"Happiness is a habit - cultivate it." ~ Elbert Hubbard

Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed.

We've all seen people who are always happy - even amidst agonizing life trials. I'm not saying happy people don't feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don't let it overtake their life. The following are 21 things happy people make a habit of doing:

1. Appreciate Life

Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don't take anything for granted. Don't sweat the small stuff.

2. Choose Friends Wisely

Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.

3. Be Considerate

Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.

4. Learn Continuously

Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest - such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.

5. Creative Problem Solving

Don't wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don't let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts - it's almost always right.

6. Do What They Love

Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there's so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy - the extra money of a job you detest isn't worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.

7. Enjoy Life

Take the time to see the beauty around you. There's more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don't live in the past or the future.

8. Laugh

Don't take yourself - or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself - no one's perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)

9. Forgive

Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake - own up to it - learn from it - and FORGIVE yourself.

10. Gratitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them - even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.

11. Invest in Relationships

Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don't break your promises to them. Be supportive.

12. Keep Their Word

Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.

13. Meditate

Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it's rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.

14. Mind Their Own Business

Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don't get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don't get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don't judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to - including you.

15. Optimism

See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It's there - even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in - replace it with a positive thought.

16. Love Unconditionally

Accept others for who they are. You don't put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones - you continue to love them.

17. Persistence

Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.

18. Be Proactive

Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don't waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire - rather than waiting to respond.

19. Self Care

Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.

20. Self Confidence

Don't try to be someone that you're not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside - your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don't second guess yourself.

21. Take Responsibility

Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they've made a mistake.

Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits as you own. The more you incorporate the above habits into your daily lifestyle - the happier you will be.

Most of all: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

幸福是種習慣，去培養它～艾伯特哈博得

幸福是所有人的愿望。沒有人想悲傷，沮喪。我們也會看到有人即使身處痛苦的生活考驗之中也總是保持幸福。我不是說幸福的人就不會感到悲傷，悲痛或悲哀；他們只是不想讓之影響生活。下面列舉幸福的人常有的21種習慣。

1. 感激生活

對你每天早晨一覺醒來還活著表示感謝。培養孩子般的對生活的好奇心。把注意力放到每件美好積極的事情上。每一天大部分時間都有所為。不要任何事情都想當然。不要再小事上面投入太多。

2. 明智地選擇朋友

積極的人能分享你的價值觀和目標，在你身邊時為你帶來快樂。和你有相同道德觀的朋友會鼓勵你實現你的夢想。他們會幫你發現自身的優點。他們會在你需要幫助時伸出手來。

3.做一個體貼的人

在生活中要學會接受他人，不論他們是誰來自何方，同時也要尊重他人。用平和慷慨的態度和人相處。力所能及地提供幫助，而不要試圖改變他人。試著讓和你接觸的每個人都心情愉快。

4. 不斷學習

堅持了解和事業及愛好相關的最新時事。嘗試新鮮和刺激的事情來激發你的興趣-例如跳舞，滑雪，沖浪或跳傘。

5. 培養解決問題的能力

不要沉浸子啊自憐自艾之中。只要面臨挑戰就馬上想辦法解決。不要讓挫折影響你的情緒，反而要把每一個面臨的新的障礙看成是帶來積極轉變的機會。學會相信自己的直覺-它大部分時候總是對的

6. 做喜歡做的事

一些統計數據表明80%的人不喜歡自己的工作。所以到處都有不快樂的人也就不足為奇了。我們生活中大部分時間都在工作。選擇你喜歡的職業-為了多賺點錢去做討厭的工作并不劃算。花點時間享受你的愛好并培養自己特殊的興趣。

7. 享受生活

話時間來欣賞身邊美好的事物。對于生活有比工作更重要的事情。花點時間聞聞玫瑰的芳香，和愛人一起看日升日落，在海邊漫步，在叢林中散布等等。學會活在當下并且珍惜。不要活在過去或將來。

8. 學會去笑不要對自己或者生活太嚴肅。你會發現幽默無處不在。嘲笑自己也無所謂-沒有人是完美的。適當的笑聲會讓環境變得輕松。（自然在不適合大笑的場合，你就要保持嚴肅）。

9. 寬容

心存怨恨只會傷害你自己而非別人。為了自己平和的心態而學會原諒他人。當你自己犯了錯誤-承認它，從它當中汲取教訓-原諒自己。
10. 感激

培養一種態度叫做感激。所有的一切即便是小事也需要你的祝福。對你的家，你的工作和你最重要的家人，朋友心存感激。找時間告訴他們你的生活因為有他們而幸福。

11. 情感投資

即使和你愛的人產生矛盾，也要讓他們知道你是愛著他們的。花點時間和家人及朋友在一起自然相處。對他們要信守承諾。支持他們。

12. 遵守承諾

誠實是最好的守則。你的一言一行都要建立在誠實的基礎上。對你自己和你愛的人誠實。

13. 冥想

冥想會讓你活躍的大腦放松。當它輕松的時候，你會獲得更多的活力并且獲得更高效率。冥想的種類包括瑜伽，催眠，音樂放松,自我肯定，暢想或凝神靜坐。去發現那些你感興趣事并花點時間每天練習。

14. 做自己的事

專注于創造自己想要的生活方式。關心你自己及家人。不要太在意其他人說什么，做什么。不為流言蜚語，無理謾罵所困擾。不要妄加評判。每個人都有權利以自己的方式過自己想要的生活-其中也包括你。

15. 保持樂觀

杯子裝一半就好了。要學會看到現有環境積極的一面。即使很難發現-它們也客觀存在。要知道任何事情的產生都有原因，即使你也許永遠都不知道原因是什么。明確地引導負面思想。如果負面思想仍然逐漸產生-用積極的思想代替它。

16. 無條件地去愛

學會接受他人。不要為愛加上限制。即使你愛的人也會有讓你不滿意的舉止-你也要繼續對他們的愛。

17. 堅持

做到永不放棄。面對每一個新的挑戰，要懷有它會使你朝目標更近一步的態度。你只要不放棄，就永遠不會輸。把注意力放到你想做的事情上，學一些必要的技能，為成功制定計劃并付諸實踐。當我們收獲對自己有意義的東西后就會感到幸福。

18. 做積極的人

接受無法改變的事情。幸福哦對人呢不會在不能掌控的事情上浪費精力。接受人無完人的現實。

19. 關心自己

關心自己的思想，身體和健康。做定期的醫療檢查。吃健康的食品并進行鍛煉。保證充足的休息。喝大量的水。通過不斷的有趣和興奮的挑戰來鍛煉你的心智使它充滿活力。

20. 保持自信

不要試著成為你不會成為的那種人。畢竟沒有人喜歡假的東西。想想你內心到底是什麼樣的-你有自己的是非喜好。對自己是怎樣的人保持自信。做最好的自己而不要猜測自己。

21. 擔負責任

幸福的人知道并了解他們為自己的生活擔負全部的責任。他們為自己的情緒，態度，想法，感受，行為和言辭擔負責任。當他們犯了錯誤他們會是第一個承認錯誤的人。

今天從為了自己的幸福來擔負責任而開始。努力培養這些屬于你自己的習慣。你在日常生活中培養越多上述的習慣，你就會越來越幸福。
最重要的是：做一個真正的自己。