CHEERFUL IS THE KEY FOR STRENUOUS DISCIPLINE!!!!

The definition of cheerful is a person or thing that brings joy, humor or good spirits. A bright room that makes people feel happy when they enter it is an example of cheerful. Someone who is "the life of the party" is an example of cheerful.

Boosting Your Everyday Cheer

1. Do something now. When you are feeling sluggish or uninspired, try to do something—anything! ...
2. Do things you enjoy. It's easier to be cheerful if you are enjoying life. ...
3. Practice gratitude. ...
4. Get involved with a cause. ...
5. Listen to other people. ...
6. Be open minded.

How to Be Cheerful

• Cheerfulness is special because of how it affects others. It isn’t just something that you feel on your own, it involves expressing positive feelings to those around you. Acting cheerful when you’re really not happy can actually produce the opposite effect in those around you. You may think you are great at faking emotions. But, your body language and facial expressions can reveal your true feelings. By focusing on what you’re passionate about and learning to share this passion with others, you can become more cheerful.

Part 1

Finding Happiness Within Yourself

• Find your passion. Being cheerful isn’t something that’s going to just come about by wishing it. To spread cheer to others, it will be necessary to actually love your life. This means finding and practicing activities that you’re passionate about. Make a list of times in your life when you were deeply happy. Include as many details as possible. Include who you were with at the time, whether you were indoors or outdoors, what activities you were doing, and perhaps even what the temperature was like. These details will be different for everyone, so it’s important to flesh out all those details.
• Then, look for trends in the details. Have you been most happy when you’re outdoors in nature? Or is it when you’re surrounded by people who challenge you? Notice which conditions produce the most happiness. Then, work on sharing these conditions with other people. Maximize the time you spend under those circumstances. Before you know it, cheerfulness can become natural to you.
• If nothing comes to mind when you think about your passions, this may take some time and effort on your part. Rest assured that everyone has the potential for passion. Experiment with many activities and situations until passion starts to emerge.
• Be comfortable in your own skin. Becoming cheerful requires being comfortable with yourself. You are a unique person with your own individual traits, strengths and challenges. Be proud of your abilities and strive to be happy about who you are.
• Avoid striving for perfection. Instead, think of yourself and your life as works in progress. This can make it easier to accept yourself.
• Accept your feelings. Humans are complex. Even people who appear cheerful most of the time experience a broad range of emotions throughout any given day. Don't try to force yourself to feel happy all the time.
• Sometimes, you might realize that being cheerful just isn’t something you’re capable of at the moment. There's nothing wrong with that. What’s most important is that you learn to accept your emotions.
• Learn to work with what you feel instead of trying to focus only on those emotions that you consider most positive. For example, if you are angry at someone, don't try to reject those feelings because anger is "bad." Instead, accept your anger, and think about what you can do to feel better or forgive the person.
• Look on the bright side, but be honest. If you're having a bad day, acknowledge it. You shouldn't just ignore the fact and continue trying to act happy. Then, after you've accepted the fact that you're experiencing a bad day, look for positives and think of ways to make the situation better. For example, imagine you've been laid-off from your job. That's probably upsetting for you, and it's okay to accept that. But, after the initial shock has passed, start thinking about ways to improve your situation. Make a plan to apply for unemployment, and for finding a new job. Perhaps this will be an opportunity to find work you like better.
• This will help you accept the complex nature of life. Faking cheer can be counterproductive. People will likely be able to pick up conflicting messages in your body language and facial expressions. So, it’s best to just let any emotions flow through you, whatever they might be.
• At the same time, don’t brood over a particular emotion, but instead try to learn why you are feeling it. For instance, if you are angry, that might be because you’re uncomfortable and don’t know how to express it. Or, you might have unrealistically high expectations for the situation you happen to be in.
• This might not be easy at first. But, by persistently trying to relate your emotions to what’s the present moment, you can learn to control them.
• Learn how negative experiences from your past affect you today. Negative experiences can have lasting impacts on our brains work and our ability to control our emotions. This includes traumatic events and long periods of depression. Past events like these can make it difficult to be cheerful.
• This doesn’t mean your are completely controlled by your past. The brain and body have a certain plasticity to them. This allows us to work through negative experiences and make new, positive changes in how our minds work. Over time, you can overcome experiences that make it hard to be cheerful.
• If there are events in your past you can't get over, see a counselor or other mental health professional. They will listen to whatever you might be struggling with. They will also provide helpful practices or strategies for working through difficult emotions.
• If you can, don’t be afraid to experiment with different counselors. Sometimes it takes a while to find one who is the right fit for you.
• Many health insurance plans provide for a certain number of mental health visits. Check to see if yours does.
• Keep a journal. Journal has many mental health benefits that can help you feel comfortable with your past. Especially if you have traumatic events in your past, try writing in about your feelings in a journal every day. Writing about your past experiences or negative emotions is a particularly useful method for working through past traumas. Sit down and write down as many details as you can remember about the experience you have in mind. Or, just describe the emotions you are feeling in the present moment.
• Writing about your emotions and negative past experiences can give you some distance from them. It can also make them manageable for you in future situations.
• If you find this overwhelming, or it is upsetting you more than it is helping, you may need professional help. Consider talking to a counselor or therapist.
• Try meditation. Meditation and/or breathing exercises can also help you control emotions related to your past. Some psychologists have called this developing "mind sight." This is an ability to make decisions about how we respond to our emotions. Sit in a comfortable place with your legs crossed and your hands in your lap. Close your eyes and take deep, steady breaths. Focus on your breathing and try let go of everything else in your mind.
• There are cds and mp3s available to help guide you through the meditation process.
• You might not be able to stop experiencing certain emotions. But you can learn to control with regard to how we let them affect our day-to-day life. Learning to meditate will help give you more control over your emotional state. Studies show that meditation helps regulate the function of the amygdala, the part of your brain that controls emotional responses.
• Stay healthy. Get plenty of sleep and eat well. You need your energy and strength to feel and be your best every day.
• This might mean getting a little bit more exercise. Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise every week. This can lower blood pressure and reduce stress and anxiety.
• If you want to be a cheerful person, you must to take care of your body. You must get the right amount of exercise and proper nutritional intake to feel your best.

