13 Steps to Happiness (borrowed)

What does all this mean to you? If money won’t bring you happiness, what will? How can you stop making yourself miserable and start learning to love life? According to my research, these are the thirteen actions most likely to encourage happiness:

1. Don’t compare yourself to others. Financially, physically, and socially, comparing yourself to others is a trap. You will always have friends who have more money than you do, who can run faster than you can, who are more successful in their careers. Focus on your own life, on your own goals.
2. Foster close relationships. People with five or more close friends are more apt to describe themselves as happy than those with fewer.
3. Have sex. Sex, especially with someone you love, is consistently ranked as a top source of happiness. A long-term loving partnership goes hand-in-hand with this.
4. Get regular exercise. There’s a strong tie between physical health and happiness. Anyone who has experienced a prolonged injury or illness knows just how emotionally devastating it can be. Eat right, exercise, and take care of our body. (And read Get Fit Slowly!)
5. Obtain adequate sleep. Good sleep is an essential component of good health. When you’re not well-rested, your body and your mind do not operate at peak capacity. Your mood suffers. (Read more in my brief guide to better sleep.)
6. Set and pursue goals. I believe that the road to wealth is paved with goals. More than that, the road to happiness is paved with goals. Continued self-improvement makes life more fulfilling.
7. Find meaningful work. There are some who argue a job is just a job. I believe that fulfilling work is more than that — it’s a vocation. It can take decades to find the work you were meant to do. But when you find it, it can bring added meaning to your life.
8. Join a group. Those who are members of a group, like a church congregation, experience greater happiness. But the group doesn’t have to be religious. Join a book group. Meet others for a Saturday morning bike ride. Sit in at the knitting circle down at the yarn shop.
9. Don’t dwell on the past. I know a guy who beats himself up over mistakes he’s made before. Rather than concentrate on the present (or, better yet, on the future), he lets the past eat away at his happiness. Focus on the now.
10. Embrace routine. Research shows that although we believe we want variety and choice, we’re actually happier with limited options. It’s not that we want no choice at all, just that we don’t want to be overwhelmed. Routines help limit choices. They’re comfortable and familiar and, used judiciously, they can make us happy.
11. Practice moderation. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. It’s okay to indulge yourself on occasion — just don’t let it get out of control. Addictions and compulsions can ruin lives.
12. Be grateful. It’s no accident that so many self-help books encourage readers to practice gratitude. When we regularly take time to be thankful for the things we have, we appreciate them more. We’re less likely to take them for granted, and less likely to become jealous of others.
13. Help others. Over and over again, studies have shown that altruism is one of the best ways to boost your happiness. Sure, volunteering at the local homeless shelter helps, but so too does just being nice in daily life.

Remember: True wealth is not about money. True wealth is about relationships, about good health, and about continued self-improvement.

Credit goes to: The Psychology of Happiness: 13 Steps to a Better Life

CFL bulb warning!

In a classic "but then again..." moment, I have decided to rid my home of CFL bulbs.

What?! you say. What about the environment?

I bought a few CFL bulbs for our home based on the energy efficiency and recommendations of friends. However, now I am seriously considering removing them, especially from rooms with carpet.

My concern is that, if they break, the mercury in them can contaminate our home. This article cites recent studies, including one by the State of Maine, about the high levels of contamination caused by CFL breakage. I just don't think it's worth the risk. Environmental cleanup can cost hundreds or thousands.

IF you do use CFL bulbs and one breaks, DO NOT vacuum the area! The mercury will become vapor and much more dangerous. Most of you know I am passionate about environmental issues and such, but this is unacceptable. Industry needs to come up with a SAFE way to save energy, not by exposing our families to toxins. Yes, the environmental cost of electricity is a concern, but I would rather watch how much I use my lights, unplug appliances when not in use, and use lower watt regular bulbs than introduce a potential hazard to my home.

It just goes to show, that you have to work hard to educate yourself in this world, and be willing to change your opinion. (By the way, you might want to stock up on regular bulbs, I've heard they may become unavailable in the future, though I don't have hard facts on that story.)

Link: http://www.worldnetd­aily.com/index.php?fa­=PAGE.view&pageId=721­33

Much of the "green" movement is about decreasing the toxins and hazards brought into our home. It's about decreasing our environmental impact and the potential health risks to our loved ones and ourselves. I just don't see CFLs as a positive solution in light of the risks posed: mercury poisoning, possible migraine trigger, links to dementia. I have no idea if there are similar risks using traditional bulbs, but if I become aware of any, I'll let you know.