Free 365 Ways to Live Happy by Meera Lester

inherent in every crisis, whether personal, societal, environmental, political, global, or some other type. You'll manage the crises of your life better if you learn to not only adapt to change but to search for the gains (rather than the losses) from each one. By focusing on and finding the profit in a crisis, you are more likely to experience positive emotions, such as openness, compassion, love, and hope, and fewer of the negative emotions, such as fear, apprehension, sadness, and anger that accompany many crisis events.
132 Think of One Thing You Can Control
    When you feel disempowered and helpless, it is often because you think you have lost control over your life and can see no way out of your dilemma or darkness. The truth is that the only thing you truly have control over is your own thoughts. No one can ever control those but you. To feel empowered again, you must reset your thoughts. Now, think of one thing in your life that you can control. Do you control what you put into your mouth? What about the position you will sleep in? Or, when and where you will sit or stand? Did you know that one of the meanings of control is to restrain or limit something? Restrain your negative, helpless, and disempowered thinking. Shake up your mental energy with a brisk walk in nature or dance along to the rhythm of some upbeat music. Now re-evaluate your life and see the control you already have. No life is static. It just seems that way. Rather, life is dynamic and fluid, so take heart.
133 Mentally Affirm Two Ways Life May Become Better
    Your boyfriend walks out on you. Your dog dies. Your new Camry is totaled by a tree limb. Your boss announces layoffs and your name is first on his list. Some days, it seems that nothing goes right. But remember what Alexander Graham Bell said about doors: one closes and another opens but you don't often see those that open because you are staring regretfully for so long at the ones that are closed. Change is certain, and things can and do get better. Think of two ways that change could happen in positive ways for your life. Expect to be happily surprised when you stop staring at the closed doors and see the new ones opening: a new man walks into your life … with dogs. Your new job comes with a car. Life is good and you are on top of the world. Relish the thought.
134 Ask Experts for Opinions But Rely on Your Own Wisdom
    Rely on your inner guidance when you are in a seemingly intractable place and need to make an important decision, such as committing a child with extreme special needs to a specialized care facility. You may fear that you can't make that decision. How can you find help? Seek expert opinions, talk to health providers and caregivers, get insights from families in your situation. Go into the darkness, the place of unknowingness, and quiet the chatter in your mind. Be very quiet and receive what the darkness has to offer. Let your thoughts move toward hope, inspiration, and, finally, to your decision. Once your decision is made, don't second-guess it. Be at peace.
135 Think of One Thing You Need to Stay Strong and Focused
    Think about what you would need to be grounded and focused if a crisis were to show up in your life five minutes from now. What could instantly calm you and help you deal with a rise in possibly negative emotions? Would a whiff of sandalwood help? How about a shot of brandy? Would fingering your prayer beads or finding a place of absolute silence where you could think and pray work best? A crisis can arise suddenly and without warning. Whether it's an emergency, a cataclysmic natural disaster, or a financial catastrophe, a crisis often requires you to figure something out fairly quickly. Knowing what will get you through the next minute and the minute after that can be as helpful as having an escape plan for the unlikely event that your house catches on fire.
136 Scream into a Pillow
    If you are ever so overcome with emotion that you can't seem to hold it inside,