Part 2

Behaving Cheerfully

• Smile. When you feel happy, let it show on your face! Smiling not only shows others that you are happy, but can cheer other people up, too.
• Further, smiling can also make you feel more cheerful yourself.
• Use body language. Use your body to show your cheerfulness. Avoid slouching, as this can make you look tired or unhappy. Keep your posture open and relaxed. Open body language means not crossing your arms or legs. Keep your feet pointed toward the person you are talking to.
• Relaxed body language means keeping your muscles relaxed, especially your arms and hands. They should hang loosely at your sides. People can often tell when your muscles are tense.
• Speak cheerfully. Use your tone of voice, speech cadence, and words to communicate your cheerfulness. Specifically: Vary your tone of voice and avoid speaking in a monotone.
• Speak quickly (but not so quickly that you are difficult to understand).
• Use positive words like "love" and "great." Be positive and talk about others, not just yourself.
• Be friendly. Be outgoing, and if you see someone who looks like they need a friend, try to be that friend.
• Say hello to people you don't know, and be open if they want to talk to you.
• Compliment people and make other nice gestures, like bringing food to a gathering to share with others.
• Try to include new people in your activities and social circle, especially if they seem in need of a friend.
• For example, imagine someone new has joined your class or workplace who has moved from far away. You might invite him or her to have lunch with you and your friends. Chances are, this person doesn't know many people in the area yet and will really appreciate you reaching out to them.

