On the other hand, when you change your perception of lack into a stronger focus on abundance, you find yourself thinking and acting in ways that can be more prosperous. Not only will you better appreciate the abundance you have in your life now, you'll also be in a better mind-set to recognize great opportunities and act on them when they appear.

For best results, use visualization on a daily basis because changing your mental outlook requires consistent reinforcement. You can perform your visualization exercises first thing in the morning, right before bed in the evening, or any time during the day when you have a few minutes to spare.

What types of things should you visualize? For one, see yourself having plenty of money. Imagine that you're able to pay your bills with ease and have plenty left over for fun, helping others and saving for a brighter future. Make these visualizations as detailed as possible, even down to the clothing you're wearing, the home you live in, the vehicle you drive, and the way you carry yourself in your daily activities.

The details are important because they'll trigger your emotions and make you feel like you're really experiencing these visions which your subconscious mind will then accept! How would you feel if you had all the money you needed? What type of mind-set would you have if money was no longer a concern for you? Infuse these thoughts and feelings into your visualization exercises, making them as strong and real as you can.

Then, the next important step is to be sure you're not undoing all the great energy you put out during your visualization exercises by thinking and acting in ways that contradict what you're trying to attract into your life.

Avoid spending time worrying about not having enough money, stressing about bills or feeling anxious about your income. The moment you start doing these things, you immediately shift your focus back to a lack mind-set, which keeps the cycle of lack going strong.

Whatever you do, be sure you don't limit the ways that money can come to you! For example, don't focus all of your efforts on winning the lottery because you'll be blocking all other possibilities. Remember that money can come to you in limitless ways most of which you'd never expect! Simply focus on being open to any and all possibilities and allow your positive focus to attract bigger and better things than you can even imagine right now.

First you must know what you want. A man without direction will be lost in a matter of minutes. So what do you really want? What is your greatest desire? If you could have just one thing in life, what would it be? The key to setting life goals is to make them something big that you’ve wanted for a very long time. After you decide what you want, you have to figure out how to get there from where you are. This means that you have to make a plan. Goals without planning won’t get you very far. You might take those first few steps forward, but then chances are, your enthusiasm will fade and you’ll start slacking.

Challenge yourself to learn and do new things. Your goals should include things that will enable you to experiment with something you’ve never done before. If you’re not being challenged, you’ll become bored easily.

Finally, hold yourself accountable. If you can’t be accountable to yourself, then ask a trusted friend or family member to help hold you accountable for your actions. They can lovingly point out to you when you stumble or even help hold you up and encourage you when you feel like you can’t keep pushing on.

You can change your life and you can do this with goals. Get started with your life goals today.

Rather, genuine happiness is usually the result of less tangible factors. Below you'll find three of the major factors that can help you to create a life of true joy and happiness, regardless of the state of your outer circumstances:

Purpose

A seemingly aimless existence often leads to an increased sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction in all areas of your life. On the other hand, when you believe that your life has purpose and meaning, you automatically experience greater focus, vitality and happiness. Your life purpose doesn't have to be a major calling like becoming a nun or missionary; you can find purpose in any kind of situation! Make it your purpose to have a fulfilling career in any field, or set a benchmark of achievement for your children to exceed someday. Choose a cause that is important to you and devote your life to supporting it. Ultimately it doesn't matter what purpose you choose for your life; just that its important to you.

Self-love

True happiness and contentment must be accompanied by genuine self-love. When you truly love and respect yourself, everything seems to run more smoothly in your life. You get along better with others, you feel stronger and more balanced, and you don't tend to take challenges so personally. Rather than seeking love and acceptance from others, give it to yourself! Speak kindly to yourself and build yourself up as often as you can. The more you do, the happier you'll feel.

Confidence

Confidence makes you feel more in control of your life, which cannot help but make you feel happier too. Not only are you better able to stand up for yourself and avoid being taken advantage of; confidence also helps you to believe in yourself and your capabilities, which gives you the power and determination to create a truly happy and fulfilling life.

