Remember the last time you felt really happy. What was happening? Can you are recall what you were thinking at the time? That’s the clue – what were you thinking? It’s my guess that you were thinking happy thoughts. Happy thoughts make you feel happy. Sad thoughts make you feel sad. Angry thoughts make you feel angry.

The way you feel depends on what you are thinking. It’s very important to understand that your thoughts create your feelings. No one else can think your thoughts; therefore, you are the one who determines how you feel. And, that also means that you are responsible for your own happiness. It should be clear, then, to have happy feelings you need to have happy thoughts.

“But”, you say, “Sometimes I don’t feel happy. How can I change my thoughts so I can feel happy again?” First, let me say that when you are not feeling happy you allow yourself to feel those feelings. When you allow yourself to feel them for a few moments, they will pass.

All of your feelings are a part of you and they just want some attention. Just say to yourself, “It’s okay to feel this way”. By feeling your unhappy feelings, they will quickly go away. You can then get back to being happy. To do that, think of something that makes you happy. Do you have a funny friend? Do you have a special place that you like to visit? Do you have a favorite food? How about a cuddly pet? Is there a song that you love to listen to or sing? What else can you think of that makes you happy?

Another technique to restore happy thoughts would be to repeat to yourself “I am happy” until you feel happy. It won’t take long before you are smiling again.

I have a friend who has a huge teddy bear with a very comical face. It’s almost impossible to look at the bear without smiling. Do you have a toy or a stuffed animal with a happy face?

Here’s another trick to bring back that happy feeling. Find a friend and get them to agree to repeat after you the following phrases, and wait for them to repeat ( ) each phrase before you go on to the next one. “Ha (ha), ha ha (ha ha), ha ha ha (ha ha ha), ha ha – ha ha ha ha ha (ha ha – ha ha ha ha ha)”. You can make it up as you go. Before long, you will both be roaring with laughter and feeling happy again.

Do you have any ideas that will help others think happy thoughts? If you do, send them to me and I will share them with the other readers. So, until next month, think happy thoughts and – be happy.