Part 3

Boosting Your Everyday Cheer

• Do something now. When you are feeling sluggish or uninspired, try to do something—anything! Staying active will help you stay cheerful.[25]Get moving. Clean your house, do the dishes, fold some laundry, or start exercising. You will feel like you have accomplished something, and this can help you feel more positive.
• Do things you enjoy. It's easier to be cheerful if you are enjoying life. Make sure to take some time, every day, at least once a day, to do something that brings you joy. What this will be will vary for each person, here are some suggestions:
• Put on your favorite song and have a one-person dance party.
• Go for a walk in the woods.
• Treat yourself to a favorite food or drink. Have a cup of your favorite coffee or a piece of pie.
• You don't have to plan this or wait for a certain time of the day, just do it when it feels right.
• Practice gratitude. Focus on the things you are grateful for in our life, and express your gratitude to others.
• Letting others know you are grateful for things they do that make your life better can make you happier, spread cheer, and improve your relationships with other people.
• You might also want to consider keeping a gratitude journal, in which you write about the things you are thankful for. Research suggests that this can increase happiness and even improve your physical health.
• Get involved with a cause. This can include going to meetings about a cause in person or simply joining a group online. Getting involved in a social cause can be a great way to build connections with other people. It's also a good way cultivate a passion about something outside of yourself. Investing your energy in creating change in the world with other people can help you discover new passions. This, in turn, can allow you to be more cheerful in your interactions with others in general.
• Help someone who is in need. Not everybody is as fortunate as you are. Try to help them out by donating to charities or running a food drive. Even something simple like complimenting someone or offering a smile can improve the lives of others.
• Listen to other people. When people talk to you, be a good listener. Make eye contact and acknowledge their perspectives.
• Listening to others with an open mind is a good way to show you are confident and cheerful. It will make other people feel cared about. In doing so, you might improve how other people are feeling.
• Listening to others can be a good way to get new insights about the world. It also lets you share the happiness other people might be experiencing.
• Be open minded. Don't judge other people. When you meet someone new, try to find something in common with him or her. Try to not to jump to conclusions about people based on their appearances.
• Judging others can make both you and the other person unhappy.
• Instead, assume the best about people.
• Avoid putting people down. Instead, encourage them to rise and accomplish their goals. Display optimism, and cheer people on. Your optimism will become contagious

What is a cheerful person?

The cheerful is a person or thing that brings joy, humor or good spirits. A bright room that makes people feel happy when they enter it is an example of cheerful. Someone who is "the life of the party" is an example of cheerful.

Traits Only Cheerful People Have

Happiness is hard to find for many people. There are several inherent traits that happy people have, but is it possible to teach yourself to embrace and adopt them? It all starts with knowing the secrets of happiness.

Happiness is hard to find, and some people spend their whole lives winning promotions, earning money, and spending time with people only to find that happiness has eluded them. It's common knowledge that happiness is about more than objective wealth or what you do in life--it's about your perspective, and about how you react to things that happen around you.

There are seven critical traits that only genuinely happy people have, and if you want to find happiness and satisfaction in your own life, you'll have to learn to incorporate them:

1. Gratitude. Gratitude is essential for happiness. You have to truly appreciate everything you have in life in order to be satisfied with it. If you don't feel grateful, you're always going to be looking for more, no matter how much you already have. You could make minimum wage or a six-figure salary and still constantly lust after more instead of being grateful you have a job. You could resent your parents and wish that they were different instead of appreciating the fact that they're alive and well. Express your gratitude, openly and often, for all the great things in your life, and forget what you "could" have--focus on what you do have.

2. Present Focus. Happy people tend to live in the moment. They aren't preoccupied with things they've done in the past, and they aren't constantly thinking about the future. It doesn't matter whether these thoughts are positive or negative; you could think very positively about the future, but if you aren't focused on the present moment, you aren't going to be happy in the present moment. It's important to remember the past, but it's harmful to dwell in it, just like it's important to plan for the future, but it's harmful to obsess over it. Focus on being happy right now.

3. Humor. Humor is also important, no matter who you are or where you work. Truly happy people are typically able to find humor in almost anything. They appreciate jokes and aren't afraid to laugh out loud when they think something is funny. Laughing is shown to be beneficial not only for your emotional health, but also your physical health. It releases endorphins, helps you relax, and helps you manage stress better. Even the simple act of smiling can carry some of these effects, so if you want to be happier in your own life, start laughing and smiling whenever you can, and surround yourself with others who appreciate humor.

4. Self-Confidence. Confidence goes a long way. Having faith in your own abilities makes you less stressed--you spend less time worrying about whether or not you're good enough to accomplish something and more time actively trying to accomplish it. When you feel confident, your doubts and apprehensions don't weigh you down, and you can focus on what's in front of you. Confident people tend to perform better when facing obstacles and experience less stress overall, so it's no mystery why confidence is generally associated with happiness. Building confidence can be difficult, especially in adulthood, but it is possible to train yourself to be more confident by practicing positive thinking and remembering your skills instead of your faults.

