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I am filled with gratitude when I consider how much I have. I have everything I need to feel happy and fulfilled. I recognize that happiness is a state of mind. I can choose to be happy under any conditions. Happiness is my natural state. I may sometimes think that I require more money or popularity to feel more blissful. But then I realize that happiness is something that I always have. It is my desire for meaningless things that make happiness elusive. I remind myself to pay attention to the meaningful people and activities in my life. When I am feeling unhappy, I pay attention to my thoughts. Unhappiness and negative thoughts reinforce each other. I focus on the positive and quickly return to a state of happiness. I am in control of my thoughts and attention. The wonderful people in my life make me happy. I can ignore those that create negative feelings. I enjoy positive relationships and find them to be a source of support and inspiration in my life. I already possess everything required to be happy. Happiness is my birthright. Today, I am filled with happiness. I am grateful for the many blessings I already enjoy in life. I am rededicating myself to enjoying my life. I have everything I need to be happy. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. Has any possession ever brought me lasting happiness? Why not? 2. What am I grateful for right now? What else could I choose to be grateful for? 3. How much time do I waste regretting the past or worrying about the future? I share in my friends' happiness when they succeed. My friends are very important to me. They are my backbone. They help me build character because of their undying support. I take my friendships seriously. I offer the same level of support for each of my friends. I appreciate that our support is mutual. It is easy for me to help them because they are consistently there to assist me. I am happy when my friends experience success, and they feel the same about me. When a friend is having doubts about pursuing an opportunity, I offer encouragement. I help that friend believe in their abilities. And when success is achieved, I am first in line to offer my congratulations. I share in my friends' happiness when they overcome obstacles to achieve success. I am happy when they are free of burdens. It is important to me that my friends enjoy a happy life. It is much easier to manage life's challenges with true friends around. I look for ways to uplift the special people in my life. Ensuring their well-being means ensuring our relationships continue to flourish. I remind my friends how important they are to me. Today, I give thanks to my friends. I celebrate their successes as if they are my own. My friends play an important role in my life. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. When was the last time I celebrated success with a friend? 2. What can I do to show support when a friend has experienced failure? 3. How can I strengthen my friendships even more? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

People have long believed that what you put out into the world is what will be returned to you. Therefore, putting the needs of others first is certainly a great strategy for ensuring your long-term happiness. How Putting Others First Will Increase Your Happiness: 1. Develop closer relationships with others. Showing more consideration for others will naturally improve your relationships. 2. Reduce your stress levels. It's exhausting trying to control every aspect of the world and it's often frustrating because many things are beyond our control. Placing less importance on your own immediate gratification will help you feel more content no matter what occurs. 3. Promote a more compassionate society. By setting a good example, you may encourage others to look beyond their own needs. Your positive conduct can have a powerful impact on those around you. 4. Protect yourself from depression. Recent studies show a disturbing rise in narcissism and a corresponding increased risk of depression. Putting others first is good for your emotional health. Healthy relationships and virtuous living are likely to make you far more content than depending on others for attention and trying to accumulate material possessions. 5. Develop empathy. The world's population is approaching 7 billion. When you understand how we share more similarities than differences, it's easy to understand the needs of others. 6. Make every task more meaningful. Even mundane tasks can feel rewarding if you see how they benefit others. For example, think about how recycling helps to protect the planet for future generations. How to Start Putting Others First in Your Daily Life: 1. Transform your commute. Use your daily commute to think about others. See how it feels when you stop rushing to get the last seat on the train. 2. Incorporate putting others first into your parenting. Your children learn by your example. Help them to get off to a healthy start by talking with them about your values. Explain why you take the time to chat with elderly neighbors or volunteer at your church. 3. Practice at work. Demonstrate your team spirit. Look for opportunities to help others with their workload. Praise others for their accomplishments and share the credit for group efforts. 4. Take a different approach to shopping. Holiday shopping stampedes have gotten notoriously out of control. Make shopping more fun by attaching less importance to getting anyone a popular item. 5. Select your leisure activities wisely. Devote your leisure time to activities that help you to enrich the lives of other people. 6. Use media strategically. You can still enjoy TV and other common pleasures. Just make them productive by viewing the characters with compassion. Analyze how their actions demonstrate selflessness and how that results in improving their circumstances. Thinking of others first will make your life happier. Spend time thinking about why it's beneficial to consider the welfare of others and take advantage of the opportunities to practice this strategy in your daily life. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

If there's one thing that many wise people throughout history have realized, it's that life has a unique sense of humor. Why else would happiness be something that almost everyone wants and covets, yet only a few ever realize in their lifetimes? Another similar joke that life plays on all of us is that happiness is often achieved by those who stop seeking it out. This may seem counterintuitive at first, however, as we explain some of the common beliefs happy people share, it will become readily apparent how those who don't seek happiness are the most likely to find it! Consider using these strategies of happy folk to help bring more happiness into your life: 1. Foster an attitude of appreciation. You may take certain aspects of your life for granted. This could include anything from having a car, shelter, food to eat, and many other aspects of your lifestyle that a majority of the people on this planet could only dream of. · For one reason or another, happy people, seem to be content and appreciate whatever they have. · The mindset in which you take nothing for granted will usually require no more than a shift in attitude. You won't have to change anything about your external circumstances. · To remind yourself to be appreciative, make it a point to reflect on everything that you're thankful for once a day. Doing this as you fall asleep each night helps to brush your cares away as you fall into a restful slumber, preparing the way for a great day tomorrow. 2. Be realistic about achieving goals. Expecting success overnight, unless you have just won the lottery, is a sure recipe for disappointment. Happy people are realistic and pragmatic when it comes to setting and achieving their goals. · They understand exactly how much time and effort may be required to achieve a goal, and if they ever fall short, they'll put in the necessary additional work required to reach their goal. · People who are always happy are also aware of the fact that, just because they are putting in all of the necessary work to achieve their goal, there is no guarantee that their goal will ever be reached. · This may sound pessimistic, however, this is merely to state that they are aware of the possibility that external factors outside of their control could easily change outcomes. Being aware of this can help lessen the blow when unforeseen circumstances arise. 3. Put others first. Achieving happiness can sometimes be the opposite of what you might think. You may be wondering how you can bring yourself closer to achieving happiness if you put others first. · Putting other people first automatically requires you to have a more humble and appreciative outlook on life. In addition to this, making others happy will invariably bring more happiness into your own life. If you take some time to begin integrating the above approaches into your daily living, you'll find that happiness has always been just around the corner — waiting for you to discover it. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Have you found yourself just sitting around wondering what makes the lives of others so great that they seem to be happy more often than not? You've probably concluded that they've been dealt a better hand of cards than you, right? You might be surprised to find out that many people aren't really happy because of their circumstances, but instead because they make the most of what has been given to them. That happiness you see is probably coming from a deeper inner peace. How can you acquire that same peace? Fortunately, there are simple everyday activities that lift your mood automatically! When you do things to elevate your mood, you end up feeling happier and more at peace. This undoubtedly will lead to more happy days. These ideas are super effective at helping you get to a happy place, despite your circumstances: 1. Keep yourself busy. Often, you'll find that your mood clouds up when you allow yourself too much time to sit around and do nothing. Your unoccupied mind will easily drift into a dark place if you let it. · Instead, keep your mind and body busy so there's little time to dwell on negatives. · Take on more responsibility at the office so you don't have as much downtime. · Get involved in community service so your hours are filled with worthwhile activities. 2. Reminisce about pleasant moments. If you're honest with yourself, you'll admit that things haven't always been like this with your spirit. Surely you've had times in the past when people or situations made you happy! · Take yourself back to thoughts of happy times so the emotions can also return. · Remember when you graduated? That must have been an uplifting feeling, right? · How about your best friend's bachelorette party and the endless laughter you shared? 3. Sing aloud. Choose “feel good” songs that have a positive message. Crank up the radio as loud as your neighbors will allow, and just sing along. Pretty soon, you'll find yourself dancing to the beat and consuming yourself with the message of the song. 4. Work up a sweat. Exercise is a surefire way to release endorphins and trigger a happy mood. When you work up a sweat, your body feels alive and reenergized. · While you're exercising, focus on the positive things in your life. · Take a jog around the block with your neighbor a few evenings a week. · Incorporate chores and other physical activities into your weekend plans. 5. Surround yourself with positive energy. Get together often with friends and family who possess the positivity you're looking for. Spending time in their presence will help you feel happier more regularly. It's important to realize that your happiness is totally dependent on you. You have to choose to be happy. Once you've acknowledged that you want to take that path to happiness, these activities can help you get there much more quickly. Embrace the happy life you're blessed to live! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Happiness is my constant state of mind. I could easily give in to feelings of guilt, anger or sadness, but I feel so much better when I am happy. And because I feel positive about life, I radiate joy, which in turn comes back to me. In any situation, I take a minute to look at the value of my circumstances. I believe that there is a wealth of lessons and knowledge to be found everywhere. These teachings, whether positive or negative, help to shape me into a better person. Being the best person I can fill me with joy. True happiness also means nurturing the well-being of my family. I pay attention to the impact my actions have on those that I love. When my child gets injured at school or has a falling-out with a friend, I put on my nurturing hat. I offer support and unconditional love. The healing I see when my child's face lights up again is more than enough to make me happy. I know I am truly at peace when every breath I take brings fulfilment. My happiness comes from spiritual and emotional soundness and honesty. Any attempts to mask true feelings with false positivity are quickly noticed because happiness comes from an honest place. Today, I continue to live with the mindset that my happiness comes from within. My peace of mind is a result of my innate strength, resolve and perseverance. I reap good rewards from whatever is sown. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. Can I help others to cultivate happiness even when I am feeling down? 2. How do I share my joy with those I love? 3. Do I allow others' unpleasant moods or reactions to affect my happiness? I make room for happiness. I am committed to being happy. I let go of resentments and forgive myself when I make a mistake. I regard others with affection, even when I disagree with their actions. I keep a positive perspective regarding material goods. I enjoy what I have instead of craving more possessions. I know that I can find more joy in my spiritual practices and relationships than I can with my belongings. I do my best to manage stress. I practice relaxation techniques that loosen up my body and mind. Soaking in a warm bath soothes my nerves and leaves me feeling refreshed. Meditation calms my thoughts. I live for today and savour the present moment. I take pleasure in the sound of birds singing and the aroma of coffee brewing. I cultivate gratitude. Remembering my blessings opens up my heart. Being thankful makes me more happy and content with my life. I tell people how much they mean to me. I encourage myself to have fun and take time to play throughout the day. I make a game out of picking up toys with my children or stop and dance while mopping my kitchen floor. I view challenges as opportunities to grow and develop more compassion. I build on my successes by sharing them with others. I generate positive thoughts and look on the bright side. Today, I welcome happiness. I smile at everyone I meet and celebrate everything that comes my way. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. Why is happiness a choice? 2. How do my actions reflect the value that I place on happiness? 3. In what ways can I train myself to be more optimistic? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Happiness is a choice. It's true. You can choose to let life's circumstances get you down or you can choose to be happy no matter what challenges life brings. Happiness is already within each of us and we are born to be naturally happy! For example, have you ever noticed how infectious a baby's giggle is? So why is it that, as we get older, we forget where to find happiness within ourselves and, instead, allow outside forces to determine our happiness? You can determine your own happiness by following these simple strategies: · When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Cliché, I know, however, it's so true. You don't have to let life's troubles and problems get you down. Yes, there will always be troubles because no one is perfect, but you can choose your reaction to situations. Look at the positive side of things and work hard to see the good in people and circumstances. · Find something you love to do and do it. Do you have a lifelong dream or desire? If so, start working toward it. Taking baby steps towards a dream or goal will help you feel like you're accomplishing something. You'll find drive and determination to reach that goal when it's something you love to do. · Do you have a gift or talent you're not using? One reason so many people are unhappy is that they're not doing what they're called to do with their God-given talents. Each one of us has a purpose in life. You have natural gifts and talents to help you achieve your purpose, so use your gifts effectively! · When you're feeling down, don't wallow in your sorrows alone; do something about it. Call a friend who you know is positive and cheerful. Talk about your feelings and listen to their advice. So often, people allow themselves to go deeper and deeper into self-pity or depression because they think it has to be that way. The truth is, you don't have to be sad and you shouldn't be. You can decide to be happy. You just have to make up your minds to do so. · Think about all the things you have to be thankful for. Often you get so caught up in what's wrong with your life that you forget to look at what's right and good. Take a step back and reflect on your life. How far have you come from, say, six months ago? o Do you have children or family to be thankful for? Yes, they may not be everything we'd like them to be, but imagine life without them. Now, be thankful that you have them in your life. · When you're feeling down, journal your thoughts and feelings. Often you'll find that just getting your feelings down on paper will allow you to work through them, helping you to feel better about yourself and your beautiful life! If you've been prone to look at life negatively, then you'll have to put more effort into seeing and choosing happiness. But don't let that stop you from being happy! You, too, can learn to be happy. Practice the steps above and train your mind to focus intensely on the positives. When you feel a negative thought coming on, or your mind gravitates toward the negative, learn to recognize it, stop it in its tracks, and then start thinking happier thoughts. Starting from this moment onward, make the conscious choice to be happy! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Why are some people happy all of the time? The happiest people have habits that raise the odds of feeling happy. Unhappy people have habits that result in less desirable feelings. It can be that simple. If you're not as happy as you'd like, take a look at your habits. Those that are happy share many qualities. Adopting these same qualities will yield positive results. Habits that lead to happiness are enjoyable to implement: 1. Optimism. Obviously, if you believe good things will happen, it's much more likely that you'll be happy. Expecting the worst does nothing to improve your mood! Realistically, it's not even important to expect a positive outcome, only to believe that everything will be okay. 2. Altruism. Doing things for others provides multiple benefits. You can see firsthand that you have a lot to be grateful for. You can feel good about yourself for assisting others. You have a good reason to get out of the house. You also feel useful. 3. Gratitude. Do you realize how many great things and people you already have in your life? By maintaining focus on the things you don't have, you're making yourself unhappy. Experiencing gratitude helps to create feelings of happiness. 4. An exciting future. Maximum happiness requires that you have something to look forward to. It can be graduating from college, having a baby, retirement, a vacation, or a hot date on Saturday night. Have a few goals that give you a reason to be excited. Have goals that are both short-term and long-term. 5. Success. Spend some time doing things that you're good at. It feels good to do well at something. It doesn't have to be a competitive event. You can hit golf balls at the range or play the guitar and feel great about yourself. 6. Resilience. It's impossible to avoid challenging times. Sooner or later, something will happen that threatens your progress, success, or happiness. Resilience is the ability to continue forging ahead. 7. Reasonable expectations. When your expectations are overly optimistic, you'll routinely experience disappointment. When your expectations are consistently low, you won't feel very optimistic. Neither is a recipe for happiness. 8. Forgiveness. How can you be happy while holding a grudge? Forgiving others quickly and easily make happiness possible. You might feel that some people don't deserve forgiveness, but what is the alternative? Making yourself unhappy. 9. Authenticity. Spending your time pretending to be something you're not is a challenge to your self-esteem. Happiness is allusive if you don't feel comfortable being yourself. Allow your uniqueness to show. 10. Presence. Thinking about the past leads to regret. Thoughts of the future lead to anxiety. Keep your mind in the present if you want to experience happiness regularly. There's nothing complicated about happiness. Forgive others, be yourself, give of yourself, and be grateful for the things and people you already have. Having an effective set of habits will result in feeling more happiness. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Do you seek happiness? Are you looking around you for someone or something to come along that makes you happy? Most of us have things right in front of us every day that could make us deliriously happy if only we would let them. Could this be you? Happiness doesn't need to be created for us. It exists within us, and it's up to us to choose happiness. Happiness is attainable by anyone, so long as they want it. If you don't want to be happy you won't be. If you really want to change your life and find the happiness you've been searching for, you can do just that! A great way to find happiness in each day is to give yourself permission to dwell on the positive instead of the negative. It takes practice, but once you become skilled at it, the rewards are pure joy! Happiness Affirmations and You Happiness affirmations are one tool you can use to help you attain happiness. What are happiness affirmations? The idea is a simple one, really, and it all starts with a list of positive statements and the desire to change your life. Affirmations work a lot like mental imagery techniques where you visualize yourself doing something great. Instead of being visual, though, affirmations are spoken. This works because the words we speak have the power to evoke our emotions and activate our minds to accomplish great things. You could program your mind with positive thoughts that enable you to achieve your goals and live the life you dream! For instance, when you're having a moment where you doubt your right to be happy, you can say to yourself, “I find reasons to laugh every day,” or something as simple as, “I give myself permission to be happy.” Every time you use these statements you're reaffirming the thought and programming your brain to be happy when the opportunity presents itself. When you're always in pursuit of happiness, you may find that it's elusive because, while you want to be happy, you may also give yourself reasons to be unhappy. Reminding yourself of the negative aspects of your life or the things that aren't perfect makes it hard to find true happiness. Who Can Use Happiness Affirmations? You can! With the help of affirmations, you can change your life, one happy thought at a time. You'll be amazed at how quickly you can integrate affirmations into your life and how soon they can make a change. Some people may think that affirmations don't apply to them because they're so unhappy, but these positive statements can help people from every walk of life, no matter how bad things may seem. When you use positive statements, you push out the negative thoughts, leaving no room for them in your life. When you remind yourself that you have a right and a reason to be happy, you'll feel happier, and life will suddenly become so much more enjoyable. Even if you think your life is so far gone that affirmations couldn't possibly help you, you may be wrong, and end up full of happiness and joy! It's certainly worth a try to see if you can change your life one statement at a time! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

