Make happiness part of your new years resolutions

Most of us end off the year with so many good intentions of the things we want to change in the new year.  Loose weight, stop smoking, budget better, etc.

But have you ever considered making happiness a priority in the new year?

I don’t know about you, but in the past, every time I try do these typical resolutions, they last about a week before I just slide back into old habits.  And then I feel bad about failing myself so quickly.  And that just makes me depressed.  So this year I want to focus on making happiness my new years resolution, and think of ways in which I can bring more happiness in.

I saw a post on Facebook that had the following advice for happiness:

• Look for the good in every situation
• Ignore what people say about you
• Develop an attitude of gratitude
• Once it’s past, let it go
• Don’t listen to gossip (Or spread it)
• Design your own life
• Laugh more

The one that stood out for me was to laugh more. Did you know that laughter has so many benefits?  It decreases stress hormones in your body and boosts your immunity.  It’s even good for your heart and circulation and apparently it can reduce pain and make you heal faster.  And common, laughing feels good.

I decided to google:  How to laugh more, and I found so many websites with great advice.  How silly it is to actually google to find ways to laugh.  I think the fact that there are so many websites with advice means that many of us don’t laugh nearly enough.

I think besides laughing more, we should try to be more kind to ourselves in the new year, stop trying to be perfect, stop trying to be everything to everyone.  Give yourself a break sometimes, rest your body, mind and soul and spend your energy on things and people that are worthwhile.

Take care of yourself, because you matter.