The older I get the more concerned I become about what appears to be a deteriorating sense of happiness in America. Daily, it seems I encounter more and more men and women who have acclimated to being miserable. I lunch with women who are worried about their husbands, kids, jobs, friends, weight, age, health, addictions, income, debts, bosses, clients, appliances and dental hygiene. I meet with men who are angry over their competition, wives, kids, favorite sports team, coworkers, cars, dogs, age, income, debts, poor service and poor relatives.

Statistics tell us that 85% of all verbalizations in America are negative in nature. When you consider how many times the average person self-censors to avoid sounding negative, it stands to reason that about 90-95% of American thinking is negatively oriented. But don't take my word for this, check it out for yourself. Watch primetime TV shows, read the papers, count the sad songs on the radio, or track one day's worth of workplace conversation and you too will find more evidence of misery than you really care to deal with.

I know I am always ready to introduce more joy and happiness into my life and I hope you may find this a beneficial goal as well. Below are five tips to help you leave your neurotic and negative thoughts behind and revive the warm glow of happiness you both need and deserve to become a super successful you.

1. Keep your mind off what you don't want and on what you do want. Thoughts are magnetic. You actually attract what you think about the most. Whenever you feel yourself drifting into a negative or worried state put up a big "STOP" sign in your mind, then move into a series of positive thoughts about how the condition you are concerned about can help move you toward achieving your goals.
2. Stop the flow of mental poisoning into your life. Birds of a feather not only flock together but also tend to land in the same oil spill as well. Place strict limits on how much time you will allow negative others to consume in your life. This includes those you love and those you don't. Stop tuning in to sad songs, hopeless stories and bad news.
3. Engage in continuous positive self-talk. Believe that the universe is conspiring to do something nice for you today. Know that what goes around really does come around and expect to receive tenfold of whatever it is you have put out there. This is great incentive to put out helpful, kind and positive stuff!
4. Know that there is a lesson in everything. What doesn't kill you truly does make you stronger and even the darkest cloud has a silver lining if a lesson has been learned. When adversity strikes, ask yourself, "What am I suppose to be learning from this & why do I need to learn it". This question can focus you on the gains to be had from any situation.
5. There is no better prescription for success than a strong dose of total belief in oneself. How can you expect others to believe in you unless you have total belief in yourself? Why do you challenge others to make you happy if you are so hard to please that you don't please yourself? Everything worthwhile on this planet has been created and/or cared for by mere mortals just like you, and a lot of them were not half as smart or cute, as you know you are! Remember that the next time you are tempted to give up, give in or give out!

Next month we will address the issue of recognizing and accomplishing your purpose in life. Until then remember that "practice is the mother of mastery" and practice these five strategies to produce a happier and more successful you!