10 Ways to Fill Up on Happiness

How to Kick-Start Your Pursuit of Happiness

As a life coach and author, I have worked with thousands of people who are searching for their life happiness. My work is to move them toward their authentic selves, helping them to generate enough happiness to light up all of Las Vegas and Times Square combined!

What I've seen is that people who "fill up on happiness" are more likely to naturally take actions that move them in the direction of their goals. They also tend to burn more calories, and attract happy and successful people into their lives.

What do I mean by "fill up on happiness?" I mean choose to find happiness—not negativity, gossip, mind-numbing TV shows, or empty calories—in the world around you. The following tips, techniques, and happiness quotes should get you started.

Find out what happiness is for you. At the end of this gallery, print out and create your own "Happiness Circle!" Your joyful journey starts now...

Janice Taylor is the author of the Our Lady of Weight Loss blog on Beliefnet, and the book, All is Forgiven, Move On.

Strengthen Your Gratitude Muscle

"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving." - Kahlil Gibran

We can be collectors of injustices – perpetually feeling slighted, empty, and unhappy because of all the injustices (both real and imagined) that have fallen upon us. Or, we can count our blessings, feel joyful and happy, and cultivate gratitude. Every night before you go to bed, jot down at least 5 things that you are grateful for. You may be grateful for the obvious – food, shelter, clothing, a job, or some more subtle things, like smiles from strangers, a ripe piece of fruit, or the bus arriving just as you get to the stop. As you strengthen your gratitude muscle, you'll find that your life is filled with more blessings than you realized.