I envision the path to happiness as a road through the desert, in July. The heat radiates off the asphalt, so I am unsure of just how far the road stretches off into the distance. Of course, this is my vision, so the road is as long — or short — as I want it to be. With my mind, I create oases and mountains that provide shade. I create happiness. I am in control of my happiness because happiness is perceived. Happiness is a goal always within grasp, though many perceive it to be at the end of the road. However, I avoid waiting for the end of the road. I place happiness among my belongings and carry it with me during my travels. By maintaining a positive outlook, searching for the good in things, and reinforcing my well-being, my happiness grows within. I begin to feel optimistic. I discover that happiness affects my recognition of success. When I am happy, I succeed in every challenge I undertake. Life is easier, people are nicer, and each obstacle appears smaller. Today, I intend to share my perspective on happiness with others. Instead of being a goal to work toward, I realize that happiness is actually a tool I can use to achieve my goals. I have stopped striving to be happy. I simply am. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What helps me to maintain a positive mental outlook? 2. What type(s) of happiness does success bring? 3. Who and/or what influences my well-being? I lead by example to help others make positive choices. Everyone has an opportunity to lead by example. I choose to be a positive example! People follow my lead and make better choices because of me. Being a good example doesn't mean being perfect. No one makes the right decisions all the time. I allow myself to be human and make mistakes. However, I strive to be my best. I always want to be stronger and better. I continuously work to improve and find great joy in the process. Each day, I try to set a better example for others. If I am happy with myself, I am doing the right thing. I avoid doing things that don't feel right or that don't make me happy. I do what feels joyous to me because it causes me to radiate that joy out to others. When others see my happiness, they want to follow my example. Each day, I am an example for someone who crosses my path. I am a good example of joy and peace. Others appreciate what I have to offer. They want to be like me because they see the happiness I radiate. No matter what crosses my path, I cultivate peace within myself. I show others how I handle challenges in positive ways. Challenges can be good opportunities and I demonstrate how to learn and grow from them. Today, I am the best I can be so others can follow my lead. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What makes me a good example? 2. How can I use my own growth to help others be their best? 3. How can I lead by example? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Most people think they would be happy if they had more “stuff” or more money. A better car or a better house sounds pretty good to most people. But more money and “things” don't necessarily make you happier. Having a car might make it easier to be happy if it means you don't have to walk everywhere. Having more money can make it easier to be happy if you currently can't pay all your bills. So these things can remove some of the obstacles to being happy, but they don't really provide happiness. These four things do bring happiness, and the best part is, they are free. Consider these ideas: 1. Someone to love. Everyone needs someone to love. If you don't think you have someone to love, go find someone. The world is full of people that feel unloved so it shouldn't take you too long to find a volunteer. We all need someone to cherish and care for. · Fortunately, the people and animals we genuinely love tend to love us back. 2. Something to do. There are plenty of wealthy people that are miserable because they don't spend their time doing something that they love. Life is about doing and experiencing things. If you spend all day doing stuff you love to do, it's pretty difficult to be unhappy. · Find ways to spend your time in activities that are meaningful to you. Make a list and start incorporating those things into your life daily. If you can find work that you're passionate about, so much the better for you! 3. Something to look forward to. If the only thing you have to look forward to is more of the same, boring routine, it's difficult to be happy. Everyone should have something to look forward to shortly. · Th gym class that · Think about something you'd really like to do or see. Maybe it could be something as simple as a gym class that you love going to on Thursday nights, it can make your Mondays a little easier when you know that your gym class is looming shortly. 4. Using downtime joyfully. Perhaps your biggest challenge is dealing with downtime. When you're bored, lonely, anxious, or sad and don't have something to do, it's easy to resort to less than ideal behaviours. These behaviours not only accomplish nothing positive, but they can also make your life more challenging. · Coping with negative feelings effectively makes life much easier. Read something worthwhile, go for a jog, meet up with a friend and do something fun, make a new friend, or work on a hobby. Substitute your negative habits with new, more beneficial habits that bring you closer to the good life you imagine for you and your family. · Learn to take a moment and pause before you go on autopilot. If you're going for the fridge and you're not hungry, simply STOP. Ask yourself why you're doing this and what other action you could take. If you think you're unhappy because you don't have enough money or toys, you're probably mistaken. Having meaningful relationships, something to do, something to look forward to, and not shooting yourself in the foot are the keys. Find ways to incorporate these ideas into your life and you'll be much happier! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

While there are a lot of habits that will help to bring happiness into your life, there are also plenty of habits that will chase happiness away. Some of the things we do each day make it very unlikely that we'll experience happiness. You're probably doing at least of a couple of these things and never considered the negative impact that they could be having on your life. Avoid these habits that can rob you of happiness: ● Unnecessary spending. One of the greatest stressors in life is financial issues. Happiness is harder to find when you're up to your eyeballs in debt. General financial pressure is one of the greatest causes of misery and divorce. ● Clutter is another barrier to happiness. When you spend too much, you have too much stuff. It's always in the way and serves as a constant reminder that you spent more than you should have. ● Think about the reward you gain by spending and find a less destructive way to accomplish the same thing. ● If you want to make happiness a real possibility in your life, keep your spending under control. ● Postponing your life. We're always waiting for something to happen before taking action. Whether it's waiting for the first of the month to start a diet, or waiting for the kids to leave the home before starting an online business, we always have an excuse to wait. ● There will never be a perfect time to take that big step. Manage your circumstances as well as possible and get started today. Time is the one thing none of us can ever get back. ● Blaming others for your challenges. When you blame others, you lose control. It's not easy to accept responsibility for all of the unpleasant things in your life, but what other choice do you have? No one else is going to fix it for you. ● Even if you've been used and abused, you are still responsible for dealing with the aftermath. Accept the challenge and move forward. ● Not staying grounded in the present. Most people have a bad habit of dwelling on past mistakes and tragedies and worrying about the future. The past is over, so leave it there. Good choices today eliminate most future challenges. Focus on making the most of today, and the future will take care of itself. ● Pay attention to your thoughts for an entire day. Notice how much time you spend thinking about the past or the future. Think about how that impacts your effectiveness and your happiness. Holding a grudge. If someone has wronged you, you might be making a good decision by not trusting that person again. However, holding on to the animosity is pointless. You just make yourself unhappy and less effective. Once it's over, learn what you can from it and forge ahead. Focusing on challenges instead of solutions. It's easy to feel overwhelmed if you focus on the unpleasant things in your life. Rather than do that, spend your time, energy, and focus on finding a way to make things better. You'll feel better and be much more successful. Allow yourself to be happy by letting go of your anti-happiness habits. You'll find that happiness isn't as challenging to achieve as you thought. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

I have so much to be thankful for. All of my needs and many of my wants are met. People who care about me surround me and I am aware of their loving presence. Because of this, I am full of gratitude. So many people in this world go without basic needs: food, shelter, or clean water. Many struggles just to get by each day. When I think about these things, I remember how blessed I am. Regardless of what my future may hold, today I have food, shelter, and clean water and those gifts are worthy of my gratitude. Each day, I take a few moments to remind myself of my many blessings. I think of the people who love me. I take a moment to mentally send love and gratitude to all of them in return. I remember all of how life is easy for me. I have gifts and talents to share. Many things come easily to me, even when I feel challenged by my life. Other things come less easily to me, but I know that each one is an opportunity to learn. I intentionally cultivate thankfulness for life's challenging situations too. If I ever feel like I have little to be grateful for, and counting my blessings seems not to help, I go out of my way to do a good turn for someone else. By being helpful to others, I remind myself that the world is an abundant place. And when I remember this, I am grateful. Today, I am thankful for the blessings in my life. I take time to be conscious of each of them. With all of this abundance surrounding me, I am full of gratitude. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What can I be thankful for today? 2. How can I be of service to someone today? 3. In what ways does being helpful to others increase my own gratitude? In my alone time, I consider things I am grateful for. Every day is a day of thanksgiving. In the hustle and bustle of life, it is easy to overlook blessings. But I set aside time each day to consider the things I am grateful for. At times, I invite my kids to share my alone time. I ask them to list things they are thankful for. This bonding activity brings us closer together. It also teaches them to avoid taking things for granted. Even on difficult days, I give thanks that it is not any worse. I acknowledge that so many others have it worse than me. That mindset helps me to build the drive and will to keep going. I take the time to express thanks for my tough situations. They teach me perseverance, forgiveness, and creativity. I feel my character building with each challenge I face. My resolve grows each day after I list the things I am thankful for. I feel more and more invincible. I see every situation as a blessing. Some are tougher than others. But I appreciate every learning experience I get. I admire the person I am becoming. Today, I find blessings in both my good days and bad days. I commit to finding something positive in every situation. I am grateful regardless of the circumstances I face. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. Are there difficulties that are too hard for me to overlook? 2. Do I feel refreshed and reenergized after every thanksgiving session I hold? 3. How do I handle situations where others display ungratefulness? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

My day to day activities is deliberate. I choose to move through life with a grateful mindset. That focus enables me to maintain a positive life. When I step into my office each day, I remind myself that having a job is a luxury. Being thankful for employment gives me the motivation to work diligently. Before I greet a friend or stranger, I express the gratitude that I can see them and speak with them. My initial expressions set a positive tone for our conversation. The simple blessings of life are apparent to me with each step that I take. I move deliberately and with gusto because I am blessed with the ability to walk. I avoid moping around even when I am feeling down. My steps are guided by gratitude. Staying calm when I discipline my children is sometimes challenging. However, my kids are precious gifts who deserve proper guidance. I use that reminder to keep my mission clear when teaching them life lessons. When they know how much of a blessing they are, my job is done well. Today, giving thanks is a natural part of my life. I celebrate opportunities to show my grateful mindset. Recognizing the goodness in life allows me to live happily and peacefully. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What are some of the things that I am most thankful for? 2. How do I use my positive mindset to counteract negative energy from others? 3. In which situations are it difficult for me to stay focused on being thankful? I appreciate all that I have. Gratitude is a powerful emotion. When I feel grateful and appreciative about something, I attract more of that thing into my life. Appreciation is like a giant antenna that broadcasts my wishes to the universe. I send out my gratitude and receive so much in return. I am thankful for the wonderful people in my life. My friends and family are important to me. I remind myself of this fact each day. The love I have in my life fills me with appreciation and gratitude. I appreciate my home. I am thankful that I have a place to live. I am safe and comfortable. I enjoy living in my home and look forward to returning there at the end of each day. I appreciate my job. My career is fulfilling and interesting. I love being able to pay my bills on time each month. I appreciate my boss and co-workers. I am grateful for all that my employment contributes to my life. I am grateful for my health. My health is a priority for me, and I am grateful for the good state of health I enjoy. I appreciate my mind and body. I even appreciate the negative experiences of my life. These experiences are learning moments and allow me to be more grateful for the positive experiences in my life. Challenge is good for me. Today, I remind myself of my many blessings. I am grateful for everything good in my life. Self-Reflection Questions: How do I feel when I am grateful? What do I view negatively in my life? Can I find a way to appreciate those things? What are the 10 things I appreciate the most in my life? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

