Happiness is a lifestyle choice. You may think that you are the victim of circumstance, that you have no control over how happy you feel. You’re wrong. Being happy is about choosing an outlook. An optimistic outlook will protect you from the stress and strains of life. Being happy is about accepting your situation. No matter how bad your life seems right now you can take comfort in the knowledge that life is constantly changing. You cannot be miserable forever. Having an outlook like this is actually beneficial for your health. Stress is a major contributing factor in cases of heart disease and cancer.

Another way to live healthy is to express your feelings. The resentment you may feel if you don’t express yourself is another form of mental stress so you must tell people what you feel. You don’t have to apologise for the way you feel, so don’t be afraid to say what’s on your mind. People find his kind of honesty endearing. If you feel you may hurt someone else’s feelings, just take a moment to think of how you can express your thoughts without causing anyone harm.

Be grateful for what you have. Show appreciation for your friends and family. These are the people who keep you sane. Humans are social animals so your relationships with other people will have an effect on your happiness. Accept them for who they are. Everyone has flaws, so don’t let them get in the way of functioning relationships. Accept people for who they are and you will find less conflict in your life.

Be grateful. Look around you and you will see that you actually have a lot to be thankful for. Thank the policeman for keeping you safe, thank the cook for your delicious dinner and thank your God for letting you live.

Developing your spirituality will give you a sense of peace. Inner turmoil is always caused by a crisis of faith. Belief in something outside yourself soothes the mind and soul, and puts whatever trouble you’re going through in a healthy perspective.

To keep productive make sure to learn something every day. Improving yourself will give you better opportunities in life and will challenge you to strive for better things. This is a healthy ambition and will keep your mind occupied. Broadening your horizons with learning will put your situation in perspective. Developing a spiritual life will give you inner peace, so look into the different religions and see if any speak to you. They represent a powerful need in the human psyche and you cannot avoid the need for faith in something. Joining a local church will give you the spiritual support you need to be content with your life.

Take regular exercise. Your body is designed for constant physical exertion and it is easy to neglect this in the luxury of the modern world. Exercising will chemically make you happier- basically it’s a sure bet to happiness. And finally remember to laugh. Whatever your situation, there is always something to laugh about. That’s the secret to remaining happy. Laugh and with this advice you’ll have your spring back in your step in no time.