We are very good at jumping to conclusions, springing into action, and devising solutions before we even have problems.  We plan for emergencies, organize and strategize, and think about how to achieve our goals.  And planning and organizing are positive things, yet sometimes, we can get stuck in the pattern of looking at potential negative outcomes.

During this month of July, challenge yourself to look at positive outcomes, recognize and acknowledge what you are grateful for, connect with friends, and practice self-compassion.  Rather than jumping to a conclusion, jump back and look at the whole picture.  It can help by looking at your situation as if you were looking at a friend’s situation, typically, we are kinder to our friends than we are to ourselves. Practicing these very small changes build our resilience and we can practice our response rather than our reaction when things happen differently than we planned or are out of our control.

Visit www.actionforhappiness.org for more information and tips on how to live a happier life today.