My attitude reflects a heart filled with appreciation for the things I have. I am humbled whenever I count my blessings because I know that many are in less fortunate situations. I am grateful because my Creator continues to bless me out of love. I seek to treat others with the same love and shower them with gratitude. Gratitude makes my heart full of positive energy. I walk through life with a smile on my face and confidence in my heart because I trust that I am cared for. When I look through thankful eyes, I can see hope in the world. When someone does something for me, I express my thanks, even when it is something small. I appreciate others' hard work and dedication toward me. From the clerk at the store to my loving spouse, I make it a point to sincerely thank everyone who serves me. A small note, a smile, and a kind word are all simple ways in which I show others that I am thankful. A grateful attitude keeps pride and arrogance far from me. Pride comes before the fall, but gratitude keeps me standing strong. Being thankful is a habit that I work on. Over time, the more appreciation I show, the easier it gets. Gratitude has become a charming and natural part of my personality. Today, I give thanks for the gift of life. I go out of my way to make sure those around me know that I appreciate them from the bottom of my heart. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. What am I grateful for? 2. Who can I thank today? 3. What is one creative way that I can show my appreciation to someone? I start my day with gratitude. I begin each day with a feeling of love and thankfulness in my heart. I avoid the negative thoughts that bring my day down to a harmful level. I see each new day as a chance to say thank you to the universe. I count the blessings that surround me and fill my life. I appreciate the people who make my life easier and better. I am thankful for my friends and family every morning. I am grateful for my work, home, neighbourhood and relationships. I see how others suffer around me, and I focus on peace. Gratitude fills my spirit, and my joy increases. I appreciate the five senses that help me experience this planet. I am happy I can connect with nature, people, and animals. My morning is complete because gratitude occupies my thoughts. I use my morning to appreciate my life and accomplishments. I reflect on my experiences and past. I make plans for the future to help my job and family. I focus on ideas that uplift all of us and help us reach new goals. Today, I begin my morning with gratitude and peace in my mind. I see how my attitude affects my entire day, so my morning is a time of reflection. Self-Reflection Questions: 1. How can I find time during a busy morning to show gratitude? 2. How can I teach my family to stop and say thank you each day? 3. What can I do to banish the negative thoughts and experiences that can affect my mornings? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

If you ever get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, you know how out of touch you can get with the things that really matter. But you actually have plenty of things to be grateful for, regardless of the circumstances in which you may find yourself. Each person has their own unique list of things that bring simple pleasure, feelings of pure joy, or just a sense of comfort each day. The most important function of thankfulness is that it allows you to open your heart, mind, and soul to goodness, gratitude, and light. If you're unsure how to consciously cultivate gratitude, consider these suggestions: 1. Take five. Allow yourself five minutes each morning to experience thankfulness. Take these moments to simply think about the past day. Say to yourself, “One thing I'm thankful for is___.” Fill in the blank with something you noticed from the last 24 hours. Think about it for a minute or so. Smile about it. Then go on with your morning. 2. Appreciate your world openly. Share your gratitude with others. For example, if you're chatting on the phone with a friend, you could say something like, “I am so glad that I painted the living room that beautiful light teal colour. The sunlight reflects on it so nicely.” 3. Notice the small stuff. Promise yourself you won't take little things for granted. Because life becomes crowded with people, tasks, and objects, you may feel challenged to notice small bits of wonder in your day. But if you put your mind to it, you'll be astounded at what you see. · Open your eyes to the wonders all around you. They won't cost a dime. A sunset, a warm cup of tea, or an ice-cold glass of water when you get home from work can be great reasons to feel gratitude. The smell of honeysuckle as you walk by the vine or your daughter's impish smiles are still more things that might remind you of your blessings. 4. Learn to turn your thoughts around. When you discover you're thinking negative thoughts, imagine a big stop sign and say, “Stop” out loud. Then, replace the stop sign with an image of something around you that you're grateful for right at that moment. Think about that object, experience, person, or situation and bask in your positive experience. 5. Keep a gratitude journal. If you find you're having difficulty remembering to notice the things that stir your inner thankfulness, perhaps starting a gratitude journal would help. A journal is a tangible visual aid that will trigger you to think about what you're grateful for. · Try just putting put the date on the page and jotting down what you're grateful for at that time. You can write as much or as little as you wish. Place your journal in a spot where you'll see it frequently, like on the dining room table, the kitchen counter, or near your favourite chair. This way, you'll be prompted to experience your gratitude more often. Being grateful is truly one of the things that make life worth living! Each time you consciously decide to experience your thankfulness, you'll feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Open your eyes and mind to the people, places, things, and experiences you're grateful for. You'll feel so much better about your life. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Do you realize how much you can improve your outlook on life by simply being grateful? This is what is called an “attitude of gratitude.” If you cultivate an “attitude of gratitude” you'll actually bring even more joys into your life like a fulfilling career, pay raises, wealth, health, and stronger relationships. An attitude of gratitude is truly a magnet for prosperity and success. After all, much of life is about your attitude and your outlook on things. It's been said that optimists may be wrong and pessimists may be right about some things, but optimists enjoy the ride. Which are you? If you transform your attitude you can change your entire universe. And yes, you really can change in your attitude by showing appreciation a little more often. Be Thankful for What You Do Have Many people, maybe even the majority of us, believe their lives are boring or meaningless. Isn't that awful? Oftentimes we see little to be thankful for because we're always thinking about the things we wish they had. We may live in a comfortable home in a nice neighbourhood and we may have plenty of food on the table, but we just don't see the joys in the everyday. We often take the little things for granted. Are you one of these people? If so, it's okay! There's plenty of hope and there are plenty of things for you to be thankful for. There are so many joys in your life right now that you're likely overlooking. For example, by reading this article you have obviously awoken for another day. Isn't the fact that you are still alive something to be thankful for? After all, a cancer survivor, sure won't take life for granted anymore! Here's something to think about: Did the sunrise today? If so, be thankful for the gift of light and warmth. Did you have work to do today? If so, be thankful for the opportunity to earn a living for you and your family. Did you eat a nourishing meal today? If so, be thankful for the gift of food. Even the smallest things in your life are reasons to celebrate! As we all know, “things could be worse” which is all the more reason to have an attitude of gratitude! Lots of Gratitude = Positive Attitude It's a fact: those who are grateful are more uplifting and positive. By having a positive attitude, you'll not only feel better, but you'll also enjoy vibrant physical health because our body, mind, and spirit are so heavily interconnected. Now, that's something to be thankful for, isn't it? As mentioned earlier, by having a positive attitude, you'll be a magnet for positive relationships. You'll attract like-minded, go-getters who will not only inspire you but push you further. After all, like attracts like, which is all the more reason to be positive! Now ask yourself: What do I have to be thankful for today? Spend a few moments showing your appreciation to your loved ones, colleagues, or any random strangers you meet. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Gratitude is often a difficult concept to understand and put into practice. Remember how your parents used to tell you not to waste food because there were starving kids in the world? That was an elementary attempt at teaching gratitude because the goal was to make you think about how fortunate you were to have food on your plate. What Is Gratitude? If you look in the dictionary you'll find the definition of gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness; basically, being happy with what you have in life. Sit and think about all that you have — your home, family, health, food, car, and faith — and then consider those people who don't have any of those things. It's very humbling to realize that there are so many joys we take for granted in our life! Share your gratitude with your family every night during a family dinner. Say thanks to the cook, thanks to the cleaner, and thanks for everyone gathered around the table. Encourage older kids to really think about the little things that happened during the day to find their gratitude. Enjoy the quiet time together and use the sharing opportunity to open discussions about ways your family can work together as a loving team. Showing Gratitude Without Envy Both children and adults are guilty of being envious of other people's possessions or success at one time or another. It's human nature, especially since we see what others have and desire it for ourselves. If you're ready to eliminate that jealousy and show genuine gratitude, here are a few reminders for you: Gratitude can be expressed by doing big and small things. You don't have to make a huge monetary contribution to express your appreciation. Simple things, such as writing a thank you note, are just as effective in showing your gratitude for life. Gratitude must be practised regularly, even during difficult times. By doing something small but meaningful each day to show your gratitude, you're forming an important habit which will last for your lifetime. Gratitude is not all about money. Making charitable contributions is wonderful but if you don't have the money to do that, volunteer your time at a soup kitchen, animal shelter, or other charity that touches your heart. Your time is just as valuable as money! Teaching Kids a Life Lesson Young children generally have a difficult time thinking of the big world around them. Their worlds are often centred on themselves, their family, school, and activities. They barely have a concept of another town or state, never mind starving kids in a foreign country. By engaging in activities as a family, you can show your children the struggles other people face and how their own problems or desires fit into the big picture. Keep Dreaming Big Gratitude plays an important role in your own personal growth journey but expressing your gratitude doesn't mean you have to give up on your dreams. Gratitude helps you see the true joys in everything — big or small. Just remember that every gift in your life should be a pleasant surprise rather than a desperate or jealous desire. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Why wait until Thanksgiving to express your gratitude? You have the luxury of living your joyous life every single day of the year. So make it a point to recognize your blessings and remind yourself that showing gratitude for all you already have only does more to attract further blessings into your life. Here are five ways that showing gratitude attracts more abundance into your life: 1. You'll be thankful for the little things. When you're in a positive mindset, you'll learn to appreciate the little things. The sweetest blessings come in the smallest forms. Once you learn to love, recognize, and be thankful for the little things in life, your quality of life will increase because you'll be aware of how fortunate you really are. · Your daughter giving you a drawing that says, “Number one mom!” or your husband picking up your favourite flavour of ice cream are things that you should be thankful for. Your daughter thinks you're a rock star and you have a considerate spouse. How awesome! 2. You'll develop impeccable radar. If you often reflect on the fortunate events in your life, you'll be able to spot a good opportunity a mile away. For example, you'll be able to smell a promotion in the works or an opportunity to bring your family closer. 3. Giving to the less fortunate. When you're thankful for the bed you sleep in at night, the roof shielding your family from the cold, the family on your couch and the food on your plates, you're well aware of how fortunate you are. As a result, you're more likely to jump at the opportunity to help someone in a worse position. · When you help others, you help yourself in many ways. 4. You'll reach higher. Your grateful ways are a blessing. You appreciate life more intensely when you're grateful. You also see each day as another chance to bring more joy to your reality, lifestyle, and future. · It's perfectly normal to be grateful for what you have, yet often desire to reach for more. Constantly improving your life is a good thing for you and your family. 5. Considering others. When you're satisfied with your life and feel genuinely happy, you tend to treat others very kindly. You'll be more likely to hold the door open at the mall for a stranger or pick up a fallen cane for an elderly man. Your own happiness is magnified when you help bring joy to others. Your life begins to take a turn for the better when you keep in mind how fortunate you really are. The smallest details can boost your spirits. The misfortune of others will prompt you to help them seek support, and life just begins to look a little brighter. Starting today, take your positive mindset to new heights and make every day a personal day of thanksgiving! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Showing your gratitude can be a great way to spread positive feelings in the world around you. When you think about it, reaching your goals starts with a single positive thought. How do you feel when someone sincerely expresses his or her gratitude to you for something you did? Doesn't it make you feel good about yourself? These positive feelings can lift you, boost your enthusiasm, and motivate you to achieve even more. Here are some of the benefits of gratitude: 1. Reaching your goals. When you feel grateful, it tends to be a lasting and selfless feeling. It's much more than just a momentary burst of positive energy; it has staying power that will provide a great boost for you to reach your goals. When you express your gratitude to others, ensure that you're open and expressive. People don't know what you're thinking; hearing it can make all the difference. 2. Strengthened relationships. There are many ways you can express your gratitude to your loved ones, including saying, “Thank you,” writing a letter, or giving them a thoughtful gift. When you learn to avoid taking your loved ones for granted, you'll have a long-lasting and loving relationship. · Showing gratitude is a two-way street. Learn how to effectively express your gratitude and, just as importantly, to receive it as well. 3. Improved communication. Gratitude can mean better communication all around. By expressing your gratitude to strangers, they'll be more likely to show an interest in helping you, too. 4. More effective constructive criticism. No matter how we express constructive criticism, it often makes the recipient defensive or even angry. No one likes a blow to the ego. In this situation, a grateful attitude can take you a long way. You can express criticism quite effectively when you also emphasize what you appreciate about them. 5. Preserving memories. You can preserve memories in a positive way when you keep a gratitude journal. You'll be able to enjoy your memories again and again when you read about these happy times in the future. Show Your Gratitude Every Day Showing gratitude to others may seem like a selfless act, but it's something that you also benefit from. When you show your gratitude every day, you change the way you think. You'll appreciate your good life when the majority of your thoughts remain positive. Negative thoughts can sometimes be overwhelming, and just because you have them doesn't mean you're a bad person. They happen to everyone, but you can strive to keep them to a minimum with the help of a grateful attitude. One way to show your gratitude every day is to remind yourself of the big picture when a negative thought arises. If a petty argument with your spouse makes you feel angry and heated, take a deep breath and think for a moment. Remember that the argument is not permanent and, instead, feel grateful for the gift of this relationship. Our days on this earth are numbered so we must cherish the time that we do have and enjoy the benefits of living each day as if it were our last. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Welcome to the final day of the gratefulness challenge. We've been looking into how being more grateful can help us in many different ways, as well as the wonderful effects this positive attitude has on the people we come into contact with every day. I understand the difficult year we've had, and I've found myself dealing with the feeling of sadness, so to help myself and others in the process, I want to continue looking at how we can focus on subjects like; thankfulness, joy and gratitude to recalibrate our lives, and live again with joy in our lives. Today we're going to be talking about the power of always being able to find something to be grateful for. It may seem like a cliché phrase, but there truly is always a silver lining to every situation. In other words, in every situation, there is something to be grateful for. Yes, even the hard, challenging situations. We can intentionally cultivate thankfulness for life's challenging situations too. Always be on the lookout for good things that are coming into your life. And when you notice these things, you give thanks for them. The ability to be grateful for things even in the midst of difficult situations is what sets apart the most grateful people from everyone else. And the truth is, when you're constantly looking for the good in every situation, it completely changes how you experience each situation. Suddenly, everything is not doom and gloom, but everything simply seems a lot brighter, we become more optimistic about the future. We're able to see that, even in the midst of difficulty, there is real good. If you want to grow into a truly, overwhelmingly grateful person, this is the last skill you must master. You must learn the fine art of seeing good things in every situation you encounter. Rabbi Harold Kushner said: If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul. Think about a difficult situation you're currently experiencing. Now, sit down with your journal or a piece of paper and answer all the following questions regarding that situation: ● What valuable lesson can I learn from this situation? ● What good thing can come out of this challenge? ● How can this difficulty actually make me a better person? ● In five years, how will I look back on this situation? Don't gloss over this. Reflect deeply on each question. I think you'll find that the more time you give to answering each question, the more you'll find your heart welling up with gratitude. You'll also begin to see that in every situation, there is something good you can take from it! Now repeat this process for another difficult situation you're facing. How does walking through these questions change your perspective on the entire situation? If you find you're having difficulty remembering to notice the things that stir your inner thankfulness, perhaps starting a gratitude journal would help. A journal is a tangible visual aid that will trigger you to think about what you're grateful for. Now briefly in your journal, make comments. Was it hard for you to find good in the midst of your difficulties? What is one good thing you were able to take from your most difficult situation? If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get your copy here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Welcome to day 4 of the gratitude challenge. What was it like saying, “Thank you,” to so many people yesterday? Did it change the way you went through your day? Let's continue looking further into how being more grateful can help us in so many different ways, and of course the wonderful effects this positive attitude has on the people we come into contact with every day. I understand the difficult year we've had, and I've found myself dealing with the feeling of sadness, so to help myself and hopefully others too, I want to look at how we can focus on subjects like; thankfulness, joy and gratitude to recalibrate our lives, and live again with joy. Today we're going to be discussing the importance of; gratitude affirmations. Gratitude affirmations go even beyond just saying, “Thank you,” to a person or journaling. They are active, positive, enthusiastic statements of gratitude. Gratitude affirmations are not based on you feeling grateful. That's a key distinction. Rather, you are choosing to be grateful for things, even if you don't feel grateful. When you repeat aloud these affirmations of gratitude, you energize yourself There are two types of gratitude affirmations. The first is when you're grateful for the things you already have. Both types of affirmations are critically important. The first helps you constantly be grateful in the moment for every good thing that flows into your life. The second helps you live in a state of grateful anticipation for all the good things that are coming your way. Create both a present gratefulness affirmation and a future gratefulness affirmation. When it comes to the present gratefulness affirmation, you want to include as many things as you can think of to be grateful for. When it comes to your future affirmation, think about all the good things that you want to come into your life. What are your hopes and dreams and desires? What do you think about all the time? Use your future gratitude affirmation to give thanks that these things will come into your life. An example of a future gratitude affirmation is: I am grateful for the many blessings that are coming my way today, tomorrow, and every other day in the future. I receive them with open hands. I'm grateful for the physical and spiritual blessings. I'm grateful for the friendships I'll enjoy and the food I'll eat. I'm grateful for the money I'll receive and the way that I'll be able to use it to achieve much good. I'm grateful for all the good things that are in store for me. Make the affirmation specific. If you desire a new job, give thanks in detail about the job you're going to receive. Using the affirmations above along with your own will help you lead a less stressful and more fulfilling life. Spending some time with positive affirmations, while appreciating all that you have and all that's heading your way is one of the easiest “stress relief drugs” you'll ever take. Yet, affirmations come with no ill side effects, and they're free. Tomorrow we're going to wrapping up the challenge with the practice of always finding something to be grateful for. Until then, continue in your journal, making notes of what this experience was like for you. What does your current gratitude affirmation look like? What about your future affirmation? Share your thoughts, and you will be able to re-live these expediencies again and again. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com PS If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here.

