Love What You Do For a Living

This is one of the biggest keys to having a happy life. Most people spend at least eight hours a day at work. Some people more than that. If you have a cell phone, Blackberry, e-mail at home, then you may be on-call 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. If you have a "job" instead of a "passion" then you are probably miserable. It is paramount to find out what it is that you are passionate about and find a way to do that for a living. You love children-why not be a teacher, a nanny, a camp counselor, etc. You love cooking-become a chef, start your own catering business, write a cookbook. You love nature-become a gardner, work at a State or National Park, start your own touring company. Write down a list of things that you love to do. Now you have the direction in which to take your career.

For example, I took a character strengths survey on www.authentichappiness.org (good website and even better book by Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D.). My strengths are a love of learning, curiosity and interest in the world, appreciation of beauty and excellence, creativity, ingenuity and originality, and judgement, critical thinking and open-mindedness. I love reading, writing, photography and helping people. It is so important to do what you love because you are spending at least a third of your life doing it.

Inspirational Quotes

A good quote can stick with you and make a lasting impression. Two of my favorites:

"Don't Be Afraid That Your Life Will End, Be Afraid That It Will Never Begin"-author unknown

"Every Sixty Seconds You Spend Upset Is A Minute Of Happiness You Will Never Get Back"-Thoreau

My Commandments for Contentment

Thou Shalt Not Be Negative
Thou Shalt Believe In Thyself At All Times
Thou Shalt Not Hate Thy Neighbor Because
Thou Shalt Not Concern Thyself With What Others Do
Thou Shalt Not Concern Thyself With What Others Think
Thou Shalt Not Be Unhappy
Thou Shalt Not Care For Material Wealth; Only Spiritual Wealth
Thou Shalt Strive To Be A Good Person
Thou Shalt Seek Out Peace
Thou Shalt Simplify Thy Life