5. Adaptability. Life changes far more frequently and more unpredictably than most of us would like. New obstacles range from a closed road on your normal commute to a natural disaster that destroys your home, ranging from the irritating to the devastating. But the happiest people in life aren't the ones who focus on the interference or the obstacle, they're the ones who focus on finding the best way around the obstacle. Because they're adaptable, they don't have to worry about life's unpredictability, and they aren't as stressed when something major comes up. They simply find another way forward, and proceed.

6. Optimism. The power of positive thinking cannot be overstated. Simply believing that things will work out in the end will help you manage your stress on a regular basis and think more positively about your current situation. Optimists find the best in everything and aren't ever consumed with the need to search for faults. Constantly viewing the world through a positive lens will make the world seem more positive, and you'll be happier to live in it as a result. Fostering optimism can be tough, especially if you're used to a cynical line of thinking, but with practice, it's possible to change your outlook.

7. Intangible Values. Finally, happy people aren't obsessed with tangible rewards or destinations. They aren't worried about getting to a certain position, making a certain amount of money, or having certain material things. They're more concerned with the intangible parts of life: friendship, fun, and family. They prioritize experiences over possessions and don't try to measure their lives in terms of how much wealth they have. In a way, they prioritize their real feelings of happiness over what they perceive to be linked to happiness, so consider your values carefully and examine how you really feel about them.

Happiness isn't about reaching a destination or achieving a goal; it's about enjoying the journey that is life. Staying grateful for what you have, focused on the present, and positive no matter what comes at you can help you finally unlock the happiness you deserve. You're in control of your own emotions, so maintain a better attitude and a better outlook, and happiness is sure to follow.

Cheerfulness is the most important leadership quality

So, to cheerfulness. Being cheerful is a choice. It has long been understood to influence happiness at work and therefore productivity. The cheerful leader broadcasts confidence and capability; and good organizations instinctively understand this. In the Royal Navy it is the captain, invariably, who sets the mood of a vessel; a gloomy captain means a gloomy ship.

And mood travels fast. Most ships’ crews are either smaller than, or divided into, units of fewer than 150 members— near the upper end of Dunbar’s Number, the magic HR number suggested by British anthropologist Robin Dunbar as the extent of a fully functioning social group.

Cheerfulness allows for urgency and velocity when things are going well, and for mistakes and forgiveness when they are not. Most organizations do not record how effective cheerfulness can be; but the Royal Navy assiduously records how cheerfulness counts in operations.

For example, in 2002 one of its ships ran aground, triggering the largest and most dangerous flooding incident in recent years. The Royal Navy’s investigating board of inquiry found that “morale remained high” throughout demanding hours of damage control and that “teams were cheerful and enthusiastic” focusing on their tasks; and “sailors commented that the presence, leadership, and good humor of senior officers gave reassurance and confidence that the ship would survive.”

Turning up and being cheerful, in other words, had a practical benefit. And what does it cost? At the very most, you might have to set aside time to reaffirm your daily values, and a commitment to put cheerfulness among them. A values mind map might look like this:

How do you teach cheerfulness? Three things:

1. Make every opportunity for your people to be cheerful. This sounds bland, but the Royal Navy takes every informal opportunity to demonstrate its usefulness and so should every organization. To fill the dead time that invariably occurs during training exercises and other routine activities, for example, navy personnel are hugely innovative and inventive in constructing games, diversions and the like to encourage teamwork and cheerfulness,
2. Focus on positives. Cheerfulness in turn encourages speed of thought, an outward-looking mind-set, and a willingness to talk. It even affects how people sit, stand, and gesticulate: you can see its absence when heads are buried in hands and eye contact is missing. 
3. Make the cheerful choice. In stressful situations Royal Marine commanders understand particularly well that cheerfulness is fueled by humor: one I met required his whole company to “sing for their supper” by telling a joke—any joke—in front of their fellow marines prior to eating.

Once you understand the collateral benefits of cheerfulness at work, it seems daft not to make it a priority. Such a skill is especially prized in the Royal Navy, an organisation that moves people quickly and often (typically, every two years) and requires them (perhaps s?as a matter of life and death), to hit the ground running in their new posts. 