Welcome to Day 3 of the gratefulness challenge. I hope you found it helpful to do some gratitude journaling yesterday. I'd like to spend these 5 days looking further into how being more grateful can help us in so many different ways, and of course the wonderful effects this positive attitude has on the people we come into contact with every day. I understand the difficult year we've had, and I've found myself dealing with the feeling of sadness, and I simply need to take action. So to help myself and hopefully others too, I want to look at how we can focus on subjects like; thankfulness, joy and gratitude to recalibrate our lives, and live again with joy in our lives. Yesterday we talked about journaling, and how this helps us to put into practice what we are learning. Today we're going to be looking at the benefits and power of saying, “thank you” and how this can totally change the way we experience life. It is two simple words that change everything. Anytime you receive anything good, no matter how small, make a concerted effort to say, “Thank you,” to someone. That's it. A phrase we take for granted. A sentence usually reserved for when someone holds the door for us. A phrase we say far too little. We tend to think about gratitude only when we receive big blessings, but if we really want to cultivate gratefulness in our lives, can you imagine how it would change your life if you constantly said, “Thank you,” to people? If you took every opportunity to thank people? You could; ● Thanked a coworker for a prompt reply to an email. ● Said a heartfelt, “Thank you,” when your boss let you go home 30 minutes early. ● Thanked your spouse for cooking a delicious dinner. ● Gave your kids a big hug and thanked them for cleaning up their toys. ● Were full of gratefulness when a family member called to visit us. Being thankful for others profoundly changes the way we go through life. When you're constantly thankful for others, it fills your heart with joy and helps you live in a constant state of gratitude. In even the most challenging situations, you can almost always find something to be grateful for. Once you've identified something good, be thankful for it. Give thanks that it's making you a better, stronger, more compassionate, more thoughtful, more resilient person. Be grateful that it's stretching you to be your best possible self. Today, make every effort to say, “Thank you,” to others. Match the practice of noticing with the practice of gratefulness to others. Try to notice at least TEN things you can thank someone for. They don't have to be big things. Give thanks for even the smallest ways a person helps you or brings joy into your life. You'll discover that the practice of gratitude completely changes your relationships with people. They'll be much more receptive to you, much more open, much more willing to share their lives with you. And you'll simply be grateful that you did. Gratitude is an incredibly powerful practice. The practice is so powerful that it can change your relationships forever. Tomorrow we're going to be talking about the powerful practice of gratitude affirmations. Until then, please journal your experience with constantly saying, “Thank you.” Was it difficult at all? How did people respond? Were there any unexpected responses? Write these in your journal to be reviewed again and again! Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com PS If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here.

Welcome to Day 2 of the gratefulness challenge. I'd like to spend the next 5 days looking further into how being more grateful can help us in so many different ways, and of course the wonderful effects this positive attitude has on the people we come into contact with every day. I understand the difficult year we've had, and I've found myself dealing with the feeling of sadness, and I simply need to take action. So to help myself and hopefully others too, I want to look at how we can focus on subjects like; thankfulness, joy and gratitude to recalibrate our lives, and live again with joy in our lives. Yesterday we talked about the practice of noticing, and how a grateful heart notices good things, and how the more grateful we are, the happier we are. Today we're going to be looking at the benefits of gratefulness journaling, and why using a journal is a great help. Gratefulness journaling takes the practice of noticing a step further. It involves first noticing things you are grateful for, then taking action, and actually writing down those things in a journal. If you find you are having difficulty remembering to notice the things that stir your inner thankfulness, perhaps starting a gratitude journal would help. A journal is a tangible visual aid that will trigger you to think about what you're grateful for. You might be wondering, why is it necessary to write down the things I notice? There are 2 reasons for this; First, when we write things down, it gives us time to reflect. Writing, especially writing by hand, forces us to slow down and think. When you write about what you're grateful for, it allows you to pause and consider WHY am I so grateful for a particular thing? Second, writing down the things you're grateful for reinforces them in your mind. It's like noticing them a second time and being grateful for them all over again. This practice of; let us call it, “double gratefulness”, it can literally double your joy. When you write down what you're grateful for, it allows you to focuses your attention on those things and gives you a fresh appreciation; for all that you have to be grateful for. There's no need to overcomplicate this, get your journal, or a notebook, and at the end of each day, write down at least 10 things from your day that you're grateful for. They can be big things, like getting a raise at work, too little things, like holding your daughter's hand when you went for a walk. Also, write down why you're grateful for those particular things, what about them, makes you happy? Why are you grateful for them? Finally, after you've written each thing down, say a brief word or a prayer of thanks for it. Take the opportunity to be grateful again at the moment. This practice doesn't need to take long. You should be able to do it in 5–10 minutes. The goal is simply to get yourself in a state of gratefulness at the end of each day. Now, take a moment to write down, how this went for you. Did you find it challenging to come up with 10 things to be grateful for? What was it like writing them down? Tomorrow we're going to be talking about the powerful practice of saying, “Thank you”. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Hope you enjoyed this brief look at why journaling is a great help and can help us with our journey to a happier life. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Welcome to Day 1 of the gratefulness challenge. I'd like to spend the next 5 days looking further into how being more grateful can help us in so many different ways, and of course the wonderful effects this positive attitude has on the people we come into contact with every day. I understand the difficult year we've had, and I've found myself dealing with the feeling of sadness, and I simply need to take action. So to help myself and hopefully others too, I want to look at how we can focus on subjects like; thankfulness, joy and gratitude to recalibrate our lives, and live again with joy in our lives. I'd like to start today by simply looking at the very simple practice of noticing. A grateful heart is a heart NOTICES good things that are already present. In other words, when you're grateful, you're constantly seeing all the good that you have in your life. You're not constantly frustrated about what you don't have. Not constantly searching for the next thing you're going to get. Rather, you're always on the lookout for good things that are coming into your life. And when you notice these things, you give thanks for them. A delicious meal… A gorgeous sunset… A car that you love… A peaceful walk with your loved ones… Friends who make you laugh… If you want to be grateful, you must regularly be noticing all the good things, big and small that come into your life. When you do this, your heart is automatically filled with gratefulness. Decide today that you are going to notice at least TEN things that you are grateful for. Start noticing as soon as you wake up. Make an effort to notice something you're grateful for within the first five minutes of waking up. If nothing comes to mind, simply be grateful that you're alive! You've got another glorious day to live, another day to experience wonderful blessings, another day to be filled with joy. The moment you notice something, give thanks for it. It can help if you audibly say, “Thank you for… and then say out loud what you are grateful for” By saying it out loud, you're actively reminding yourself of the good that has come into your life. You shouldn't have any trouble noticing ten things to be grateful for. If you get to ten early in the day, go for TWENTY! The more you're grateful, the happier you'll be. Okay, now it's time for you to practice noticing and being grateful. Write down how you feel. If you find you're having difficulty remembering to notice the things that stir your inner thankfulness, perhaps starting a gratitude journal would help. A journal is a tangible visual aid that will trigger you to think about what you're grateful for. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Hope you enjoyed this brief look at why noticing good things can help us to be happier. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

It's not always easy to find the goodness in life, especially when money is tight and you're faced with worries about your job or family. These worries can often cloud your whole mind, bring your mood down, and affect your overall quality of life. If you feel like you're being followed by what some might call, “bad luck”, then it's time to find the truth, see yourself as blessed, and realize that there is always something to be grateful for in your life. Remind Yourself About What's Going Right If you're plagued by negative thoughts, find a quiet place, grab a pen and paper and make a list of answers to this question: What do I have to be grateful for in my life? Start your list with the most obvious things, your health and family. Do you have a car? A home? Clothes on your back? Food on the table? You don't have to have the fanciest or the most expensive items for you to be grateful. Even if you buy your clothes at Goodwill, at least you're clothed and warm. A used car in good condition will get you to work just as easily as a brand new car. Don't forget to give thanks for the small things in life, such as finding the car keys in time to get to work or getting a restful night sleep before an important day. You can also try to sit quietly in a room and meditate on your life and things you want to improve on. Appreciating what you already have in life will free you to make the changes you desire. Being Grateful Despite Setbacks There's no denying that you will suffer setbacks in life. It's a fact of life! While it may be difficult to be grateful during these times, it's important to remember that good can come from difficult situations. For example, if you've recently lost your job, be grateful for the skills you have. With your skills, experience, and the knowledge you possess, you may end up finding a more fulfilling job that gives you more money or more responsibility while being closer to home. As strange as it may sound in the moment of despair, try to be grateful during difficult times because, as one door closes, another opens the way to new opportunities. After all, you can't find bright new possibilities in your life if you don't experience a setback at one point or another. Be Thankful for Life's Setbacks Setbacks are there to challenge you to be better, stronger, faster, and wiser. The true test of your attitude is to be thankful for the obstacle ahead of you (even if you don't understand why it exists in the first place), then push forward, stronger than ever. Why should you be thankful? Because with each challenge you overcome, you gain the wisdom and courage to succeed the next time around. And if it weren't for each challenge in your life, you'd never learn and grow! Being grateful every day will help you lift that overbearing black cloud that can be so stifling. You'll begin to realize that life is good and you can make it through anything. After all, good things come to those who wait! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Emotions can bottle up inside you, but you don't have to let them. You can master your thoughts, feelings, and emotions and learn to let them out in positive ways, so they don't cause you stress and harm. One of the best ways to improve your health and handle your emotions is by expressing your gratitude. Yes, really! Ask yourself: What are you thankful for? Who matters in your life? Even when life may not be going as planned, there are still many things to be grateful for. Give Your Gratitude Away No matter how much you appreciate someone in your life, that person may not have any idea about how you feel. Rather than just assume they know your thoughts and feelings, go ahead and speak up. Tell them how you really feel and what's in your heart. See the smile? It feels good, doesn't it? When you smile back, laugh, and even share tears of joy and love, it helps your heart, mind, and body thrive. It releases a flood of chemicals that your body just loves. It's a “feel-good” thing to do. That's true for both you and the receiver of your gratitude. Maybe you're grateful for something you have, as opposed to a person. Did you ever think about sending a thankful message to the company that makes the products you love? They probably hear all about customer complaints, but how much gratitude do they get for the work they've done to make lives better or more convenient? Give them some of your gratitude and you'll spread joy all around! Ways to Show Your Gratitude Showing gratitude is something you can do quite easily and all it costs you is a little bit of time and effort. Here are some ideas to get you started: · Tell your loved ones you care for them. · Hug a friend who's hurting. · Smile at a stranger. · Write to a company whose product or service you really love. · Make time to listen to someone who needs to talk. · Spend some time out in nature, appreciating the beauty of creation. · Volunteer your services or help someone in need. You can also show your gratitude just for being alive by treating others well and being kind to yourself. Relaxing and taking time to unwind from the stress of everyday life is very important, and you'll be happier and healthier because of it. Focus on What Really Matters Many people are unhappy with their circumstances, and it's often because they feel they don't have enough money, a big house, or the ultimate car. These things are nice, but in the grand scheme of things, they don't really matter. After all, when you're on your deathbed, will you wish you had that red Ferrari? Or will you wish that you had more time with your loved ones? Connect with what really matters by being grateful for all you've been given. There will be obstacles and stumbling blocks in life, but there is joy all around you as well. When you tap into that joy, keep a positive attitude, and show how grateful you are, you'll prove that you're able to let go of unnecessary baggage. It's a great feeling and one that you can give yourself, today, right now. What a wonderful thing to be grateful for! If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

