12 Ways to be Happy

Received this from a friend. Can't post up the powerpoint slides.
The meaning is simple .... but whether we can follow them is another matter altogether

Pls take some time to register the messages in your head (my own tots in between square brackets)...

1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things. [I find pleasure in having a simple meal with good friend(s) who understand(s), and who doesn't mind spending time with me. I find pleasure in reading a good book, in talking to like-minded friends. I find pleasure in lending my ears, although I can't help anyone, but at least I hope my listening helps them to not bottle things up? I find pleasure in running with friends, in running along scenic routes, in breathing in the cool mrn fresh air, in just running, and not having a care in the world. ]
   
2. Make the best of your circumstances. No one has everything, and everyone has somethng. Of sorrow intermingled with gladness of life. The trick is to make the laughter outweigh the tears. [Tears are inevitable. Key is to wipe them away and find things that make one happy. Forget the past, embrace the future?]
   
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortune that befalls other people.
4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you. [Very often one worries about what others think or more often than not, what one think of himself/herself. "I'm NOT good enough", "Why are you so stupid?", "You are incompetent, this is such an easy task. How could you have not done well?" True, we can't please everyone, and sometimes we can't even please ourselves. Its easier to ignore other's criticism but more difficult to ignore our own]
   
5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself. [Can't say I assimilate with this]
   
6. Do the things you enjoy doing but stay out of debt.
7. Never borrow trouble. Imaginary things are harder to bear than real ones.
8. Since hate poisons the soul, do not cherish jealousy. Avoid people who make you unhappy. [True. If someone takes too much (positive) energy outta me, I will have to break away. Similarly, I shall be happy and not sap the energy outta my own friends.]
   
9. Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places. [Ok, I got to expand on this :P Anyone keen to go travelling ? haha]
   
10. Don't hold postmortems. Don't spend you time brooding over sorrows or mistakes. Don't be one who never gets over things.
    
11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12. Keep busy at something. A busy person never has time to be unhappy.