My 8 Tips for Happiness

Now, I have some tips if you want happiness in 2013, based on my experience in 2012. If money will make you happy, this list might not be for you, but you should at least read the first one...

#1. Money Isn't Necessarily the Key to Happiness - I know this is a bit cliche, but really, it isn't. Money can make things easier. It can make you more comfortable and reduce some stress in your live, but when you have to start budgeting and prioritizing what you spend your money on, you get a better idea of what's important.

#2. Recharge Your Batteries - Hopefully, you already have, but find a way to recharge your batteries and blow off steam. In a healthy way. And try to stick to some kind of schedule. For me it's finding a creative outlet, weather it's writing, or blogging, or podcasting, I always feel better afterwards.

#3. Friends - I'm not just talking about Facebook and Twitter, although those are nice too when they're actual connections. Make a more concentrated effort to talk to friends and family. My email, or on the phone, or text if you prefer, but actually try to connect with them. If you can, try to do so on a semi-regular basis. If they're going through some of the same stuff you are, it'll be a great support system.

#4. No Regrets - I've always had this idea that you should live life without regrets. Not this YOLO bullshit, so it's an excuse to do dumb shit. I mean, when you do something and you kind of wish you hadn't, or had done something differently, don't dwell on it. Dwelling on it will get you nowhere. Learn from your mistake, but move on. You can't change it. I used to regret the fact that I didn't major in English despite this awesome class I took Freshman year. Thinking about it now, if I had majored in English, I wouldn't have met my fiance, I probably wouldn't have to Boston, I probably wouldn't have worked the job I did there, which means I wouldn't have met Greg or the other friends I made up there. So I wouldn't have made a podcast and I wouldn't sorted a lot of other shit in my life out thanks to the influences of my fiance and those friends.

#5. Self-Evaluation - We all do dumb shit and think in weird ways. We all have these "things" in are mind that can really screw us up. Call them whatever you want: insecurities, prejudices, triggers. Evaluate yourself and try to figure out why you act certain ways, even though those things are detrimental. Once you know the "why," you can figure out how to counteract them and overcome them. That made another huge difference for me in 2012.

#6. Take Control - A lot of what this boils down to, is simply taking control of your life. Start doing what you want to do. Start trying to make yourself happy.  What's the worse that happens? You fail? Okay, well then try again. Trust me, even if it doesn't work out, you'll at least feel better for trying to improve where you're at.

#7. Start - It's the New Year and everyone makes resolutions, because that's what you're supposed to do. But so many people don't stick to those resolutions because they don't actually mean anything. No matter when it is, you can start taking charge that day if you want to. In fact, it's better to start making a change the day you think about it! If you keep putting it off, it'll never get done. It doesn't matter if it's January 1st, June 23rd, or December 31st, take charge immediately and it'll be more likely to be effective. 

#8. Don't Listen to Others - This might be the most important one besides #7. People are going to tell you a lot of stuff as you talk about the things you're doing. I once had someone tell me I should write more books like Twilight and The Hunger Games because they seem so popular. BUT that's not what I want to write about. Maybe one day I will write a book about vampires, but it sure as shit isn't going to be like Twilight. That's not what I'm into. Everyone's going to give you advice, and some of it might even be good, but if people are telling you don't to do something that is your dream, politely nod and then do your own thing. The person you really need to listen to and follow is yourself, because you have to deal with yourself for-fucking-ever and that's someone you don't want to piss off.

So do some stuff in 2013. Create something. Take control of your life. Follow your dreams. Connect with the people important to you. If by the end of the year, it doesn't make you happy, then you can tell me I was wrong.