We all desire recognition for a job well done, especially as members of a team. As a team, each person works together toward a common goal. Now instead of working together, imagine a team where each person was only interested in their own, separate little interests. Would you be able to get anything done? Of course not! When you're working within a team you have to put personal interests aside and focus on the collective. If you don't, tempers flare and trouble ensues. Teams composed of members who can't put differences aside don't win. Put simply: you won't achieve the success you want if you aren't focused on the common goal. United We Stand — Teamwork Tips The key strategy to boost office morale and team productivity is to stand strong behind your common goal. By creating a unified front, you will be able to work together, instead of pulling apart. Here are some teamwork tips: Appoint a team leader to oversee the progress and to keep everyone motivated to finish the project on time. Assign jobs according to the strengths of each team member. People naturally procrastinate when faced with a daunting task they're uncomfortable with, so divide the work accordingly. Praise team members for a job well done. Acknowledge each person's hard work and dedication and be sure to pass along any positive feedback from clients or upper-level management. Set up a team reward upon successful completion of a project. Money doesn't have to be the only motivating factor to spur your team. Maybe it's time-off, a gift basket, or a trophy. Get an Attitude of Gratitude in Your Office How can tension within the office be turned around? Gratitude. Yes, it really is that simple! Each member needs to felt appreciated for his or her contributions and value-added to the team. In reality, an office setting is very much like being on a football team. You have to show gratitude to the: Administrative assistants who keep things organized and flowing Salesmen who bring in new profits for the company Human resources representatives who bring in new talent for you to work with Marketers who make the company known Managers who coach, inspire and lead Staff who tackle the finer details and makes things happen Everyone plays an important part of the team, which is why we all need to appreciate one another to get things done! After all, without each other, where would you be? Gratitude Leads to Effective Teamwork Once you're grateful for the skills and talents of your team members, you'll begin to appreciate how each part of the puzzle is important for the overall success of the team. Let others in the office know how you appreciate their time, talents, and hard work. Send out emails or mention specific names in the company newsletter. Let your team know you care about them as people and not just as workers. Encourage your workers to start up office clubs or activities that everyone can enjoy as a group. Doing so will help you get to know each other on a more casual basis. Remember: it all starts with acknowledging how grateful you are for the talents of those around you. So take a moment today to say “Thank You!” If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton

We live in a society where value and status are placed on material things like cars, homes, and clothes and we all dream about having more — more money, bigger homes, more cars — yet we never seem to be happy. In fact, instead of being thankful for what we do have, we feel envious of the people who have more than us. Being in constant competition with neighbours, coworkers, or family members can be exhausting! Eventually, you'll lose sight of the important things in life, such as your children, relationships, and health. If you place a strong value on things, you won't feel very fulfilled and you'll end up creating an inner tension that will only drive you away from happiness. After all, happiness isn't defined by the amount of stuff you collect. Remember What You're Grateful For If you had to list what's good in your life, right now, and you weren't allowed to mention any material possessions, would you have a hard time coming up with the list? Do you have a hard time just being happy and grateful because you're always longing for something bigger or better? We all have big dreams for ourselves, but we can't begin to work toward our goals until we accept who we are and where we're at right now. That acceptance begins with a sincere appreciation for the life lesson's of yesterday and the talents and skills we have today Expressing your gratitude doesn't have to be reserved for Thanksgiving dinner. Share with your family why you're grateful today and really listen to what your family says in return. Encourage your kids to dig deep in their souls to find their gratitude. Kids need to learn how to take their focus off of material items and onto influential people, positive experiences, and quality of life. Refocus Your Thoughts with a Gratitude Journal A gratitude journal is simply a notebook where you write down everything in life you're thankful for. It doesn't have to take more than 5 minutes in the early morning or before bed each night. The idea is to clear your mind, reflect on the day, and see the goodness in life. Here are some tips to help you get started: Buy or make yourself a nice, attractive journal so you'll take care of it and will look forward to journaling every day. Reflect on anything new that came your way: new friends, clients, or opportunities. Don't be shy about repeating things from previous days; praising your good health and loving family never tires. Did a friend do something nice for you today? Did you find a lost item? Did you handle a difficult situation well? Gratitude isn't reserved for really big things; you can be grateful for the small things, too. Periodically, go back over your journal and read all that you're grateful for. It'll be a great pick-me-up on, especially difficult days. The more you add to your journal, the more you'll teach your mind a new way of thinking. Your outlook on life will become more positive and you'll feel a deeper sense of connection with those around you. And you'll discover the sheer beauty that already exists in your life. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

What do you have to be thankful for? Starting your day off with some gratitude affirmations is a great way to remind yourself of all the wonderful things you have in your life. When you repeat aloud these affirmations of gratitude, you energize yourself and gain the courage to face the day and all of the frictions and adventures it may bring. Affirming your gratefulness helps you recognize that you can have what you most want and need in order to reap the fulfilling life you deserve. Joy, money, love, and happiness are yours. You deserve it! Affirmations are easy to do and they don't take much time at all. In just a few minutes you can turbocharge your day better than a rocket-fueled cup of coffee ever could. By reflecting on your prosperity and abundance you'll soar above your current highest high! Gratitude Affirmations and Stress Once you've worked affirmations into your morning (you can say them anytime again throughout the day or night, too) you'll start to notice that your inner world is much less stressed. When you have finally let it sink into your subconscious mind that you can have all that you need and desire, your stress will start to slip away. Your negative reactions are soothed and they slip away. You can now enjoy peace of mind and a sense of calm that you may never have known before. 12 Highly Effective Affirmations I feel an abundance of gratitude for everything I have and receive every day. My needs and desires are generously met. For this I am thankful. I am grateful for all the great health, love, and goodness that my life has revealed to me. I am continually amazed at how abundant my life is already! I am grateful for everything I experience in this lifetime. I overcome, I grow, and I prosper all the time. My abundant blessings, as well as my difficulties, all make me better, stronger, and more alive. I am so grateful for every person and everything in my life. I appreciate everything I have and I show my sincerest gratitude to my loved ones. God pours joy into my life every day. It has my cup overflowing with wealth, health, and love. My life is singular, unique and wondrous. For this, I am profoundly thankful. I clearly see the beauty of life that flourishes around me. I give gratitude for God's endless treasures. I am grateful for my blessed ancestors living on through my blood. Using the affirmations above along with your own will help you lead a less stressful and more fulfilling life. Spending some time with positive affirmations, while appreciating all that you have and all that's heading your way is one of the easiest “stress relief drugs” you'll ever take. Yet, affirmations come with no ill side effects and they're free. Choose peace in your life by using the power of affirmations and gratitude. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com PS If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here.

I have so much to be thankful for. All of my needs and many of my wants are met. People who care about me surround me and I am aware of their loving presence. Because of this, I am full of gratitude. So many people in this world go without basic needs: food, shelter, or clean water. Many struggles just to get by each day. When I think about these things, I remember how blessed I am. Regardless of what my future may hold, today I have food, shelter, and clean water and those gifts are worthy of my gratitude. Each day, I take a few moments to remind myself of my many blessings. I think of the people who love me. I take a moment to mentally send love and gratitude to all of them in return. I remember all of how life is easy for me. I have gifts and talents to share. Many things come easily to me, even when I feel challenged by my life. Other things come less easily to me, but I know that each one is an opportunity to learn. I intentionally cultivate thankfulness for life's challenging situations too. Always be on the lookout for good things that are coming into your life. And when you notice these things, you give thanks for them. A delicious meal… A gorgeous sunset… A car that you love… A peaceful walk with your loved ones… Friends who make you laugh and love… If you want to be grateful, you must regularly be noticing all the good things, big and small that come into your life. If I ever feel like I have little to be grateful for, and counting my blessings seems not to help, I go out of my way to do a good turn for someone else. By being helpful to others, I remind myself that the world is an abundant place. And when I remember this, I am grateful. Today, I am thankful for the blessings in my life. I take time to be conscious of each of them. With all of this abundance surrounding me, I am full of gratitude. Self-Reflection Questions: What can I be thankful for today? 2. How can I be of service to someone today? 3. In what ways does being helpful to others increase my own gratitude? Keep a gratitude journal. If you find you're having difficulty remembering to notice the things that stir your inner thankfulness, perhaps starting a gratitude journal would help. A journal is a tangible visual aid that will trigger you to think about what you're grateful for. Try just putting the date on the page and jotting down what you're grateful for at that time. You can write as much or as little as you wish. Place your journal in a spot where you'll see it frequently, like on the dining room table, the kitchen counter, or near your favourite chair. This way, you'll be prompted to experience your gratitude more often. If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Living in the moment means being aware of each moment every day and expressing gratitude for everything that comes your way. Eckhart Tolle says, “Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is the true prosperity.” Remember that at each moment, everything is exactly as it should be. Be thankful during each moment. For example: ● As you sit in traffic, express gratitude that you have time to sit and think. As you go throughout your workday, express gratefulness that you have a job. ● Before you eat dinner, give thanks for the meal you're about to enjoy. ● Before you go to sleep, give thanks for your bed and for the refreshing sleep you're about to experience. Don't think about what you would rather be doing or where you would rather be. Rather, fill each moment with gratitude. Live in the moment and savour it. Practice Regularly Writing Thank You Notes In addition to saying, “Thank you,” for everything you receive, get in the habit of writing “thank you” notes. Writing these notes gives you the time and space to actively think about why you're grateful. And don't just write thank you notes when you receive gifts. Write notes to: ● People who have inspired you ● Those who have taught you ● Friends who have helped you through tough times ● Close friends who you simply love Remember, saying, “Thank you,” to others makes them want to spend more time around you. If you want to develop deeper relationships and cultivate the habit of gratitude, regularly send out thank you notes. Living the Grateful Life “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” — Gilbert C. Chesterton There are few things more powerful than a life supercharged with gratefulness. As we've seen, when you're grateful, you… ● Have better health ● Live in a state of constant optimism ● Attract good things into your life ● Experience greater happiness ● Deepen your relationships ● Strengthen your personality ● Are more spiritual ● And so much more You could almost say that gratefulness is like a superpower. It's one thing to read and talk about gratefulness. But for you to truly tap into its enormous power, it's crucial to begin actually living a life of gratefulness. Begin and end each day with a grateful heart and go through your day giving thanks for all the good things you have received and will receive. Gratitude will change your life in ways that you simply never could have imagined. Practice these strategies to cultivate gratitude: ● Write in your gratitude journal ● Regularly say gratitude affirmations ● Constantly saying, “Thank you.” ● Develop an abundance mindset ● Live in the moment ● Write thank-you notes These practices will lead you into a life of deeper, more profound gratefulness. So, don't wait any longer. Your grateful, joyful, powerful, abundant life is waiting for you! Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Anytime you receive anything good, no matter how small, make a concerted effort to say, “Thank you,” to someone. We tend to think about gratitude only when we receive big blessings, but if we really want to cultivate gratefulness in our lives, we must get in the habit of constantly saying, “Thank you.” If… ● Someone holds the door for you ● You see a beautiful sunrise ● You enjoy a good meal ● Someone gives you a hug ● You're just having a good day …say, “Thank you.” This will help you be constantly grateful. Instead of only being grateful when you receive big blessings, you'll find yourself grateful for everything, which will improve your overall mood, which will then make you even more grateful. Practice Finding Reasons to be Grateful In even the most challenging situations, you can almost always find something to be grateful for. This doesn't mean that you ignore the situation and act like it isn't hard. It simply means that you look for the good in each situation. Whenever you're facing a challenge, ask yourself these questions: ● What valuable lesson can I learn from this situation? ● What good thing can come out of this challenge? ● How can this difficulty actually make me a better person? ● In five years, how will I look back on this situation? These questions can help you identify the good in each situation, including the most challenging ones. Once you've identified something good, be thankful for it. Give thanks that it's making you a better, stronger, more compassionate, more thoughtful, more resilient person. Be grateful that it's stretching you to be your best possible self. Melody Beattie says: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. While being grateful doesn't necessarily make a bad situation good, it helps you come through the situation a stronger person than ever before. Gratefulness ensures that your best self always emerges from every situation. Practice Developing an Abundant Mindset An abundance mindset believes that we live in an abundant universe and that there is more than enough for everyone. A scarcity mindset believes that there's not enough to go around. Those who live with a scarcity mindset feel like they need to hoard resources, while those who live with an abundance mindset can gratefully give and receive, knowing there's enough for everyone. The more you develop an abundance mindset, the more you'll be able to cultivate gratitude. You don't have to worry about having enough. You don't have to fear running out. You can simply receive all that God wants to give you and to receive this with gratefulness. It's hard to be grateful when you're constantly living in fear that you'll run out. It's difficult to maintain a receptive, grateful mindset when you're worried that resources will soon be scarce. If you want to grow in gratefulness, work to develop a mindset of abundance. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer Now that you know the power of gratefulness, let's talk about how you can cultivate more of it in your life. After all, it's one thing to talk about gratitude. It's something else altogether to start practising it. Thankfully, there are a number of specific, proven practices that lead directly to more gratefulness. Practice Keeping a Gratitude Journal Keeping a gratitude journal is a simple practice with profound effects. By regularly writing down things that you are grateful for, you keep yourself in a highly grateful state. Try to write down at least three things you're grateful for each day. You could this first thing in the morning, at your lunch break, right before you go to bed, or at any other time that's convenient. When you're writing in your journal, avoid overcomplicating it. Write down anything and everything that you're grateful for: ● Your morning cup of coffee ● Holding your daughter's hand ● Your coworker who makes you laugh ● Your car ● A beautiful sunrise ● Having a home ● Friendly, welcoming neighbours ● The smell of fresh-cut grass The goal with your gratitude journal is to be in the habit of constantly noticing things you can be grateful for. You want to constantly notice the good things in your life, even if those things seem relatively small and insignificant. If the thought of writing in a gratitude journal every day seems like too much, write in it once every few days or once a week. Simply try to make it a habit. The more you get into a habit of being grateful, the easier it will be to constantly be grateful. Practice Reciting Gratitude Affirmations Gratitude affirmations work in two ways. First, you affirm that you're grateful for things that you have already received. So, for example, you might say something like: I'm so grateful for all the blessings I've received this week. I'm grateful for my new job. I'm grateful for my friendships. I'm grateful for my children. I'm grateful for the delicious meal I ate last night. I'm grateful for the good night's sleep I got. I'm grateful for this wonderful cup of tea I'm drinking. These affirmations help you take notice of and be grateful for what you've already received. They help you count your blessings so that you're not ungrateful or discontent. In addition to affirmations for blessings already received, also consider doing affirmations for things you're going to receive. By being grateful in advance, you allow yourself to receive things with open hands and you maintain a high state of gratitude. Also, being grateful in advance attracts more good things into your life, which gives you more to be grateful for. A “future” gratitude affirmation might look like: I am grateful for the many blessings that are coming my way today, tomorrow, and every other day in the future. I receive them with open hands. I'm grateful for the physical and spiritual blessings. I'm grateful for the friendships I'll enjoy and the food I'll eat. I'm grateful for the money I'll receive and the way that I'll be able to use it to achieve much good. I'm grateful for all the good things that are in store for me. Gratefulness both for blessings already received and blessings you will receive puts you in a constant state of gratefulness. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Gratitude has been shown to have several very specific mental health benefits, including reducing toxic emotions such as envy and regret, as well as minimizing depression. It has also been shown to decrease stress. When we're grateful we don't have much room for toxic emotions. You could say that gratefulness detoxes us from things like jealousy, regret, and anger. Amy Collette says, “Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It's the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” Do you want the spark of joy in your soul? Of course, you do. If you want to get a better hold on your emotions and start living a mentally healthy life, start practising gratitude. You Enhance Your Personality There are significant amounts of evidence that gratefulness can significantly change your personality for the better. How? Here are just some of the ways. When you're grateful, you… ● Become more optimistic ● Are less focused on material things ● Are more spiritually connected ● Become less self-centred ● Have more self-esteem ● Are more emotionally resilient ● Feel better consistently ● Deal with fewer toxic emotions ● Are more relaxed Bottom line: Your level of gratefulness has a direct and major impact on your overall personality. The more grateful you are, the better person you become. Eileen Caddy put it this way: You Become Less Materialistic It's not necessarily wrong to want more. But if you're constantly focused on what you don't have, you'll end up feeling unhappy, ungrateful, and discontent. When you're ungrateful, you lose much of your ability to enjoy life, and you feel more negative emotions. On the flip side, when you're grateful, you feel a deep sense of well-being: ● You're content with what you have. ● You don't constantly compare yourself to others. ● You are more inclined to be generous. To be clear, being grateful doesn't mean that you don't work hard or seek to make money. It simply means that you're extremely thankful for what you have. And here's the paradox… The more grateful you are, the more likely you are to work harder and produce more good things in your life. It's really a win-win situation. You become less preoccupied with material things while also still working hard to achieve your dreams and goals. Do you want to have a thankful heart that is constantly seeing all your blessings? Begin practising gratefulness today. You Become More Spiritual Being grateful connects you to something bigger and greater than you. When you're grateful, you're saying, “Thank you,” to something bigger than you. You're receiving blessings with open hands from the One who gave them to you. Spirituality and gratefulness go hand-in-hand. If you want to be more spiritual, start practising gratefulness today. The Power of Gratitude Are you starting to see the incredible power of gratitude? It has the power to completely change your life. Gratitude can: ● Strengthen your health ● Enhance your personality ● Deepen your relationships ● Increase your overall levels of happiness ● And much more Gratefulness has the potential to be a complete game-changer in your life. Of course, that raises the question: how can you cultivate gratefulness? So I plan to look at this in our next session, so hope you can join me. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

