Don't let small stuff steal your happiness

Whether you're stressing over an upcoming presentation you have to deliver at work, a blind date you have scheduled for the weekend, or a persistent leak in the kitchen ceiling, ask yourself one question:

"Will this matter a year from now?"

Sure, it's normal to experience some level of anxiety. If you're like me, you get antsy when you want to get something done right away so you don't have to worry about it any longer. However, you may hit a snag of some sort -- perhaps the presentation has to be rescheduled, the contractor can't see you for another month, etc. This may lead you to dwell on the matter until it's resolved.

But life is too short to let one little thing derail your happiness. Instead of worrying incessantly about what may go wrong, why not focus on what can go right?

There are certainly circumstances in life that warrant deep concern -- an ailing relative, getting laid off, being robbed, violating the law.

However, there are little things we harp on unnecessarily that drag us down and can be so consuming as to affect our quality of life. There's absolutely no reason to give such trivial matters so much importance, which in turn leads to our feeling stressed.

When the urge to wallow in negativity strikes, don't let pessimism get the best of you. Tell yourself that it's not a big deal, and you'll get through it soon enough. In the meantime, you should divert your attention to things that put you in a great mood, whether it's your loving pets, coin collection, favorite movies, or jogging sessions. Remind yourself that whatever is bothering you will be resolved soon enough. You've dealt with it successfully before, and you'll do it again.

Nobody is more responsible for your happiness than you. Just as you shouldn't allow others to rain on your parade, you should never permit negative thoughts to wield so much power over you.

Choose to be a warrior, not a worrier. There are some things you simply have no control over. Or, we make them out to be much worse in our minds then they turn out to be.

Be positive. Positive thoughts attract positive outcomes. When you believe in yourself and see beyond the minutiae of daily life, amazing things are possible.

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