People can choose to be happy. Happiness comes from within. It does not come from external factors such as success, popularity, and possessions. Just take a look at all of the truly miserable celebrities. The first step to happiness is to make the choice that you want to be happy.

If you tend to be a negative person, identify a person whom you like and respect and exhibits a positive outlook on life. Use this person as a role model and practice being happy by modeling your behaviors after theirs.

Smiling Can and Does Impact Your Life

There’s an old saying, “Smile. It increases your face value.” It’s true, and it also increases your success. Researchers have found that people who frequently smile appear to be more successful than their less-happy peers in three primary areas of life: work, relationships, and health. This means smiling even when you don’t feel like it because the sheer act of smiling actually does make you feel happier.

Think about this for a moment. The real value in a smile is when it is given freely to everyone you come in contact with during the day. Of what value is a smile held back? It immediately becomes worthless to both you and the possible receiver. There are many opportunities for you to smile in the workplace, but you may be missing them due to a heavy workload.

Smile …

• when you walk through the door every morning
• when a co-worker interrupts you with a business-related question
• even when the boss tells you to do something you don’t want to do

Customers Can Hear Your Smile on the Telephone so Smile …

• when you record your voicemail message
• when you leave a voicemail message
• every time you pick up the phone to place or answer a call

You are probably multi-tasking when you are at work, juggling phone calls, paperwork, emails and more. But unlike each one of these tasks that takes time, smiling takes no time at all! But for some, it takes practice. You may need to remind yourself to smile so stick a sign on your desk that reads:

“I am never too busy to smile!”

Perhaps you are smiling right now. If so, you just gave yourself and everyone around you a wonderful gift.