A 2014 study found that when we thank people, it makes them want to be around us more. In other words, if you're grateful to people, they want to spend more time with you. After all, when someone thanks us, it makes us feel good. It makes us feel like we've helped someone out. Thankfulness is an exchange of positive energy between two people. Would you rather be around someone who is constantly putting out the positive energy of gratefulness or someone who is constantly stewing in how unhappy they are? The answer is obvious. When we're grateful to people, it attracts them to us. They want to be around us and develop friendships with us. Gratefulness is magnetic. If you want to start developing deeper friendships, start being grateful to them today. You Become Healthier Gratitude is not just a state of mind. It has real, direct, positive effects on your body as well. Specifically, being grateful makes you healthier in a number of ways. In one study, participants were asked to either count their blessings or their burdens. The results were amazing. Those who were asked to count their blessings: ● Had 16% fewer physical symptoms ● Spent 19% more time exercising ● Had 10% less physical pain ● Got 8% more sleep ● Had 25% increased sleep quality Additionally, grateful people are much more likely to do things to take care of their health, such as going to the doctor. Clearly, gratefulness is powerful when it comes to promoting good health. When we're grateful, we're actively putting out positive energy as some might say, and one of the ways that this can return to us is in the form of better health. The bible tells us that, “life and death, are in the power of the tongue” or “what you reap, you will sow”. so on the flip side, when we're constantly putting out negative thought and words of ungratefulness, we do risk having more health challenges. Want to be healthier each day? Develop a thankfulness regimen just like you would a health regimen. You Are More Optimistic When you're grateful, you're focused on the blessings coming into your life. You're preoccupied with all the good you have rather than the things that you don't have. The result is that you're consistently more optimistic. You believe that good things happen to you because you're already focused on all the good things happening to you. Numerous research studies have shown this to be true. Increasing your levels of gratitude leads to increases in your overall levels of optimism. What you focus on expands. As you focus on being grateful for all that you have in your life, your sense of well-being and optimism grows. Suddenly, everything seems possible. When you're optimistic, your eyes are opened to the abundance of the universe and all the glorious possibilities that it offers. You begin to develop the sense that good things are always coming your way, and you really do start attracting those good things. And when you attract good things, you become more optimistic. The famous musician Willie Nelson said, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” If you want to turn your life around today and be consistently more optimistic, get into the habit of counting your blessings and being grateful. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Let's start with a quote from an American motivational speaker, writer and consultant; Denis Waitley. “Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” — Denis Waitley Gratitude is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. When you tap into the power of gratitude, incredible things begin to happen. Things you never would've expected. Gratitude is not simply good manners. Rather, when you're consistently grateful, it has the power to completely revolutionize your life. Consider these good things that happen when you're grateful… You Attract Good Things The Law of Attraction says that you attract more of what you focus on. When you're grateful, you are intentionally, purposefully, and powerfully focused on good things. You're focused on how thankful you are for the good things that have come into your life. All your attention is given to the good things that are flowing into your life. You're receiving good and giving thanks. Because you attract more of what you focus on, gratefulness results in attracting more good things into your life. Jen Sincero puts it this way: The more consistently you stay in gratitude and focused on that which is good, the stronger your connection to Source Energy [God, the universe, etc.] is, and the more quickly and effortlessly you'll be able to manifest that which is unseen into your reality. Put another way, being grateful puts you into a particular state of being in which you attract more of the very things that you're grateful for. The simple reality is that like attracts like. If you're grateful, you'll attract more things to be grateful for. On the other hand, if you're constantly: ● Speaking negatively ● Complaining ● Envious of others ● Moaning about all the things you don't have …you'll attract even more of that into your life. Which would you rather attract? Do you want to attract good things? Do you want to position yourself to constantly receive goodness? Then start building the habit of gratefulness today. You Experience Greater Happiness Numerous studies have shown that being a grateful person makes you happier overall. In fact, one study showed that being consistently grateful had the same impact on happiness as doubling your overall income! Really, this shouldn't surprise us. When we're grateful, we're focused on all the good things that are happening in our lives. We're focused on positive things and not wasting our energy griping about the negative. Our energy is devoted to being thankful for the wonderful life that we have rather than the few things that we wish we had. And the good news is that gratefulness produces a “loop” of happiness. We're grateful → We feel happy → So we're more grateful → So we feel happier Gratefulness is like a happiness vitamin that you can take every day. If you want to be happier, start practising gratefulness today. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

Today I'd like to start a new series and look at happiness, joy, gratitude, and thankfulness. As we've all been going through a very difficult year, I've found myself dealing with the feeling of sadness, and I simply need to take action. So to help myself and hopefully others too, I want to look at how we can focus on subjects like; thankfulness, joy and gratitude to recalibrate our lives, and live again with joy in our lives. I'm going to be looking at how “journaling” can help us to focus on what's important, and affirm what we are learning, so If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here. What is the difference between someone full of joy, has a zest for life, and always seems to have a smile on their face, and someone grumpy, grouchy, and a total drain to be around? While "things" certainly can play a role in the amount of joy a person experiences, they're not the primary factor. The primary factor is gratitude. Gratitude has the power to change any situation. Actually, a better way of putting it is that gratitude has the power to change the way we experience any situation. Being grateful may not change your circumstances, but it does change you, and that makes all the difference. Sonja Lyubomirsky put it beautifully when she said: Gratitude is an antidote to negative emotions, a neutralizer of envy, hostility, worry, and irritation. It is savouring; it is not taking things for granted; it is present-oriented. Thankfulness has the potential to transform your health, both mental and physical. With thankfulness comes great power. And the more you cultivate gratitude, the more power you'll experience in your life. The great author and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way: Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude. So, gratitude is a habit. It's a perpetual way of life, almost like breathing. You take in something good and breathe out gratitude. ● Receive ● Be grateful ● Receive ● Be grateful It's a beautiful cycle and a powerful way to live. In every circumstance, there are valuable things for us to learn. These valuable things help us advance in life, primarily in character, we must live a life of gratefulness for all things that come our way. The good news is that you can't simultaneously be grateful and be in any of the states just mentioned. You could say that gratefulness is exclusive. It expands and doesn't make room for anything else. When you're grateful, you simply don't have space to complain or be angry or frustrated. You only have room for gratefulness. Isn't that a beautiful thing? Wouldn't you rather be filled with gratefulness than with envy, anger, or discontentment? Of course, so you must seek out a life of gratitude. Roy Clayton PS If you'd like a free digital copy of my “Happiness Journal” that I've created to help us, as we go through this subject, you can get it from here.

If you have an endless list of tasks that need to be done, and most of us do, it can be overwhelming. The list just gets longer and longer each day because you can't get today's list completed, and more tasks just keep coming at you. If you can pare your list of to-dos down the most important tasks, you can keep your planning and time management system simple. A simple list of the 3–5 most important things is all that nearly anyone needs to be very effective and successful. Follow these steps to manage your time and make success your reality: 1. Get rid of the extra stuff in your life. Unless you live like a monk, you have more stuff than you need or use. If it's not important to your life, consider getting rid of it. You spend a lot of time and money on those things that provide minimal value. Eliminate the clutter in your life and you eliminate a lot of the clutter in your mind. 2. Eliminate the trivial. Start by making a list of everything that you feel you need to get done. Cut the list in half. Don't worry; you can come back to those items later. Now go through the same process and cut the list in half again. 3. Review your goals. What have goals got to do with eliminating all but the essential? Reviewing your goals allows you to see what tasks are most essential. Assuming that your goals are very important to you, they provide an excellent tool to evaluate which tasks are the most important to you. 4. Be aware of what's essential. The essential things are those that support your goals. Pay your bills on time, work toward your goals, and take care of yourself and your family. Life is short; spend it on the most important stuff. 5. Evaluate your other commitments. Is the weekly poker game worth it? Golf every Wednesday? Clubs, charities, committees, and more all take time. Eliminate the extra activities that mean the least to you. This includes all the people in your life, too. Some people you're stuck with, others are optional. 6. Minimize your sources of information. We all spend too much time receiving information and too little time doing worthwhile tasks. Cut back on TV, newspapers, browsing the Internet, email, Twitter, and Facebook. It's largely wasted time that could be better spent. 7. Review your list regularly. Periodically, take a look at your list of things to do and go back through the elimination process. Don't worry about the stuff that gets axed. If it's important, it will come back around after the really important stuff gets done. · We have a tendency to do the things that are the easiest; what's important is to do the critical few items each day. · Simply ask yourself what the advantage is to get an item done and what is the disadvantage of not getting it done. Don't choose tasks based on what is the quickest or most enjoyable; that's what average people do. Be exceptional and do the most important items. · If you spend all day on important tasks, your life will be remarkable. Life doesn't have to be an endless list of obligations. The key is to recognize that only the most important tasks really matter. When you can see that, you feel free to start chopping obligations. Most of us major in minor things. Focus on the most important stuff and feel comfortable letting the rest slide. You'll have more free time and your life will change for the better. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

It's the age-old struggle: how do you balance your work and family in a way that makes you feel fulfilled and guilt-free. Is it possible? A typical day could be 8 hours at work and 2 hours commuting, yet family leisure time hasn't even begun! It seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day to balance both family and work, but there really are ways to make your life more manageable. With a few simple tweaks to your schedule and a re-evaluation of your life goals, you can find fulfilment without feeling stretched thin at work or at home. Evaluate Your Career Path The best way to start changing how you approach the limited hours in your day is to evaluate your career path. Ask yourself: “Am I working in a career that I am truly passionate about? Is the trade-off between work and family worth the time I spend at the office?” Asking yourself these types of questions (at any point in your career) will help you keep your priorities in check. The bottom-line question is: am I able to attend to both my work and my family? If not, what needs to happen to find balance? Perhaps this means a change of career to allow for more quality time, money, or less overall responsibilities and stress. Evaluate Your Commute and Career-Related Traveling Start thinking of all the time and expenses incurred relating to your job. It isn't just the working hours that take away from your spouse or kids. Commuting could cost you a couple of hours a day, while business trips could take away countless hours of valuable time that you could otherwise be spending with your family. Evaluating these aspects of your job will help you decide whether it's worth it, and if not, what you could do to change that. For example, you could ask your employer if they would allow you more freedom with your work hours. Or you could ask if your boss would allow you to work from home. You just may be surprised by what your boss has to say! Evaluate Your Career Duties By evaluating your task schedule, you may be able to re-allocate your time and possibly cut down on late nights or early mornings at the office. Another important workplace strategy is to delegate tasks to others. If you typically handle everything in your department, it's time to get help by involving others. By delegating responsibilities to staff members, you not only empower your staff to have a more active role, but you also allow yourself more time to be home with your family. Evaluate Your Priorities Before you are able to adequately balance your work and family life, you have to determine what's most important to you: money and self-fulfilment or time with your family. Once you know the answer to this question, you'll be able to better navigate your way to a happy and balanced life. You may also want to calculate how much money your family needs to be happy and measure that against how much time you are willing to give to your career. If your current job will never give you that balance or flexibility you desire, it may mean that you need to consider other career paths. Or if your current employer won't allow more vacation time, flexible schedules or remote work, it may be time to consider a new job at a different company. Few people duck out of the rat race long enough to evaluate the bigger picture, this is why it's integral to stop now and evaluate what is most important to you and your family. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

