Pearls of Wisdom for the New Year

as seen in BRITE Magazine

By Eva Krzewinski, MBA.,CHRM

Co-Founder/President   Pearls for Women

A Pearl of Wisdom is defined as a succinct insightful saying, a piece of advice, or a moral precept. As a New Year's toast we tend to hear and say “Here is a toast to good health, happiness and success.” Well, who doesn't want to be healthy and successful because this surely will lead to happiness… right?    But most people will be about as happy as they decide to be. The mind is such a powerful tool as it guides us in our decisions and processes.  So why is that a person who has health and wealth cannot find happiness? Because being happy is a choice we have to make everyday. The true happiness we seek is within us. Happiness is a state of mind and what makes one person happy is different for every person. Here are a few tips on easing your life so you can be happy. I promise you that a bit of true happiness will make a WORLD of difference in your health and your well being.

Be grateful everyday for the little things you have in your life and around you. Stop and smell the roses. Be grateful for your friends and family who love you and look out for you. Be grateful you have your health and count your blessings.

Get rid of negativity because a negative outlook on life will bring you down.  Negative feelings are a choice you make. Negativity is like a disease that eats away at your happiness. It can ruin your entire emotional state of mind if you let it so don't let it.

Positive self talk is so important. We are our own worst critic. Choose your words wisely. Be kind to yourself and love yourself.

Things happen for a reason-both good and bad. Life and the universe don't always pan out in the time frame you want. Understanding that there is a time for everything will help you realize that if what you wished for doesn't happen today, then there is a reason; and the day it does happen it will be better than you could have ever dreamed it to be.

Believing that the possibilities of what you really want are already on their way will help you manifest that happiness in your life.

Surround yourself with positive people. Take a look around at the people you communicate with on a daily basis. Does simply being around them make you feel good inside? If not, then it's time to seek people who make you feel good about yourself. Talking with people who really enjoy life will help you become a happier person yourself since their positive energy will rub off on you.

Take time to relax and rejuvenate. It’s so very important to make time for yourself. You cannot be everything to everyone and lose yourself. If you need to, make an appointment with yourself to do whatever you want. Read, meditate, call a friend, walk the dog, exercise, or do whatever you want.  Afterward your brain is recharged and ready to act on things that will create your happiness.

Now you have a choice to make. You can choose to wallow in negative thoughts or you can decide to be happy. Yes, things might come along that can put a damper on your happy feeling. But you can choose to get back up, dust yourself off and walk away with a smile on your face. The choice really is yours.

Go ahead and make a daily effort to seek out your own happiness. Before you know it, the majority of your life will be happy and carefree, and that will allow more happiness to manifest itself in your life. It's a win win situation. I love the freedom to choose my happiness. I know it can be a good or bad day since it will be the way I make and design it.