9 Daily Habits That Will Make You Happier!

Happiness is the only true measure of personal success. Making other people happy is the highest expression of success, but it's almost impossible to make others happy if you're not happy yourself.

1. Start each day with the expectation.

If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going to happen today." Guess what? You're probably right.

2. Take the time to plan and prioritize.

The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do.  Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first

3. Give a gift to everyone you meet.

I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, and a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod.

4. Deflect partisan conversations.

Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer, but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."

5. Assume people have good intentions.

Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.

6. Eat high-quality food slowly.

Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep running and us up. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.

7. Let go of your results.

The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on the job at hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.

8. Turn off "background" TV.

Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy more stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer?

9. End each day with gratitude.

Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.

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"I Was Scared of Virgins" ‘A Real Love Story: My entry for the Get Published contest

The Idea:  I was four, when I sent to ‘Saraswati Shishu Mandir,’ a Sanskrit toll pre-school for boys. Sanskrit was a compulsory subject for us and we have to pray a lot of chants daily before our classes began. I completed my standard 4th from theirs. The teachers teach us many formalities, but the most important was “You must respect all women. Every woman is your mother and every virgin are your sisters!”

I was sent to High School, and it was also a boy's only. I studied their eight years, till my 12th and I never ever talk any girl until 18. I was too shy! At this stage another remarkable thing happened; I was travelled to North India with my parents at standard 6th. It was also my first visit at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh where I visited a Hanuman Mandir, a giant statue of Hanuman standing with his great hammer.  The priest of the temple noticed me and gave a Hanuman Chalisa free of cost. After returning home, I start investigation on the character of Hanuman and I discovered my childhood education of the Sanskrit toll is transparently visible in Lord Hanuman's character. I become a fan!

Then I took admission in college and this time it was co-ed. But I was lucky, in my class there are only five girls and 29 boys, and I easily escaped conversation with girls and had friends only from the boys. Even at exam time boys and girls were separated to different rooms for papers, so I never talk to the girls till 21. Three years of college life passed and even today I cannot remember any special moment. Every single day of my college seems as same as to me. When I already past 21 years of my life and become a graduate of Calcutta University.

At this stage of life, I became very introvert and frustrated. I walk on the street never look at any women. No problem to talk with a married women because they are married and feel like my mother! But I was scared about virgins; if I fall in love with anyone then Hanuman must be angry with me and will leave me forever. But I never took any alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or steroids to relife from frustration. I always loved to watch cartoons and read novels and never lost my confidence in me. A friend of me had given me some hard rock CDs to listen and you cannot imagine it catches my mind at once and I started listening hard rock, then death metal, black metal and finally stopped at gore metal. You cannot imagine it works on me more than any drugs. I growled, I screamed, I shouted; buy a guitar; after one year I felt I was addicted in this hectic music. Finally out of over frustration I left all of it.

Last year I went to attend University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh for a post graduation and here my life becomes totally changed. When I first came, I was very shy to speak with my classmates, but I always tried not to show my weakness. Here my PG batch was dominated by the girls and it made me speak to them. I always tried to be very frank, and honest with them. Finally it was a girl who invited me to her home for dinner and I become so nervous that day; I still remember I cannot sleep at that night. It was also the first time in my life that she offered me a ride on her bike and she was the first virgin I hardly look at her face. When I return from Lucknow my life was happy. It is like someone has lightened up the dark side of my life or someone has bewitched me with her magic spells. Perhaps this little friendly welcome from that girl fulfilled my all unfulfilled desires of past 21years.

What Makes This Story ‘Real':
It is a funny story about my educational life. I think everyone will enjoy it.

***End note: This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published the contest, HarperCollins India.

03 - The Afternoon Dreamers - getting off the ground

Introducing The Afternoon Dreamers and they are awesome!
03 - The Afternoon Dreamers - getting off the ground