While you're at work, it's common to feel overwhelmed with all the projects you're juggling. Concentrating for a long period of time can be taxing both emotionally and physically. This often results in a tired mind, aching muscles, and a complete lack of energy. What can you do to rest and revive yourself for short periods of time during your workday while still being productive? Check out these suggestions for incorporating short breaks into your daily work routine: 1. Close your eyes and listen to three songs on your MP3. Most people have their favourite music easily accessible on their phone, MP3 player, or other electronic devices. Choose music that relaxes you, put your head down on your desk, and listen to a few songs. · Let your stress float away and clear your mind as you let the music flow in. · Music soothes the body and soul. After three songs, you'll be surprised at how relaxed you feel. You'll regain the strength necessary to make it through the rest of the day. 2. Shut your office door, prop your feet, and lean back. Close your eyes, take deep breaths, and count backwards from 50 to 1. You'll be comforted by the sound and feel of your own ability to inhale and exhale. Then, open your eyes and you'll feel refreshed. 3. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. No matter how big or small your office, you can always take a stroll around the building. If you need some fresh air, go outside and walk around the block. Getting your blood pumping at an optimum level will make you feel revitalized! 4. Splash cool water on your face. Go to the restroom, splash cool water on your face and wrists, and then dry them off. Sometimes, cool stimulation to those areas is not only refreshing, but it can also wake you up if you're feeling sleepy. · If you prefer, wet a paper towel with cool water. Then you can continually blot your face, neck, arms, and wrists to stimulate your senses. · It's amazing how much this little break can perk you up and allow your positive energy to flow again. 5. Relax and rejuvenate with a power nap. If your employer allows you a 15-minute break in the afternoon, use it to take a nap. Even if you don't usually take naps, give it a try. · Set your cell phone alarm for ten minutes and try to snooze. If you have your own office, close your door, get comfortable in your chair, and grab a few minutes of shut-eye. · When the alarm goes off, you still have five minutes left to take a brief walk around your department, grab a refreshing drink of water, or have quick chat in the break room. 6. Go for a change of scenery. You might break out of your rut when you're able to change your view. · If you work in a large office, try working in the conference room. You can even try sitting in a different chair or on the couch in your office. · If you work from home, take your laptop outside and sit on the porch to work. Or try working in the living room today if you're the only one home. Although work can be tedious, you have some choices in what you can do to relax and revitalize throughout the day. Use music, deep breathing techniques, walking, cool water splashes, power napping, and scenery changes in order to keep yourself alert and focused. These methods will help you embrace that next big project with optimism and renewed energy. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

Becoming organized has so many benefits. Perhaps the greatest is the ability to turn days filled with chaos into days of focus and effectiveness. Stress has a very negative impact on health. When you're organized, you'll no longer worry about all the little things that might be slipping through the cracks. With greater organization, you'll also be more trustworthy in all aspects of your life. Trustworthiness is the cornerstone of all relationships, both business and personal. Consider these adopting these habits: 1. Have a place for everything. This habit also relates to your papers, electronic clutter, and even the desktop on your computer. · Try to limit yourself to just a couple of email accounts. Consider one for business and another for personal emails. If you frequently fill out web forms that result in a lot of spam, another email account could catch all those. · Find a solution for your scheduling. One calendar is ideal. It makes sense to use an electronic system if you have a smartphone. Gmail, Yahoo email, and many other free systems are available that can integrate your email, to-do lists, appointments, and calendar. · For your desktop, make a few folders and categorize things. Place photos in the appropriate folders. Come up with a system that works for you. There's no reason to spend 30+ minutes over the course of a single day searching for items. 2. Put items away immediately. Disorganized people tend to be poor at putting things away at the moment. It's only after enough clutter piles up that they have enough discomfort to do anything about it. Then, it's a major project. · When you grab your mail, go through it and file it immediately. · When you're done using something, put it away. · List that appointment in your system as soon as you schedule it. No organizational system can be successful if you procrastinate. 3. Have a daily routine. Use a to-do list. Ensure the dirty dishes are out of the sink before you go to bed. Spend 10 minutes picking up the family room each morning. There are many things that only take a few minutes if they're done regularly. 4. Create your to-do list each night. Starting the day without a plan is a mistake. It's far more challenging to get anything done. Before hitting the hay, spend a few minutes and list everything you'd like to get done. Then pick the three most important and make that your list for the following day. Three items might not seem like a lot, but it's plenty. · If you get the three most important things done each day, you'll be surprised how differently your life looks after a couple of weeks. Maybe it's time to finally get organized and get your life and your clutter under control. You'll be more relaxed, more effective, and a better friend and partner. Developing a couple of effective habits can really make a huge difference in your ability to stay focused on what's most important to you. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

Have you ever felt like you're losing control in the workplace? Does it seem like that mountain of paper on your desk is growing higher and higher as the clock ticks? Don't worry! The good news is that you can take back control. By implementing some effective time management techniques, you can cut that mountain down to size and keep it that way. Effective time management is the best way to drastically cut down your existing workload, and maintain it at a point where you can manage it effectively on a day to day basis. Practice these techniques to develop effective time management skills in your workplace. Complete Tasks in Order of Importance If you're not careful, everything that comes to your desk will be labelled as important! And while they may be important to somebody else, you simply cannot make everybody's priority your own. You'll probably never get anything done that way! Instead of adapting the urgency with which the project was brought to your attention, choose this sequence of steps: · Assess the importance of the task concerning everything else you have to do. · Advise the person requiring your urgent attention that you have a specific window of time allotted to working on their project. · Stick to completing the tasks in the order of importance. Stick to the Schedule Set for Tasks Once you've identified the sequence in which you plan to attack the tasks, it's very important to stick to that schedule. You'll very likely encounter one or both of the following scenarios when trying to clear your desk: · You tell yourself that you'll complete a specific task later because you're not in the mood to work on it now. · Something else that's “small” is added to your pile, and you drift from the schedule set because you're just trying to get that task over and done with. Both scenarios will undoubtedly lead to the pile of paper growing and growing. It's very simple: set a schedule and stick to it. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day. There's no point trying to conquer the world all at once; most times, if you try to do too much all at the same time, you'll end up not conquering much at all! Make Time for Re-Energizing Yourself Re-energizing plays a huge part in being able to manage your time at work effectively. The reality is that when you're burned out and exhausted, it's next to impossible to focus on the task at hand. You start getting sidetracked by all sorts of distractions, and before you know it, you're further away from clearing your desk then you were before. Give your brain a chance to breathe and relax. It's actually very much like a machine that needs servicing now and then! And a sharper mind is most naturally successful at setting and attaining goals. Clearing paperwork can be a daunting task. In fact, without effective time management strategies, it's a possibility that you might never get it down to size. However, the more organized you are, the greater the likelihood that you'll be able to stay on top of your work, instead of having your work on top of you! Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

We all have 24 hours each day. Those that use their 24 hours most effectively have the most successful careers, the cleanest homes, and the happiest families. Are you using your time as effectively as possible? Consider how you could use your time more wisely and get more accomplished. Efficiency at Work Being more efficient at work can help your career and make the day pass more quickly: 1. Drink water. Nothing will sap your energy quicker than dehydration. By the time you feel thirsty, it's too late. Take a drink during your break and continue drinking throughout the day. 2. Delegate. You can get more accomplished if you delegate tasks at work. When necessary, you might even be able to delegate work to your peers. Ask nicely. · People are a resource. Be respectful, but use them wisely. 3. Have an up to date to-do list. You'll get more done if you can hit the ground running when you first walk in the workplace doors. Know what you need to accomplish and have a plan already in place. 4. Take regular breaks. The best ratio for the average person is a 10-minute break each hour. You'll get more done over the entire day and still feel refreshed when everyone else is burning out. Take breaks and get more done. · Work intently for that hour. Watch the clock and see how much you can get done. Push yourself. Then take a break and recharge. These are just a few ideas. How could you use your time at work better? How do you waste time? Efficiency at Home It's just as important to be efficient at home: 1. Delegate. If you have a spouse or kids, but those extra hands to work. You can get a lot more accomplished and have more time available for leisure activities. Teamwork at home is a wonderful thing. · Consider hiring someone to clean the house, mow the grass, or do the shopping. · Even small children can be helpful. Let them do age-appropriate tasks, even if they're only able to put their toys away or set the table. 2. Get everything ready the night before. Avoid packing lunches and selecting clothes in the morning. Make these things part of your evening ritual. Your mornings will be much more relaxed. Ensure the car is ready to go, too. Try to keep your tank at least half-full to avoid morning trips to the gas station. 3. Get organized. The average person spends a lot of time looking for things at home. Car keys, the chequebook, TV remote, batteries, and bills, to name a few. You can save a lot of time getting organized. 4. Put things away when you're done. Making the house clean is a major job. Keeping it clean, instead, is much easier. Teach everyone to put things away when they're done. If you and your family always put things back, the house can't become cluttered. · Dirty dishes go in the sink or the dishwasher. · Put mail in the appropriate place after sorting or opening. · Toys go back on the shelf. · When you take off your shoes, put them in the proper place. · Use a pen? Put it back when you're done. These ideas will help you handle responsibilities efficiently and spend less time on your tasks. Time is the one resource that we all have in equal amounts. The most successful people are those that make the most of the 24 hours they're given each day. Make yours count! Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

What is the difference between someone full of joy, has a zest for life, and always seems to have a smile on their face, and someone grumpy, grouchy, and a total drain to be around? Is it the amount of money they have? Is it simply their personalities? Is it the circumstances they're going through? Nope. While all those things certainly can play a role in the amount of joy a person experiences, they're not the primary factor. The primary factor is gratitude. Gratitude has the power to change any situation. Actually, a better way of putting it is that gratitude has the power to change the way we experience any situation. Being grateful may not change your circumstances, but it does change you, and that makes all the difference. Thankfulness has the potential to transform your health, both mental and physical. It can also transform your spirituality and help you attract good things into your life. With thankfulness comes great power. And the more you cultivate gratitude, the more power you'll experience in your life. “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie What Is Gratefulness? First and foremost, gratitude is a way of living. It is a state of being in which you open yourself up to receive good things. It is a posture of openness, receptiveness, and willingness to receive abundance. And when you do receive those very good things, you instinctively and consistently give thanks. So, gratitude is a habit. It's a perpetual way of life, almost like breathing. You take in something good and breathe out gratitude. ● Receive ● Be grateful ● Receive ● Be grateful It's a beautiful cycle and a powerful way to live. In every circumstance, there are valuable things for us to learn. A Recognition of Receiving Gratitude comes from the recognition that you have received something good. In other words, you didn't create this thing yourself. Rather, it came from outside of you, from a friend, maybe even a stranger. Gratitude is distinctly different than earning something. When we work hard to create something, we can say that we earned it. Gratitude, on the other hand, comes when we receive something that we have not earned. Gratitude occurs in response to gifts. To be grateful, you must regularly recognize when you have been given good things. You must cultivate the ability to look around and see when good has been done to you or given to you. Gratitude springs forth when we recognize that we have received something. Gratitude Is an Affirmation of Goodness Finally, gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. In other words, it's recognizing that not only have we received something freely, but that thing we received is also very good. The Opposite of Gratefulness Looking at some of the opposites of gratefulness can help us better understand exactly what it is. The opposite of gratefulness is: ● Complaining ● Discontentment ● Envy ● Anger ● Frustration ● Thanklessness ● Unhappiness The good news is that you can't simultaneously be grateful and be in any of the states just mentioned. You could say that gratefulness is exclusive. It expands and doesn't make room for anything else. When you're grateful, you simply don't have space to complain or be angry or frustrated. You only have room for gratefulness. Isn't that a beautiful thing? Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com

If you're not getting enough things done on your to-do list, you're not alone. It's common to feel a little overwhelmed, rushed, and even guilty when you're unable to get everything done each day. Staying focused and in the moment is challenging. Then the little things seem to start piling up. The dishes are dirty and the laundry needs to be done. The only obvious solution is to be even busier and to schedule every minute of the day. It's important to remember that nothing stays finished for long. Most of us feel like everything has to be done before we give ourselves permission to enjoy life. However, that moment of feeling “caught up” never seems to come. If you need to create a little more space and enjoyment in your life, try these tips: 1. Learn to be glad that you have more work to do. Remember, if you have more to do, your time is valuable. Imagine the implication of not having many tasks to complete at work. You'd likely be out of a job sooner, rather than later. · Be grateful that so many of the people in your life need you. 2. Look for dead time. You might believe that you're busy 24/7, but that's likely untrue. Use those moments between tasks to mentally relax. We all think much more than necessary. · If you're working on a report at work, you're probably also thinking about lunch, the unpaid cable bill, and what you're going to do this weekend. None are helpful, nor do they help you get your report completed. · You'll be much more relaxed and get more accomplished if you mentally limit yourself to the task at hand. 3. Slower can be faster. The military has a saying, “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Calmly approaching each task will frequently result in getting it done quicker. As our minds become over-stimulated, it's much more challenging to stay focused. · Think about how quickly you tie your shoes each day. Now try to tie your shoes as quickly as possible. You'll almost certainly find that you've become slower. Any excessive increase in tension slows things down. 4. Limit unnecessary tasks. There's no point in spending valuable time on things that don't matter. If you're spending time on tasks that have little meaning, ditch them. 5. Limit the important tasks, too. You can probably only get a few important tasks done each day. Making a list of 5 is certain to lead to feeling overwhelmed. Pick the 2–3 most important tasks to focus on. The rest can wait until tomorrow. 6. Give yourself the time you need. Everyone does some mental math each day that goes something like this, “This meeting ought to take 60 minutes. I'll need 20 minutes to interview that job candidate. I have 30 minutes to drive home and change. Then, I still have 15 minutes to get Sarah to soccer practice.” · We all tend to be optimistic, and our mental schedule requires everything to go perfectly. The interview could take 20 minutes, at best. It might also take 40 minutes. It probably won't take 10. · Be realistic and give yourself the time required for each task, as well as the time between tasks. If you're constantly in a hurry, life can feel chaotic and joyless. You have more time available than you realize. You can also learn to enjoy a busy schedule. Focus on each task and give yourself time to complete it. Remember that remaining calm and slowing down can actually increase the amount you get accomplished. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

