Do These 10 Things for True Happiness

What does it take to be truly happy and have feelings of joy permeate your everyday life? The answer is that it takes a lot less than you might think.

Six British experts from a variety of disciplines--a psychologist, a psychotherapist, two workplace specialists, a social entrepreneur and an economist--worked together in an unusual three-month experiment to help the people living in the English town of Slough find happiness. What they found were 10 simple steps we can all take to make our lives happy, reports the BBC News.

The team determined that the "seeds of happiness" are in this 10-point plan. Do all of these regularly and you'll soon be smiling.

1. Plant something and nurture it.

2. Count your blessings--at least five--at the end of each day.

3. Take time to talk. Have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.

4. Phone a friend with whom you have not spoken for a while and arrange to meet up.

5. Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.

6. Have a good laugh at least once a day.

7. Get physical. Exercise for half an hour three times a week.

8. Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day.

9. Cut your TV viewing by half.

10. Spread kindness. Do a good turn for someone every day.

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I do MOST of these everyday-I ALWAYS count my blessings, I make it a point to laugh really hard at least every other day-I smile to pretty much EVERYONE I pass (although here in Vegas, people look at ya funny when you do that!) I excercise in one way or another at least 4x's a week! I ALWAYS call my grandma's, sisters and good girlfriends-I talk with my mom at length at least once a week too-and I don't watch that much TV anymore!

I'd say the BIGGEST thing here is to PUT YOURSELF ON YOUR LIST-this time of year, especially, and as caretakers and wives and moms (which I'm not one) we put ourselves LAST on the list-I've always been labeled a selfish person, and that may be true, but you know, putting yourself first (OCCASIONALLY) is a GOOD THING, and a HEALTHY thing. You can only give what you receive-and if you're not happy-you can't make others happy! My mom taught me to enjoy the smaller things in life-and to count my blessings each and every day-and I do-I am so blessed and although I say it SO often (especially on here) I mean it so much! I think the above list is a great article and I just had to post it!

Many Blessings,
-SL