My recipe for a happier me

I am a list person.  Every week I make a dozen lists. Shopping lists, to-do lists, to-don’t lists, to- someday get to lists, to work on lists….

Today I was thinking about the things I need to work on to reach my maximum amount of joy. So naturally- I started making a list. The list is clearly for me, not everybody’s recipe for happiness will be the same. But I encourage you to make a list of your own.  It was refreshing and motivating.

Here is  mine.

 1. Scripture study. Personal Prayer. End of story. Are they a cure all? Not always. But when I find myself feeling down-  I almost always realize that those two things are not the priority they need to be.

 2.   Be comfortable in my own skin. Some times when I run errands, the girls and I look like we just rolled out of bed. Messy hair, old t-shirts, and yesterday’s makeup. And? Who cares.  Not me! (or at least I don’t when I’m striving for a happier me)

 3. “What Susie says about Sally, says more about Susie then it does Sally.” Being the Susie is exhausting.  I can’t waist time gossiping and noticing others flaws. It brings others down, and it brings myself down. Gossiping says more about myself then anything else. And if I'm the Sally- refer to bullet 2. Who cares?! Be comfortable in my own skin. 

 4. Focus on the good. Every day can become the “worst day ever” if I let it.  Example from my own life… Example A: “Today I went to the store and my girls whined and cried the entire time. I hate shopping, I can't stand onry children, and I hate today!”  Example B: “Today I went the the store and my girls were crying, so the nice man behind me in the check out line helped me unload my cart .  Then a nice lady we passed said she wanted to give me a hug because she knew how those days were. People are so nice! ”  Same day. Same shopping trip. Example A was a good sob story to add to my worst day ever, and example B  was a great moment that turned my day around!

 5. Lighten up! Put on a smile.  Laugh. Laugh it off when my daughter poops in the bath tub! Eww! That is gross! But….funny! Right?!  My girls need to see my smiling and laughing. They need to learn to enjoy life- and they need to be learning that from me.

This list is obviously just a few simple things, but in my many years of list making, I have learned that a list that is too long is over-whelming and gets thrown in the trash.  This is short- to the point- and should be very effective when I need a mood makeover.