Would you hand over your paycheck to someone who makes you unhappy?

Have you ever felt unhappy because of someone's actions or behaviors toward you? I once felt that way about a former boss. In hindsight, I allowed myself to feel like a victim.

Over time, I discovered that no one holds the key to our happiness; not our parents, not our children, not our boss, not our friends, not our boyfriends. When we blame others for our unhappiness, when we feel unhappy because someone does not validate for us that we are special, we disempower ourselves by placing our happiness in THEIR hands.

Think about it. You wouldn't hand over your paycheck to these people and empower them to spend your money, so why give them power over how you feel?

TAKE BACK YOUR POWER!

Reconnect with Your Authentic Self "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." These are powerful words from the poem Invictus by William Henley. It has become a mantra I use throughout my life. Use these words to help you reconnect with your authentic self.

Take a walk through nature. Observe the miracle of life and remind yourself that you are part of this miraculous Universe. You are here for a reason. You serve a purpose.

No one's opinion or treatment of you can change that. They cannot dim your light for you are always Divinely supported.

Learn and Move Forward
 Every experience teaches us something. So, learn from your experience and move forward. Many times the lesson is about love. Love of self and others. Send these people love. This may be hard at first. Know that when you put LOVE into the Universe it comes back to you.

Take Responsibility
Assess your situation and take responsibility for how you allow yourself to be treated. "If you want to be successful, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything that you experience in your life" advises Jack Canfield. I took responsibility for allowing myself to feel disempowered. I released blame and reclaimed my power.

Remind yourself that no one has dominion over your happiness and your life. This profound truth liberates you.

Is Their Life Really Better Than Yours?

On occasion I'll hear someone compare his or her life with someone else's. The comparison usually occurs when the individual sees his or her life as inferior to the other person's.

These individuals allow themselves to become sad or depressed over what they feel is lacking in their own lives.

This "grass is greener" effect seems to have become an epidemic with the evolution of social media, which allows our friends and colleagues to share details of their lives with us. I'm reminded of a movie in which a married woman with children wished for a life other than the one she was living.

Her fantasy soon became reality and one day she woke up married to a wealthy man. Suddenly, she had no kids and spent her days shopping and traveling. Eventually she realized she was in a loveless marriage. Her husband was involved with another woman and wanted a divorce.

Being trapped in another existence helped her appreciate the love and warmth of her family. Make a mental or written note of how many times in a day you compare yourself with others. For each thought you have, remind yourself you are UNIQUE and that no matter how much better someone else's life may seem, your journey is your own.

The more you accept your uniqueness, the more you live in this truth. You experience more JOY knowing that your path, while different, offers the same opportunities for peace and happiness. Allow the gifts and TREASURES within to rise to the surface.

As you share your gifts with others you discover that the better life which seemed to belong to others also belongs to you.

Want To Be Happier? Stop Looking Outside Yourself

"Expecting something outside of you to get better in order for you to make your life work...is something for you to take a hard look at." ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

Have you ever told yourself you would be happier if you won the lottery, had a better job, lost weight, or found a new love? If so, you're not alone.

People often believe something outside of themselves will make them happier. For some, more money would indeed solve daily challenges such as the ability to pay bills. For others, a change in their weight or work life might boost their mood.

The truth is, external elements bring only temporary happiness. Once you have enough money to pay your bills, have lost weight, or have fallen in love, your happiness subsides and you begin looking for the next external element to make you happy.

When Hollywood director Tom Shadyac began making millions through hit films such as Ace Ventura and Bruce Almighty, he noticed that as he acquired huge mansions and fancy cars, he wasn't any happier. After facing his own death, Tom gained clarity and purpose and gave up most of his material possessions. He documents his journey in the movie, I Am.

Happiness begins within you. Love and appreciate yourself, choose positive thoughts, be grateful for what you have, and make the most of your situation. The things you take for granted everyday...clean water, electricity, clothes...are blessings for someone else.

When you choose to live in this way, you attract more positivity and happiness into your life.

In the words of Buddha, "There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way."