2016 has had its ups and downs, full of personal heartache, sickness, and a little slice of success.
New doors are opening in front of me, and although scared what may be on the other side, I’m also confident, when I walk through them; a new world awaits.
Within the year, I’ve learned new lessons about what happiness means, and how you can attain it, which I would like to share with you today.
Here are my 17 ways to be a lot happier in 2017.
1 – Take Good Care Of Yourself
Unless you are running at 100%, you can not truly help others. You must first look after your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. Only then, can the Spirit of God flow through you into everything you do.
2 – Stop Trying To Change Others
It very rarely happens. The older we get, the more set in our ways we become. You can’t change others; you just can’t. Be the change you want to see in others, which ties in with number 3.
3 – Work On Yourself
This might sound a little selfish at first, but you will quickly realize how challenging it is to change your bad habits, which will make point 2 a lot clearer.
4 – Take Your Time
When you slow your life down and realize it is not a race, you begin to enjoy it more. When we are always running after others, or ourselves, we miss out on all the good things.
A beautiful sunrise or sunset, birds chirping, and the soothing sound of a stream.
5 – Surround Yourself With Good People
The people that you surround yourself with, has a massive impact on your life. It can seem good to help negative people, but if you are not careful, negative people can affect your spirit.
Make sure you are surrounded with good people, people that encourage you and help you grow. People that can keep an eye on you when your life gets out of balance.
2017 is a year for growth. Cut out all the dead weight – all those that are holding you back.
6 – Trust Gods Timing
In life, we want everything on our timetable, but I have found life has its own timetable. The more you fight the natural speed of things, the more you will be stress, depressed or anxious.
Learn to surrender in 2017.
7- Be Mindful Of What You Consume
Food, friendships, media, etc. Get rid of everything that does not support you, and help you become a healthier version of yourself.
8 – Forgive, Even When You Have Been Wronged.
Forgive yourself and others quickly. Forgiveness is one of Jesus central messages and one of the most important ones.
When you forgive, you do not forgive their behavior. You are not saying what they did was right. You are simply releasing the infection, emptying out the toxins, so they can no longer poison your life.
9 – Look For The Silver Lining
Even at the worst moment, there is a lesson to be learned. There is always a reason things don’t work out, or happen in the way we expect, but often we need to look hard for it.
10 – It’s Not Always About You
Sometimes how someone treats you is a reflection of how they feel about themselves. Their actions or words reveal the condition of their own heart.
Learn not to take things personally. Instead, pray for that person.
I forgive you for not being who I want you to be, I forgive you and set you free.
11 – Don’t Be A Doormat
Have enough respect to walk away from the people that misuse or mistreat you. People respond better to you when you are assertive and ask for what you deserve.
12 – Apologize
If you are in the wrong, be big enough to admit it.
13 – Understand That Everyone Has His Or Her Own Perception
We all view things differently. How you look or feel about a situation can be completely different than the next person. Example, one person looks at the glass half empty, the other looks at the glass half full.
14 – Put Down The Phone, and enjoy what is happening around you.
I recently visited a beautiful waterfall. As the sun came out from behind the clouds, the way the light bounced off it was breathtaking. Everyone took out their phones, and so did I.
As the water was spraying everywhere getting a good shot was near to impossible. Before I got one, the sun had gone.
Lesson learned.
15 – Realize Social Media Is Not Reality
Don’t buy into the hype. Everyone is human, with ups and downs in life.
Facebook, etc. are excellent ways to connect with people, but I often see others trying so hard to impress, trying to portray a perfect life, only posting exciting cool things.
You can easily feel that you are missing out on something, but you’re not.
16- Never Assume Someone Knows How You Feel
People cannot read your mind. If someone has hurt you, get it out in the open. In many cases, when I have done this I realized that I took what was said the wrong way entirely.
Issues cannot be resolved without communication.
17 – Stay On Your Own Path
Most of us think that we are qualified to tell others how they should or shouldn’t be living their lives; even if we have zero experience in the matter.
Unless asked for advice, plus have firsthand experience, I have found it’s better to let others make their own mistakes, as they grow wiser and stronger.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Rev J Martin
Live Today With Faith 