On a recent visit to Fox News, Bonnie was live on “The Strategy Room” with veteran broadcaster, Uma Pemmaraju. Bonnie discussed the issues of aging and how to be happy at the age you are now, every day! Lets us know what you think!

Watch the challenges involved with getting older from Fox News.

Reach Out: When we reach outwards, thinking of and doing for others, we have less time to dwell on our self. Being involved in a project to help others gives us better perspective and a meaningful purpose. We grow and learn.

• Ask yourself what talents and interests you have that you are not using. How would you like to use these?
• Look for opportunities to contribute at least one hour every two weeks to a school, charity, social service or club. Ask friends, search the Internet, read announcements.
• Make a commitment to contribute your time and talents as the next step to building this dimension of your happiness. It will also enhance your confidence and age-esteem.

If you want to be happy, just be happy!

Play: Why is it that when we become teenagers we decide that certain activities or games are too childish for us? Being silly and playful is wonderful at any age. Play is energizing and creates laughter. It helps us to bond with others of all generations.

• Choose something silly or outrageous that you’ve wanted to do, and do it! Sing in the rain, skip in the park, fly paper airplanes, wear that silly hat that makes you feel happy. Start with something simple and build from there.
• Invite friends for an evening of play: board games, volley ball, or acting out a play. Even those who drag their heels in the beginning will admit they had a good time.

Do you feel like you’re walking a tightrope with all that you have to do and want to do?

Balance your life: Happy people tend to have a balance among exercise, healthy food, positive relationships, adequate sleep, and their main activity (studies, parenting, career, etc.).

• Take a tough look at your own balance. What works well? What is missing? Prioritize the activities you want to build into your schedule.
• Choose priority one to begin this week.
• Decide how to build this activities into your life. Will you drop or reduce another activity? Will you get up earlier? Stay up later?
• Act on this priority to put it in balance with your other activities. As soon as it seems to be in harmony with the others, move on to priority two.

Mix with positive people: People we associate with influence how we feel about ourselves and about life in general.

• Make a personal audit of the people you see regularly. What do you admire about them? What sides of your personality do they bring out? Do they encourage you? Do you learn from them?
• Eliminate negative people from your inner circle. Move away from anyone who does not positively influence you or who stresses faults rather than qualities.
• If you must be with negative people at work, be polite but don’t let them into your inner circle.
• Seek people who have positive, « can do » attitudes. Spend your time with these positive thinkers.

Even if your first reaction to “Just be happy” is “Bah, Hum Bug”, give yourself a chance. Multiple research shows that people who have a positive attitude and are optimistic live happier, healthier lives. Test these AgeEsteem techniques for finding happiness at every age.

Smile: Did you know that it’s impossible to be depressed when you smile and look up?

• If you’re feeling low, smile! Smiling actually makes you feel happier.
• Need help? Put a pencil horizontally across the front of your mouth. It forces the edges of your mouth up, making you feel better. Look at yourself in the mirror. Who knows? You may really smile!
• Look up! Do this when you are caught in traffic, too. Rather than stress out, look up. You will feel better – and there is a whole new world up there to discover.

“If you want to be happy, just be happy!”

This may sound simplistic, but let the strength of the message sink in. Yes! If you want to be happy, just be happy.

Your happiness depends on you. Think about it. No one can force you to be happy or to be sad. You control your emotions. Whether you’re a teen, a single parent, or a retiring professional, how you greet each new day or deal with unwelcome surprises is up to you. Do you see the glass half empty and feel sorry for yourself? Or do you choose to imagine the glass half full and learn from the situation and the challenges it presents?

Your happiness is up to you no matter what your age, income or physical condition. Decide to be happy!

Reach out. AgeEsteemers know the importance of meaningful contact with people of all generations.

• Build relationships with men and women of all ages. Join a chorus or book discussion group, speak regularly with different people at your health club, meet your neighbors…
• Commit yourself to one small action to help others: serve once a month at the soup kitchen, mentor an underprivileged youth. Use your special talents and interests.

None of these is difficult. Nor do they have to cost money. All they take is time, thought, and the commitment to begin building your own AgeEsteem for the soul one step at a time. Enjoy!

Life is too short to loose time complaining. It gets us nowhere. And usually our complaints act as scapegoats for another problem: lack of a personal image of confidence and age-esteem. It’s not too late to change this image.

Reinforce your confidence and age-esteem!

Focus on your qualities. Often it’s easier to see qualities in others than in ourselves. Recognize yours! You have many.

• List your talents, skills and qualities. Don’t be bashful. Pretend you’re writing a recommendation for this person who is you. Keep the list where it’s visible. Read it often and add to it.
• Keep a journal of praise. Write down the praise you receive. No matter how minor it may seem, when someone praises you write their words in your journal. Copy praise received electronically or via the post into your journal. Refer to it as a confidence booster.
• Flash yourself a smile when you pass a mirror and remind yourself of one of these qualities as though saying it to your best friend: “You organize great events!”…

Soon this will become second nature to you as you accentuate the positive and build your own AgeEsteem for the soul.