I get out and about quite a bit, and it struck me how many people go about looking worried, or grumpy, or as if the cares of the world are on their shoulders.  I know in some cases they have good cause, but it's amazing how a simple smile can change how you look AND how you feel.  And of course smiling at other people can completely change their attitude to you.  So I decided - on the spur of the moment I might tell you! -  to add a new category to my blog, where I will be posting all things positive; articles, positive thoughts, jokes etc.

Almost everyone will have heard the hit single 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of being happy to everyone. Bobby Mcferin's simple message surely made a lot of people by telling them not to worry.

Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and is also good for your health. Being happy actually helps protect you from the stresses of life as stress is linked to top causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.

One of the better things ever said is - 'The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change', and in our life we have the power to make the necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in an unbearable situation we can always find solace in the knowledge that it too will change, given time.

Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness.   If arguments seem unavoidable, try and see the other person's point of view.  However, everyone is different, so you have to accept people for who or what they are; you won't always agree with your friends or family's points of view, but it is important to try and avoid constant arguments, and to let go of  resentments.

Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong - the amount of work is the same!    Abraham Lincoln observed that most people for most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook to be. To be happy is relatively easy, you just have to decide to be a happy person.

There are several ways by which you can do this.

Just look around you -  we have so much to be thankful for compared to some people.  The quote "there is always someone worse off than you" is very true.

News can be stressful and depressing. Get less of it. Some people just can't start their day without their daily dose of news. If you think about it, 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news so starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.  Turn on your favorite music channel instead.

Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed  as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire.

Laugh and laugh heartily everyday.  Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -'Laughter is the best medicine'.

Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to keep pent up anger of frustrations, this is bad for your health. Instead find ways of expressing them in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.

Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent in finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us, they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel worthy of your time.

Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new everyday.  Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons. And could also give us more opportunities in the future and also helps keep our mind young.

Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for.  Feel alive.

And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln, when he says that "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

I would welcome any comments, jokes or personal stories to add to this category