We are social beings. We crave connections to others individually, to our communities, to our world. Pay special attention to your family, your lover, your adored friends, your colleagues & your neighbors. Explore & strengthen your connection to a Higher Power. Genuine curiosity & kindness are an amazing way to foster connections, new & old.

5. Connect 

Your body is the vehicle that carries you through your life. Love yourself by treating your body with respect & care. Fuel it well with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains & lean protein. Move it daily. Don’t smoke, don’t abuse alcohol. Meditate. Help yourself age well by staying flexible, protecting your skin from sun & exercising your mind. Sleep well. Beware the ease in which you critique yourself & indulge in praise instead.

8. Love yourself

Being positive can often be seen as naivety. In actuality, optimism increases job performance, creativity, ability to weather stress & self esteem. Optimism can be used in how you talk to yourself in the face of adversity, explain past events & think about the future. Cultivating your ability to be optimistic is beneficial to your health & your success.

1. Cultivate optimism 

When you are clear on what is important to you, there comes an incredible sense of freedom. You no longer live in a world of social comparison. You are running your own race. Goals, big decisions & small habits are surmountable & invigorating because you have a clear picture of what you want your life to stand for. Spend some quality time with people.

3. Clarify 

We need play & whimsy in our lives. A healthy dose of joi de vivre fuels your creativity & feeds your spirit. Celebrating is a wonderful way to share love with others & incorporate more play in our lives.Celebrate with traditions, with heartfelt compliments, with notes in lunchboxes, with surprises, with big evenings out, or with cozy evenings in.

7. Celebrate 

Take a deep breath. This is the here and now. Stop ruminating over the past or worrying about the future for a moment. Tell the voices in your head to be silent. If you’re washing the dishes, wash the dishes. If you’re writing a blog post, write the blog post. It’s harder than is sounds, but worth practicing every day.

2. Be present 

Mentor, contribute, practice random acts of kindness, express gratitude. Make a loan, give your time, be fully present for your family, change the world. There are a million ways to give of yourself. It’s one of the most positive equations in the world: You give of your time or resources, which improves someone’s quality of life, which makes you feel needed & valuable, which in turn improves your quality of life.

4. Give out 

Flow is being in the groove, totally engaged in your present activity, challenged but succeeding with clear goals & feedback. It’s a glorious state to be in. For some it’s gardening, writing, cooking dinner with your partner, intense conversation, or crunching numbers. Or as Bruce Lee said "Be water, my friend."