As organisations become more fluid, and as managers expect staff to do more with less, and faster, cheerfulness is a little-understood yet vital attitude. As CEO of a public affairs firm, I tried to create a culture that trusted my people and expected them from the board down to the newest intern, to be able and willing to stand up and talk, in an impromptu fashion, about what they were doing. But I never really figured cheerfulness was a simple answer. I’d do things differently now.

The relevance of many of these techniques to the corporate workplace is obvious, not least in a world of rapid job rotation, team-based work, and short- term projects that are typically set up in response to sudden competitive challenges and require an equally fleet- footed response.

Conversely, empty optimism or false cheer can hurt morale. As one naval captain puts it, “Being able to make the uncertain certain is the secret to leadership. You have to understand, though, that if you are always Berber-optimistic, then the effect of your optimism, over time, is reduced.”

24 Benefits of Being Cheerful

How can you afford not to be cheerful?

You get all these benefits by being cheerful, joyful and happy:

1. Helps you relax.

2. Helps you generate more ideas.

3. Solves problems easier.

4. Makes you more new friends.

5. Gets you more dates.

6. Increases your attractiveness.

7. Turns enemies into friendships.

8. Helps in resolving misunderstandings.

9. Builds deeper relationships.

10. Increases your immunity.

11. Recovers from illness faster.

12. Makes pain and sadness easier to bear.

13. Makes guys filled with increased vitality. (and ladies too.)

14. Makes ladies more beautiful. (and guys more handsome)

15. Increases your charisma and charm.

16. Makes you more money and increases your wealth.

17. Keeps you strong in all aspects, (physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, financially and others)

18. Makes work more enjoyable.

19. Makes tough challenges easier to bear

20. Makes life more meaningful and purposeful.

21. Prolong your life.

22. Makes your family, your community and the world a better place to live.

23. Makes you Excel Beyond Excellence

24. Being cheerful makes your loved ones cheerful too…

… and they will ALSO GET ALL the above benefits of being cheerful!

Cheerfulness is free. It is infectious. Spread the cheer around!

Cheers!

“Being cheerful keeps you healthy” – Book of Proverbs

Posted on November 29, 2012 by keyturntraining

I believe ‘Being Cheerful’ always has a positive effect on health and well-being. Isn’t that true throughout human experience?

A new-born baby is subjected to a constant procession of grinning faces, each trying to elicit some sort of response from the new arrival. And sure enough, the baby soon learns to smile. The baby is happy, and we are happy because the baby is happy.

As we grow up we instinctively move towards those experiences that make us feel good. We also learn what makes others feel good, and when someone is feeling down we will often try to cheer them up.

We like people who have a cheerful outlook, who have something positive to say. We’re less keen on those who moan all the time, because they drag others down with them.

Humour is a big part of our daily lives; it oils communication and relationships, and is often used to lighten things up. We like friends who make us laugh, and on those occasions when we just can’t stop laughing, we finally emerge from the experience feeling a whole lot better!

Of course, it’s not always possible to be cheerful in life. But whenever difficulties do surface, in their many forms, it’s always great advice to focus on returning to a cheerful disposition, at the earliest, appropriate opportunity!

‘Being cheerful’ feels better… and it is better, for your heart, mind and body!

But that’s not all. Your cheerfulness will also rub off on others. You don’t have to work at this. It happens naturally and automatically!

If you’d like some practical tips and ideas to get you into the right frame of mind, here they are…

‘Being Cheerful’ is often easier said than done! Of course it is. But if you are willing to seek out small ways in which you can lift your state of mind, you will often be surprised at the results that flow from such small actions!

So here are some ideas. Why not approach them with an open mind and give them a try:

• Enjoy doing something small for someone else
• Enjoy trying something new
• Enjoy exploring and experimenting
• Enjoy your successes
• Enjoy focusing on someone else – ask them how they’re doing
• Enjoy smiling at the people you meet
• Enjoy a photo of someone who makes you happy
• Enjoy a picture, photo or other visual reminder of a happy memory
• Enjoy focusing on your goal and why it’s important to you
• Enjoy listening to your favorite uplifting music
• Enjoy exercise – be creative in finding ways to exercise
• Enjoy reading / watching something that makes you laugh
• Enjoy spending time with friends who lift you

And the list doesn’t end here. Why not take the time to write a personalized list of things that you could Enjoy… then make time to act on them!

