TEN KEYS TO HAPPINESS 1. Listening to Yourself: Learn to trust your "gut" instinct. We usually have the answers to our own problems. 2. Having Outlets: If we are always taking in and absorbing information, we also need a place to release some of this energy. Find a physical activity that you enjoy. 3. Following Your Bliss: Take any hobby, interst and/or passion and turn it into your work/job/career. You can start small like selling crafts you make around holiday time-who knows what this could turn into? 4. Friendships: Making a conscious effort to connect with other like-minded people. Meet friends/acquaintances for lunch, a movie, or just drop a card in the mail to keep the connection alive. 5. Exercise: Walks, sports, aerobics, softball, bowling-the point is to just get moving! 6. Good Health: Trying to eat nutritiously, take vitamins, see your doctors (dentists, GP's, chiropractors, OB-GYN's etc.) regularly. 7. Solitude: We all need time alone to reflect, relax or whatever! 8. Setting Goals: Planning and/or mapping out where you would like to be six months from now, one year from now and five to ten years from now. By spelling out where you would like to be or think you would like to be helps you get there and feel better about yourself along the way. 9. Laughter: Finding humor in ourselves, our actions, and others. We could all benefit from "lightening up" sometimes. 10. Forgiveness: Asking ourselves for forgiveness for any past decisions we may have made that we are ashamed of and/or would not choose today. Enjoy and Have fun!! Written by Stacey Rose, LCSW