Since I first started writing Happy Day Moments on my Facebook status almost two years ago, I now spend a fair amount of time throughout the day thinking about what “moment” I will share.  I think about my own “happy,” but I also observe the happy I see around me: my family, friends, the people I work with, the strangers I meet.

I’ve noticed that happy people seem to flow with the groove of life in a unique way.

And I’ve noticed powerful ways for me (and you!) to find a Happy Day Moment:

1] Live with gratitude. Practicing gratitude is good for the body, helping you cope with trauma and stress, increasing self-worth and self-esteem when you realize how much you’ve accomplished, and often helping dissolve negative emotions.

2] Employ optimistic thinking. Reign in your pessimistic thinking by focusing your time and energy on where you have control, by knowing that “this too shall pass,” that bumpy times won’t last forever, and by compartmentalizing, not letting an adversity in one area of your life seep into other areas.

3] Do good. Happy people make happy moments by helping others.

4] Cultivate your spirit. Connect to something larger than yourselves. Seek God and you will find Him. Hold onto faith. Even in dark times.

5] Stay connected to your families, neighbors, places of worship, and communities. Build a strong social fabric.

6] Participate in activities that fit your strengths, values and lifestyle. Practice acts of kindness, express gratitude, and become fully engaged.

7] Develop healthy coping strategies. Those stressful life adversities, those challenging events can bring renewed appreciation for life –recognizing new paths for your life — enhanced personal strength, improved relationships with others, and spiritual growth. Happy people become skilled at seeing the good that might come from challenging times.

8] Take care of your mind and body and manage your stress. Happy people “act” like happy people. Smile, be engaged, and bring energy and enthusiasm to what you do.

We all have “bad” days. We all face stuff: physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, financial, environmental. I know. I face the villain of paralysis every day, my limbs refusing to do what my brain asks of them. And yet, I can still be happy.

People who find Happy Day Moments each day have developed a way of living with gratitude that causes them to see life differently.

What would you add to this list?