Do you have a team around you who is fully capable of getting things done, but instead of delegating, you try to do everything yourself? If that sounds like you, there's a better way. Delegating tasks can be so difficult for some people. They act like a micro-manager who ensures that they see, do, and be everything. It's hard for them to let others share the load or the glory. Maybe the control-freak is you. Here are three problems you might be using as excuses for not delegating: You feel you can do the job better yourself. There's not enough time to train someone else to do the job. You feel like you have to redo someone else's work. If you're facing these challenges, perhaps it's time to look at some strategies you can use to find success in delegating. Consider using these delegation techniques: 1. Face the truth. If you feel you can do the job better yourself, take time to think things through. Other people may not do the job the same way you would, but that doesn't mean they won't do an adequate job. The people on your team may be eager to do a great job and need only your encouragement, rather than for you to take over. 2. Train your staff. Perhaps those working with you do need some additional training. This shouldn't be a reason to do everything yourself. Look at the need for additional training as a means to be better prepared in the future. Short-term training now can have a huge pay off later on. If you take the time to train your staff now, they'll be better prepared for the next project. 3. Relax. There's no sense in letting pressure for perfection bring you undue stress. While perfection would be great, it's usually not expected. Give yourself a break. It's just not possible for you to do everything yourself, nor should you want to. Other people can do the work even if you don't think they'll do as good a job as you. 4. Follow a successful plan. If you're the head of the team and certain tasks are critical for the success of the project, you may want to do the major work on those. However, more routine tasks could be passed along to other people on the team. Delegate the task itself, not the way in which it's completed. Assign tasks based on strengths. Perhaps you could let one person do research, assign converting raw data into a spreadsheet to another person, and designate a good writer to write the rough drafts of the reports. You can still be in control of the final report by pulling all the data together into a solid finished project. Require progress reports at specified deadlines over the course of the project. If they're having problems meeting the deadlines, instead of assuming they're not going to get the job done, ask them if there's anything you can do to help them meet the next deadline. Expect that your team will do a great job and you won't be disappointed. People usually rise to our expectations. Finally, give praise and positive feedback when the project is finished. Instead of being a micro-manager on your next project, decide now to let go of some of the responsibilities. Look for ways you can use the talents of your co-workers in the future. You may find that working with a team and delegating tasks makes your job much easier and the atmosphere at work much better for everyone. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

While everyone is occasionally late, some people have developed a “Late Habit” and are rarely on time for anything matter how important it might be. You can't be consistently on time if it's not a priority. You must first decide to be punctual before you can change. Being on time reduces stress, builds trust, and shows respect for others. You'll also gain a feeling of self-control. Regain control of your time with these tips: 1. Get up on time. When your first act of the day is procrastination, it's going to be hard to be on time for anything. When the alarm goes off, get up. One solution is to place your alarm clock on the other side of the room. Just remember not to climb back in bed. 2. Have extra time built into your schedule. If your son's baseball practice ends at 7:00, avoid agreeing to meet a friend for dinner at 7:30 on the other side of town. What if traffic is heavier than expected or baseball practice runs late? · Assume the worst and schedule your time accordingly. 3. Plan your day the night before. If you spend a little of your leisure time in the evening to plan the next day, you won't spend time in the morning trying to make decisions. Have an evening routine that includes preparing for tomorrow. 4. Part of being on time consists of stopping on time. If you don't end your current activity in time, you're guaranteed to be late for later activities. Avoid short-term thinking. Consider the consequences of lingering on your current activity for too long. Think about how your decision will affect the remainder of your day. 5. Be respectful. When someone has to wait for you, you're implicitly announcing that you don't respect their time. You'd rather be late and keep them waiting than be on time. Others resent this lack of respect. 6. Record your appointments in one place. If you have appointments listed in your phone, on scraps of papers, and on your desk calendar, your schedule is a disaster waiting to happen. Choose one place to schedule all of your obligations. 7. Know where you're going. You might know that your destination is about a block north of the grocery store near your old neighbourhood, but that's not good enough. Pull up the location on your phone or computer before you need to leave. Know exactly where you're going and how to get there. 8. Avoid getting ready last. Rather than watch TV until the last possible moment and then get ready to leave, get ready first. Any leftover time can then be spent in front of the TV. You can't be positive how long it will take to get ready. But you can turn the TV off and walk out the door whenever you need to. 9. Use alarms. Set an alarm for 7:15 if you must leave the house by 7:30. Give yourself enough warning that you can get out the door on time. 10. Keep at least a half-tank of gas in your car. How many times have you barely squeaked out of the house on time, only to realize that you don't have enough gas for the trip? Keep enough gas in your car for any situation. Get gas before you need it. You can be on time! A few new habits will ensure that being late is a thing of the past. Get your day started on the right foot by getting out of bed on time. Be realistic with your schedule and respect others. Use alarms to your advantage. You can be known for your punctuality if you so choose. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

Surely you procrastinate at one time or another — or maybe all the time. Even if you're one of those unusual folks who only procrastinate occasionally, you'll find some helpful hints here for managing this habit. Getting your tasks completed on time is a sign that you have control over yourself and your life. You'll enjoy the feeling of having more control over your life! You'll be free from that familiar chaos that ensues each time a deadline looms or you finish a task late. Following these tips can help you put procrastination in its place — in your past: 1. It's largely about the pain. Now or later? Do you want to suffer now or suffer later? Those who get things done on time would rather just get it over with. Those who procrastinate would rather wait. · As a procrastinator, you usually get active when the pain of doing it is less than the pain of not doing it. The ironic thing is that by waiting, the pain is far greater than if the task would've been managed earlier. 2. Change your mindset. Instead of thinking about how much you don't want to do it, try focusing on how good you'll feel when you're done! · Try to associate as much positive feeling as you can about getting it done and out of the way. When you can think about the task and feel positive about it, it's as good as finished. · By the same token, try to associate pain to get it done late or at the last minute. Imagine how it will feel if you're late. What would the consequences be? 3. Just get started. It can be very difficult to even get started on a large task. Do whatever you need to do to make yourself just start on the task. Once you get going, you can establish some momentum and then it's not usually so bad. · Try setting up a schedule where you do 10% each day or reward yourself for getting a certain amount accomplished. · Frequently you'll find that if you can just get started, it's not nearly as challenging as you anticipated. The first step always seems to be the toughest. 4. Get some help. Sometimes involving other people can be motivational. Maybe a friend can assist you in getting your task done. Feeling like you're not all alone in the situation can ease the challenge of completing the task in question. 5. Make a list of the ways you waste time. Being aware of the things you tend to do instead of the things you should be doing will make it easier to catch yourself when you stray. · Some common ways of wasting time would include television, surfing the internet, email, shopping trips with no real purpose, and more. If you know your tendencies, you'll be able to spot them more easily. 6. Track your progress at the end of each day. You wouldn't try to lose weight without getting on the scale once in a while. Every day, measure your progress so you can really see where you are. Procrastination doesn't have to be a constant part of your life. Focus on how good you'll feel to have it done and out of the way. The tips above are a good starting point. If you can stop relying on stress-induced adrenaline as motivation to take action, you'll feel a much greater sense of control over your life. Get started with these tips right away! Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

Are you afraid to look at your to-do list because a big scary project is lurking there? Maybe it's writing your memoirs or cleaning out the garage. Maybe you really want to do it or maybe you feel like it's an obligation you can't wiggle out of. Whatever the case, it's draining your confidence and productivity. Reclaim your peace of mind by learning how to jumpstart stubborn projects. Take a look at these suggestions to help you move ahead and avoid future issues. How to Get a Stuck Project Moving: 1. Break it down. Divide a massive project up into little pieces. Create intermediate deadlines and milestones where you can evaluate your progress. The process will look more manageable when you separate each task and component. 2. Start somewhere. Take the first step. You can begin with the easiest job or the top priority. Once you create some momentum, it will be easier to keep going. 3. Identify your peak hours. If possible, work on challenging tasks when you are at your top capacity. If you're a morning person, that could mean putting in a couple of hours before your day job. If you prefer evenings, ensure you stop before bedtime. 4. Ask for help. We can accomplish more when we collaborate with others. Exchange services with a colleague so you both can cover the areas where you shine, and find support for where you need to grow. 5. Minimize distractions. Make it easier to hunker down. Move away from the phone, snacks, and video games. Stay off the internet unless you need it for your work. 6. Take a break. On the other hand, maybe you need some strategic time off. Stop thinking about your project for a day or two so you can view it with fresh eyes. 7. Assess the costs. Increase your motivation by calculating how much it's costing you to neglect a certain activity. Are you losing money or other things you value? 8. Focus on rewards. Above all, think about how good it will feel to complete your project. Give yourself a treat or just bask in the sense of accomplishment. How to Prevent a Project from Becoming Stuck: 1. Acknowledge your fears. It's natural to feel apprehensive about any endeavour where you have a lot at stake. Facing your doubts will help you to deal with them. Give yourself credit for taking sensible risks instead of expecting perfection. 2. Clarify the situation. Spend adequate time on the planning process so you'll understand the scope of your project. That way you'll be clear about where you're headed and the resources you need. 3. Be realistic. Set challenging but attainable goals. Set yourself up for success. 4. Avoid burnout. If you're feeling irritable and fatigued before you even start, you may need to step back temporarily. Take care of your health, reach out to your loved ones, and be gentle with yourself while you recharge. A delayed start can save time if you're preparing for tomorrow. 5. Check your schedule. How much is on your plate already? Be willing to scratch something else off your to-do list if you need to free up time and resources for a major undertaking. Adjusting your attitude and work methods can help you forge ahead with projects that used to linger around like the smell of burnt popcorn. Figure out what's behind your procrastination, and devote your time and energy to your top priorities. You'll soon be checking that sticky project off your list. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

Time management is an essential skill, and hour blocking is an easy and powerful way to master this skill. You can use it to block off hours in your schedule and get more things finished. It enables you to take control of the minutes in each day. Follow this process to take advantage of this valuable technique: 1. Start with planning. Make a list of all of your important tasks for the week. Then, narrow this list down to three to five essential tasks. · Be realistic about your planning. Avoid thinking that you can do a million tasks in one day or week. 2. Block your hours. After you have a shortlist of tasks, block the hours on your schedule. This is called time blocking and essentially requires you to take each hour and assign a task or item to it. · Clump related tasks together and add them to specific blocks of time. · Remember to schedule lunches and breaks. Taking time to rest your mind and body is important! Your breaks allow you to get back to your tasks with renewed energy. 3. Reduce distractions. Hour blocking demands that you eliminate distractions, so you don't lose focus. · Figure out what your main distractions are. Do you waste time on social media or constantly check your phone? Do you spend hours in your email inbox and respond to every message instantly? · Eliminate or reduce these distractions. You may want to set aside a specific chunk of time each day to handle your social media, email inbox, and other tasks that distract you from your more essential actions. · Also, when you're working, let others know that you're busy so they can limit their interruptions. 4. Keep the time blocks flexible. Unless you know the exact amount of time each task will take, it's important to keep the time blocks flexible. This will also enable you to take care of other important things that come up with a minimum amount of stress or changes to your schedule. 5. Review your time blocks regularly. Make adjustments as needed. If your tasks change, or you find that they take more or less time than you thought, modify your time blocks to take the new information into account. · Reviewing your time blocks will also give you the chance to see when you're most productive. If you do your best work in the morning, schedule more important tasks during these hours. Reviews will help you evaluate your productivity levels and decide which parts need attention. · Another advantage of doing reviews is that it gives you the chance to see if your reminders are working or if they need to be changed. Use alerts on your phone or computer, sticky notes, or traditional alarms to remind you that it's time to move to the next task. The key is to find something that works for you. Effective time management can help you finish more tasks each day and feel more accomplished. Hour blocking is a useful method for anyone who is interested in greater productivity, either at home or at work. Roy Clayton Uberesult.com

As we live in unprecedented times right now, many people are experiencing unhappiness, some for the first time. If I'm honest, I've gone through feelings of sadness even depression recently that I've never known before. So what can and should we do about it? Well, I've decided to look into why happiness is the way God designed us to be and how being happy is related to our success. This week I purchased a new domain name, uberhappylife.com, and plan to use this as a resource centre to help others leave any sadness or depression in their past, as I intend to do just that. Joy or Happiness? Some people talk about joy as the only thing that really matters and that happiness is just a “nice to have”, but isn't a priority in life. They might say, “Happiness is only temporary”, but I would say, “what's wrong with temporary happiness”? If you get to go away for the weekend with your family and enjoy a short break, that's wonderful, even if there are things you need to deal with once the weekend is over, you're going to do this from a better place than if you'd spent the weekend complaining and unhappy. So why is happiness the key to success? Well firstly, an oppressed mind does not think right, there are not a lot of things being invented by depressed people. Your mind has to be in a certain state for you to produce. Happiness can get knocked in some churches, but I don't believe the bible teaches that God is opposed to your happiness, but quite the opposite is true. If we look at Jesus as our example, one thing we notice is that He made people happy, He made the blind see, a mother's son raised back to life made her very happy. Some people mistakenly relate a stern, serious look as if it is more spiritual, they say, “Let's pray”, and then put on a mean face as if this is the spiritual thing to do. We mustn't take our example from these people but from Jesus who was full of happiness and joy. Things are for our enjoyment. The bible shows us God way in 1 Timothy 6:17: As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be proud and arrogant and contemptuous of others, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. What happens when we complain? An unhappy person actually irritates God, because your unhappiness is going to lead you to complain. As the Israelites escaped Egypt, they journeyed from Mount Hor, to go around the land of Edom, and the people became impatient, depressed, and much discouraged, because of the trials of the way. (Numbers 21:4) so here we see a biblical example of complaining lead people into trouble. Unhappiness and complaining go together, lead to trouble, and is a violation of what God commanded us to do, but we can replace with Joy and peace, which also go together, and will lead us to success. Build happiness because sorrow builds itself. There is no effort needed for sorrow to continue in our lives if we don't make positive steps towards being happy it doesn't happen, we don't just fall into happiness, it takes effort, but sorrow is automatic, so you must build your happiness before sorrow builds itself. If you are happy then you are at your best, you will be your best when you are happy, you will achieve more and be more productive from a positive happy place, and this is exactly where we need to stay, happy, productive, and successful. Roy Clayton Uberhappylife.com