How often have you realized that there are people who seem to just choose to be unhappy, which means there are also those who choose to be like the other side of our fictitious coin, in other words, they choose to be happy. If you think it has all to do with financial success or fame or having the right car or living in a good suburb, you are sooo wrong! In every circumstance mentioned you will find any number of people who actually ended their lives by suicide, as they have just not been happy puppies. The circumstances didn’t mean they were suddenly happier than those with little money, not even owning a car or living under a bridge.

Happiness comes from within and is not so much a decision you need to make every day, except that you will help if you remind yourself to put on a happy face if you have always been a sour puss. In fact, there might not be a universal secret to say what you need to do to become a happy person, if you actually realized, (finally…!) that you’re a miserable SOB, but it does seem as if happy people are happy because they make themselves happy. They somehow maintain a positive outlook on life and have learned to remain at peace with themselves.

The million dollar question then is “how do they do that?”

A good start would be to find the common characteristics that set ‘happy’ people apart from their ‘unhappy’ counterparts and in doing so, the following basic realities will emerge: happy people have good habits that enhance their lives; they do things differently and if you asked any of them, you will also find they …

1. Don’t hold grudges: it also helps you avoid serious detrimental effects on your well being, including increased depression, anxiety, and stress.

2. Treat everyone with kindness: every kind deed and selfless act you perform creates a production of serotonin in your brain. This hormone eases tension and lifts your spirits.

3. See problems as challenges: Whenever you face an obstacle, try looking at it as a challenge.

4. Express gratitude for what they already have: think of this… The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

5. Dream big: dare to dream big and your mind will put itself in a focused and positive state.

OK, there are many more than 5 points, but if you feel you might be one of those who could qualify as being an unhappy person and you really want to change, contact me and we’ll have a nice chat… I am sure to have a nugget to share with you.

This article is not at all meant to address issues of depression or to offer a cure for clinical or any other type of depression, as you need to find professional help, but hopefully this may get you to look in the mirror and just smile at that good looking person you will find there... that'll already be a great start every day!