6 Golden Rules For Happiness

My journey as a personal trainer has recently led me down the yellow (now positively glowing) brick road of positive thinking and self-development. Dreams seem so realistic when we are young but as we get older, often limiting self beliefs and day-to-day tasks take over and we focus on just trying to get by… but what fun is that!?I recently realised that this is what I’ve been doing for too long, just “trying to get by”… it was time to take action!So I’ve hooked up with an amazing life coach, Connie Chapman and one of the first things she said to me was, “would you speak the way you do to yourself now… to a child version of yourself?”The answer, of course, was “NO WAY!”This question really resonated with me - it was so simple and obvious, yet a lightbulb went off. The limiting beliefs we have about ourselves can be so automatic that we can become unaware of them, flying through the day on autopilot and speaking negatively to ourselves throughout it all.Well people, before we crash and burn, let's take control!After months of reflection and lots and lots of reading... below are my all-new Top 6 Golden Rules For Happiness, which I’ve handpicked from a range of inspirational and motivational people, including Louise L. Hay, Geoff Thompson and Cheryl Richardson. These are people who have turned their lives around and are living their dreams, rather than being bound by self imposed limitations. Way more fun! 

Rule 1:

Now is the time to act as life is short... we are all dying, hate to break it to you. This is the perfect reason to stop putting all those things you really want to do on the back burner. Don’t do them 'when the time is right'. The right time is NOW people. 

Rule 2:

Each moment is a new beginning. The point of power is always in the present moment. What you believe right now about your relationships, your work, your financial situation does not have to stick, you can start changing the way you think about them NOW. 

Rule 3:

The only things you ever have control over are your own thoughts and your own mind… and therefore, your own actions! Now, stop and think what a powerful tool the mind is, and imagine what you could do with it if you utilised it. Bring on those dreams! 

Rule 4:

What you put your attention on is what grows. What you like least about your life is probably still hanging around as you’re spending time dwelling on it, therefore creating more of it! So bin the negative beliefs, like "I don't want to be fat" or "I don't want to be broke" and turn them around, creating positive affirmations, such as "I am beautiful" or "I am on the path to being financially well off". 

Rule 5:

Be kind to yourself, love and approve of yourself... there is no one else in the world like you, you are unique. 

Rule 6:

Don't fight the universe and its power. We are all on a journey and it is so much better to go with the flow, rather than fight against it. When we create harmony, peace and balance in our minds, we will find it in our lives. 

BONUS RULE:

Take some time for daily reflection, mindfulness and/or meditation. Even 60 seconds of quiet, reflective, grateful time a day can make all the difference!