Get into the rhythm of life: Simple secrets for stress-free living

"Realise that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace, contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."

— Og Mandino

Helpline...

"Come to the edge.

We can't. We're afraid. Come to the edge.

We can't. We will fall! Come to the edge.

And they came. And he pushed them.

And they flew."

— Guillaume Apollinaire

You... are here for a reason

Your life has a purpose and meaning.

Consider this: nothing would be the same if you did not exist. Every place you have ever been and everyone you have ever spoken to would be different without you.

If this is so, why suffer from an identity crisis? Why look for approval? Why waste away in envy, bitterness or self-pity?

It's ok to lose

You don't have to win every time.

Highly competitive people, who always need to win, end up enjoying life much less. If they lose they are very disappointed, and if they win it's what they expected ... so where is the thrill. This attitude can be boring and stressful in a very subtle manner. Accept it. It is okay to lose. Enjoy another's victory.

Never lose touch

Cultivate friendships. Cherish and nourish them constantly.

Rekindle past relationships, and take advantage of opportunities at work or among your neighbours to make more and more friends. People need to feel that they are a part of something bigger, that they care about others and are cared about by others in return. This sense of belonging is therapy of sorts.

Get real

Have realistic expectations.

People who are happy don't get everything they want, but they want most of what they get. Choose to value things that are yours.

People who find themselves dissatisfied in life often set unreachable goals for themselves. People who set and reach more modest goals are happier than those who aspire higher and wear themselves down.

When you take stock of your position at work, or your relationship with your family, don't use fantasy pictures as a standard of comparison. The richest person or happiest family. These people or situations do not exist in the real world.

Stay with reality and strive to make things better, not perfect.

Team up

Don't face your problems alone.

Problems can be daunting. The human race is basically gregarious. We are social creatures who need to discuss our problems with others. We may choose to confide in people who care about us most or those who have faced the same problems we have. When we are alone, we tend to 'stew in our juices' and let problems fester. By sharing, we can gain different perspectives and find solutions.

Fear not the golden years

Old people are as happy as younger people. Prepare for a life of quietness and serene satisfaction. Make sure that boredom does not feature in your vocabulary. Early enough, just as monetary plans are made, hobbies and friendships too must be cultivated. Much before retirement.

Routine is soothing

Develop a household routine.

We often feel overwhelmed by the chores that have to be done on a regular basis. Set up a reasonable schedule to do your work.

Make a list of tasks to accomplish each day.

A routine will ensure that you are not bewildered and overwhelmed, wondering what comes next.

Make your job a mission

Treat your career as a calling.

If you see your work as only a job, then it's taking you away from what you really want to be doing. It becomes a 'drag'.

If you see it as a 'calling', then it is no longer toil that you are forced to endure. Instead, it becomes an extension of yourself. A means of expression and an important aspect of your life.

Value your values

Never trade your morals for your goals.

People who compromise on what they believe in to satisfy their goal, wind up unhappy with their accomplishments. Their inner voice will not allow them to revel in their ill-achieved success. If you do not respect yourself, satisfaction is impossible to achieve.

Good night

Don't skimp on sleep. A full night's rest is fuel for the following day. Rested people feel they work better and are more comfortable when the day is over.

Smile

Your smile can make a person's day bright and happy. This will also make you happy. Is it too much to ask?

Listen to music

Music communicates to us on many different levels, and our favourite music tends to transport the mind to its favourite place. Music is therapeutic. Soothe your nerves with good music. 'Good' simply means 'music that you enjoy'.

Get some fun and sun

Don't forget to have fun.

Every day, make sure that you give yourself some time to enjoy, to be silly, to laugh, fool around and have fun without donning masks of any kind.

Soak in a few minutes of the sun. Darkness and closed doors can cause gloom that sunlight quickly dispels.

Fill with fragrance

Surround yourself with pleasant aromas.

A simple way to make yourself feel better is to air out your rooms, and fill them up with fresh fragrant flowers. Aroma candles and pot-pourri too can be soothing.

Find meaning

Have a purpose.

Without a purpose nothing matters. You can work hard and be successful. Keep house, cook, clean, and then take up any number of new activities. But without proper reason, everything becomes meaningless.

It's immaterial...

Money does not buy happiness.

We spend so much time chasing wealth, worrying about money, earning, saving, hoarding, spending... II. may surprise you lo learn that there are many 'wealthy' people who are stressed out, dissatisfied and unhappy.

Happiness has nothing to do with the state of being rich.

It's your choice

What does life mean ? You decide for yourself.

Your future how you feel about it, yourself, and everything else follows from the decisions you make, the priorities you develop, and the perspective from which you see things. It determines how you choose to be. Relaxed and happy. Or tense and strained. Make the right choice.