Gretchen Sunderland offers 10 key ingredients to achieving real happiness for you.

Because I work with hundreds of people on life strategies, I am often asked about what I think makes people truly happy. There are probably many answers, but here are some common themes that I see in my work, and in my own life. Use these keys and watch happiness fill your life!

1. Take Responsibility
Take full ownership of your actions, moods, feelings. If you can take responsibility for your life, you can change it. Blaming others for your circumstances only keeps you stuck.

2. Feel Your Feelings
Don’t stuff your feelings until they become toxic or leak out. There are no “wrong” feelings. Acknowledge them, let yourself fully feel them when you are in private, and then you will be able to move on.

3. Practice Gratitude
Make a daily practice of asking yourself, “What am I grateful for?” Keep a gratitude journal and write down 10 things that are good in your life. Do this at bedtime and you will enjoy better sleep. Being grateful for what you have creates space for new energy to come into your life.

4. Live in the “Now”
Don’t drag your past into your present. Don’t try to live in the future. Be here now, this moment. When you fully engage in the present, there is no room for baggage from the past or fear of the future.

5. Control Your Gremlins
“Gremlins” are those nasty voices in your head that tear you down. You know, the ones that say: “you’re not good enough” or “you’ll never amount to anything.” You wouldn’t even say those things to your best friend, would you? So find those Gremlins and zap them. How? Write all of them down, ask yourself if you really want them to control you, and then change them into positive affirmations instead.

6. Practice Forgiveness
Forgive everyone – even if it’s just as a mental exercise. Otherwise those people and situations gain power over you and live in your head, rent free. And, of course, forgive yourself – you did the best you knew how at the time. Today is a new day. Letting go of anger and resentment will set you free.

7. Connect with Others
Let the negative, whining people in your life find someone else to complain with. You don’t have time for it. Surround yourself with supportive and positive people. Don’t know any people like that? Put a smile on your face and go find them.

8. Manage Your Energy
Learn to say no to tasks and people who drain your energy. Learning to say no can be difficult, but once you do it, you will experience a new level of personal power and well-being. Say yes to activities that give you energy. Make a list of these activities and plan to do a few of them daily.

9. Give Back
Feel good by volunteering to help, mentor, or spend time with others who don’t enjoy your level of abundance. Give out positive energy and it will come back to you many times.

10. Change
Change is good. Be flexible. Life is always throwing new stuff at you. Go with the flow and shape your life the way you want it to be. Keep learning, adapting and embracing the new and wonderful things that will show up in your life!

About the Author: Gretchen Sunderland is an active Member Coach of The Coach Connection (TCC) and has successfully coached many TCC clients to great successes. You ca reach Gretchen by calling TCC at our toll free number of 800-887-7214 or direct at 239-415-1777