Daily Gratitude: I keep talking about action and here it is again. This quote is accurate but it’s not only your actions. It’s also a feeling. You can think yourself into happiness, too. But, in a technical way, thinking is an action. The primary point is to not sit around waiting for something or someone else to “make” you happy. It’s your responsibility. It’s also a good idea to come up with different things you can do that make you happy. Maybe it’s taking a hike, volunteering to help others, reading a book, gardening, painting, or whatever. The reason you want to make a list of these activities is so you have them readily available when you’re feeling down. Just pick one from your list and set about doing it. Try also to make all your daily activities things you enjoy and that stimulate the happiness chemicals in your body!

Daily Gratitude: Are you the candle or are you the mirror? Did you know that when you share meaningful posts or articles, that is being the mirror. It’s fairly simple but almost as important as the original candle. When someone has made your day with some nice comment or smile, and it makes you happy, you’re being the mirror by doing the same for the next person you come across. How do you think things “go viral” (even though I don’t like that phrase because the universe doesn’t know you’re not talking about those little organisms that cause illness but anyway)? Nothing would spread like that if it weren’t for those who spread the word. After all, Typhoid Mary would not have been a very big threat had she not infected others who then spread it more and more and more. She was the candle and the others were the mirrors. It works whether you’re talking about positive or negative things. Never feel that you can’t change the world because you’re not as “good” or popular as others. You can change the world by helping to spread the word initiated by the “popular” and “smart” person. Mirrors are extremely valuable so never underestimate your impact.

Daily Gratitude: We’re such a results focused civilization. You’ve heard that it’s not about the destination but the journey. This is a perfect way of thinking about this quote. Your current trajectory means are you on the path you want to be on so that you can achieve your goal. Are you doing things on a daily and weekly basis that will help you get where you want to go AND be able to live with yourself. That last part is a key variable in any trajectory. Does it really do you any good to get to an end point if you compromise your core values and principles? Will you be happy then? I encourage everyone to take at least a weekly inventory. This works like a plane’s autopilot system. You can veer off track because this autopilot is always checking and will bring you back on course. If you never do an inventory, how will you know you’re off track? Maybe you’ll eventually recognize it but by then it may be too late. When you check on yourself on, let’s say, a weekly basis, you can recognize the deviation soon enough to recalibrate. Try it for awhile and see if your life changes some.