How to Appreciate Life

If stress and worry and hurry have you feeling tired, depressed and sad, you're not alone. In these over-scheduled times, it sometimes seems that it would take a life-threatening event to get you off the merry-go-round and back in a place where you can really appreciate life. There's no need to wait for the bomb to drop. You can start appreciating life right now when you take these steps.

Instructions:

1-Write in a journal about what you're grateful for. List at least five things that you feel gratitude for each day. Some days might pose more of a struggle than others; but there's always something to appreciate, whether it's a roof over your head or the beautiful sunrise.

2-Laugh each and every day. Laugh at the comedic and the ridiculous. Laugh at your kid's corny jokes or how the dog keeps chasing his tail. Spend time with people who like to laugh and you'll find that laughter's contagious. And it just feels good!

3-Spend time with children. Whether playing with your two-year-old niece or watching kids play in the park, you're bound to learn something about enjoying life—a field in which kids are the experts. Why do you need to worry about impressing others when the simple act of playing in the sand feels so good?

4-Think positively to make a difference. Beginning the day with negative thinking colors your entire day. You expect and get the worst. But re-frame your thinking with a positive thought, and you'll be surprised how much better life is.

5-Notice the wonder of nature. Whether watching a rainbow or listening to the rain, you'll put yourself in a position to experience the miraculous in the ordinary. Stroll around the block and breathe in the fresh air to put your worries in perspective.

6-Slow down. With all evidence to the contrary, life is not a race. Take time each day to slow down and smell the roses, figuratively and literally. Eat slowly enough to savor each bite. Stop and listen to a song on the radio instead of letting it go by as background. Slowing your life gives you time to appreciate it.

7-Help others. Helping someone really sets off a feel-good chain reaction. See the effects of the simple act of helping, and you'll realize that you really do make a difference in the world.

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