Simple Ways To Cultivate A Cheerful Workplace

It is very easy to get caught up in worrying if your company is going to do well and forgetting about the things that make people want to work for you. Making your organization a happy place to go to work is an essential component to the successful long-lasting business.

 

A happy work environment attracts good people and helps the people who work for you do the best for the company.

 To create that kind of environment, it takes a strong top down and bottom up approach.

 It takes creativity and presence of mind.

 It takes proper hiring practices and clear expectations.

 You can have it. You can be the one to start it. Once it gets underway, the feeling is infectious and your best bet is to think of your happy workplace as a sound investment.

 Happy is not just a pipe dream. There is theory and study behind it. A whole field of Psychology is devoted to it. Martin Seligman, author of “Authentic Happiness” along with many other researchers, has done an in depth study of what makes people happy. You won’t be surprised to know that buying something new might make you happy for a few minutes but like a sugar rush, wears off really quickly. This is the workplace equivalent of landing a great contract or getting a great price reduction. It is exciting but very short lived.

  The next level of happiness, which tends to last a lot longer, is the feeling that you have a pleasant life. That kind of feeling comes from liking what you are doing and feeling good about your job. The most sustainable level of happiness is being able to feel like you are giving back to this world.

 There are many things you can do to make a sustainably happy organization. Here are some ways to get started:

 

1. Hire Happy Personalities

 Hiring people who are going to help make your workplace happier will take a little thought and preparation. It is natural to focus on relevant experience and past achievements when interviewing a candidate. And you are right to want those things for your company. But ignoring the personality is a mistake.

 The greatest candidate on paper might be the worst person to bring into your office. Look for the intangibles. Be very aware of how you feel around the person. Do they seem like they focus on the positives or negatives? Do they laugh? Do they smile? Do they seem like they create and nurture relationships? While their track record in terms of performance is very important, a person that brings gloom and doom to the workplace will kill productivity and motivation.

 2. Be Community Minded at Work

 Make a point of encouraging people to say hi to each other. Sounds simple but it is actually an incredible way to build a sense of workplace community and something that busy focused people forget. Start by making it a policy to have your executives and managers make sure to take the time to say hi. Choose ambassadors from all different levels and areas of your company to do the same. Acknowledging people can change the entire atmosphere and make your workplace be a much nicer place.

 3. Get Out of the Work Routine Occasionally

 We have a tendency not to focus on the big picture when we are really busy. This prevents us from creating perks or planning fun events that make the workplace happier. Treat people to something surprisingly good and fun. A day at the amusement park, a movie in the afternoon with popcorn and candy, chair massages. Anything you can think of to make people feel that you are doing something nice for them will make people feel happier.

 4. Show That You Care About Your Employees

 Ever hear of the Hawthorne effect? It’s the increase in productivity in the workplace when people feel that they are cared about. It makes people happy to be asked how they are and for you to take a little time to find out how things are going in their lives. That doesn’t mean spending hours at the water cooler having conversations about people’s lives. It means remembering to take the time to say, “How are you”.

 5. Encourage Some Selfish Thinking

 Part of the secret to being happy at work is to encourage people to have personal career goals. When people feel that they are working toward something, the day-to-day politics and stresses of the workplace don’t matter as much. Each challenging day can be better tolerated because it is a means to a personal end. People are able to separate themselves from their jobs and not become mired in the negativity when they are focused on reaching personal goals.

6. Focus on the Positive

 Lots of places get caught up in the negative. They debrief by going over what didn’t work. Turn that around. Focus on the positive. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore the things that need to be improved on, it just means that when you are looking for the good, you will find the good. If you look for the bad, everything will seem bleak.

 7. Give Back With Your Employees

 Do something to give back to your community or to the world. Having a company wide initiative that makes a difference will make people feel connected to the greater good. Take a poll. Find out what people care about and get their opinions on how best to accomplish those goals.

 Thoughtful Actions = Happy Work Environment

 You can have a happy workplace if you take the time to make it a happy workplace. Hire happy people. Don’t get caught up in focusing on the negative and make sure to do the little things that make a difference in people’s lives. It won’t be a major cultural change at first but I can promise you that slowly but surely, your workplace will become a better place and people will do better work.

That should make you very happy and Cheerful..