare yourself with what you were before. If you have scaled great heights, then you should re-iterate to yourself that you can do it again. Also, drive this hard into your head and deep down into your heart, "No one is the same and every one is unique". This affirmation is a big booster to ’stress free’ life.

As you might have seen, for each of the ways mentioned above, there is no ‘N Step Process’ that is universal. These are more of yardsticks - its up to each individual to measure and imbibe accordingly. Also, one should continuously  practise introspection   of these ways to adapt, revise and refine them based on the need of the hour.

 

11 Reasons to be Cheerful

We tend to focus on our problems in life and to take for granted our blessings and achievements. It is natural that we think about the difficulties we face and the challenges we have to overcome but there is a real danger that when we do this we can become become weighed down with worry or negative feelings.  It is good to step back for a moment from our day to day cares and to list all the things that are going well in our life.  It will give us a positive lift and help to put our problems into perspective.  Here is one way to count your blessings. 

1. Life.  Start by giving yourself one point for being alive. It may sound silly but wait a moment.  Your life represents a tiny interlude between the vast times when you did not exist and when you will be dead.  You are in that tiny moment right now and you can do things to change your life so be thankful for that at least.

2. Health.  If you are healthy and do not suffer from any major diseases or afflictions mark up another point.  We take our health for granted and only realise how important it is when we become ill.  Most of us have some minor ailments but if you are reasonably healthy then you are much better off than people suffering from serious illnesses and you should be deeply thankful.

3. Relationship. If you are in a stable relationship with another person then chalk up a point.  If you can honestly say that you love them and they love you then give yourself a bonus point.  Many people search for love without success so if you have found it then cherish it and count yourself lucky.

4. Family. If you have children, brothers or sisters or your parents alive then add another point.  They may be frustrating and they will have their faults but they are your flesh and blood.  Whatever happens in life your family remains your family and if you have them around you then you should be thankful for that – just ask someone who has lost family members.

5. Work.  Give yourself a point if you are in work or full-time education.  Even if it is dull and unfulfilling at times you are still better off than the many people who are desperately seeking employment.

6. Value. If you can honestly say that you are doing something that makes life better for other people and adds real value then give yourself a point.  This might involve your work, your volunteering, your parenting or some other aspect of your life.  Are you making the world a better place?  If not then this is an area to think about.
7. Achievement. Can you look back on something that you are proud of?  Did you achieve something worthwhile?  This might be at work, in sport, with your family or something else.  If you can you point to something that people would admire then give yourself another point.

8. Future – 1. Do you have something good to look forward to?  This might be a holiday, a promotion, a wedding or just a trip to the cinema with your partner. If you have something good coming up then think about it, smile and add another point.

9. Future – 2. Do you have a plan for your improvement and success?  This might include your career, your education, your finances and your relationships.  If you have a plan then add a point.  You are better off than most of the population.  People with plans generally do better than those who just muddle along.

10. Financial security. Are you financially secure?  Are you living within your means?  Can you see a reasonably prosperous future?  If so you are much better placed than people who are burdened with excessive debts and who struggle to make ends meet.  You should get some satisfaction from that and you can add a point.

11. Friendship. Do you have one or more good friends who you can share your joys and problems with?  Is there someone whose company you enjoy and with whom you can have a laugh?  If so give yourself a final point.

Add up your total. How many points did you get?  The maximum is 12.  Eight or over is a good score.  Now take a moment to express thanks for your success and good fortune.  You have a lot to be grateful for.

 

Cheerfulness and kindness comes from the heart. However, sometimes it's hard to be cheerful and optimistic towards others. Here are some ways to draw out these wonderful qualities.

9 Steps:

1. Be comfortable in your own skin. You are your own special person, with your own individual traits and strong points. Be proud of these abilities and be happy about who you are. Understand that even though you're not perfect, you can still work towards to your full potential.
2. Help someone who is in need. Not everybody is as fortunate as you are, nor do some people have as much love as you do. Try to help them out by donating to charities, running a food drive, complementing someone, or even offering a simple smile. Your dedication will shine- and you'll make someone else happy along the way!3
3. Look on the bright side, but be honest. If you're having a bad day, identify it! You shouldn't just ignore the fact. Then, after you've analyzed the fact that you're experiencing a bad day, think up ways to make it better. For example, say you're stuck in a terrible rainstorm, and need to get home. You should certainly identify what a problem this is. However, you can remind yourself how lucky it is that you're only 5 minutes away from your house. There's always something positive.4
4. Listen. Reassure others, and listen to their thoughts. You may find some insight, or even a laugh!5
5. Keep an open mind. Let the chips fall where they may. Something may look worse than it actually is.
6. Try to stay healthy. Get plenty of sleep and eat well. You need your energy and strength to feel and be your best every day!
7. Don't put people down. Instead, encourage them to rise and accomplish their goals. Display optimism, and cheer them on each and every step of the way. Your optimism will become contagious.
8. Never judge too harshly. Never judge a person by physical appearance. That quiet girl in the back of the room may look scary, but inside she may like soccer just like you! You never know if you'll be in that position someday and need a friend. Be a friend.
9. Do something! Get moving, go clean your house, do the dishes, fold some laundry, or start exercising. You will feel like you have accomplished something, and this might inspire you to be able to do more!