There are other factors that contribute to greater happiness, but these three are probably the most pervasive. Simply by fostering these three qualities in yourself and your life, you'll begin to shift toward a more purposeful, gentle, fulfilling and empowering existence.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Happiness Attitude, which is slightly different than a mere positive attitude! A positive attitude is certainly a good place to start because it helps you to feel better and think more positively overall, but the Happiness Attitude also includes a concrete decision to live your life from a focus of happiness and joy which can elevate your attitude to a whole new level!

If youre ready to adopt a genuine Happiness Attitude in your own life, read on for some easy ways to do it:

Appreciation

The Happiness Attitude requires an ongoing commitment to appreciation and gratitude in every moment. Not only should you appreciate the bigger stuff like your family, home, job, friends, and health, but also the smaller blessings like getting a good deal on a new pair of shoes, receiving a compliment, or even catching a glimpse of a beautiful bird outside your window.

Optimism

Optimism is a huge component of the Happiness Attitude because it requires a conscious decision to expect the best, no matter what! Rather than obsessing and worrying about the negatives, you'll commit to giving most of your attention to the great things coming your way.

Confidence

Feeling unsure of yourself or your capabilities contributes to a negative attitude and is the direct opposite of the Happiness Attitude. By building your confidence and affirming your capabilities to do anything you desire, you'll feel strong, powerful and more in control of your overall happiness.

Trust

A Happiness Attitude means also trusting yourself to make the right decisions that will create greater happiness and fulfillment in your life. These decisions may not always be easy, but by choosing to believe in yourself and trust your inner vision, you play an active part in creating the life circumstances that will make you happiest.

Flexibility

A rigid mind-set often fosters stagnation and negativity, which detracts from your happiness. A Happiness Attitude, on the other hand, encourages greater flexibility and resourcefulness, which aids you in overcoming obstacles and facing challenges.

Balance

A negative attitude can make you feel like you have to work excessively hard to get ahead, which only leads to stress and burnout. With a genuine Happiness Attitude, you'll find it easy to balance all aspects of your life and create a genuine sense of happiness and fulfillment.

How easy it is to forget that when it comes to happiness, simplicity is key! Even though we know on some level that all this stuff wont make us happy, we still keep getting pulled in by clever marketing and our own constant yearning for something more.

But what if the something more we crave is not more stuff but rather simplicity and order? What if, by simplifying our lives we could finally enjoy a deeper sense of freedom, peace and happiness?

If you're ready to stop living under the hypnotic spell of more stuff, here are three easy ways to begin simplifying your life and enjoying a happier, more peaceful way of life:

1)Clear out your home, vehicle and workspace.

Are you surrounded by stacks of books you've already read, DVDs or videos you've seen dozens of times and miscellaneous clutter covering every available surface? Is your vehicle a catch basin for trash and belongings you haven't put away? Is your workspace crowded with old paperwork? Clear it all out! When you start clearing out your surroundings, you'll notice immediately that you feel lighter and less scattered.

2)Clear your mind.

Are you constantly burdened by worrisome or negative thoughts? A chaotic life can increase anxiety and stress, which can make you feel scattered and forgetful. Begin a daily practice of clearing your mind through meditation. Set aside 10 minutes once or twice a day to let go of anxious thoughts and focus on nothing. Sit in silence or listen to soothing music, but focus only on your breathing and being in the moment. Doing this on a regular basis will help you feel more centered, calm and focused.

3)Achieve closure.

Do you have a lot of unresolved issues, unpaid bills or otherwise unfinished projects? When did you last file away old paperwork or kiss a bad habit goodbye? When we leave things unfinished in our lives, we tend to carry them with us mentally and emotionally until we officially release them. Over time, you'll feel the weight of these situations if you don't resolve them once and for all. Start by thinking about your old relationships. Have you left things unsaid? Have you refused to let go of someone emotionally even if you have moved on physically? Write a letter and tell those people everything you want them to know. You don't have to mail the letter so you can easily use the process for people you no longer see or even those who are deceased. Simply write out your thoughts and feelings on the matter, then either burn the paper or rip it into shreds and throw it away. As you do so, affirm that you are releasing the situation once and for all, and you are now free from any lingering emotional or mental burdens regarding it.

Also be sure to achieve closure on everything else that you can, like canceling old memberships or subscriptions you no longer need, filing away paperwork that is no longer needed, and completing projects youve started. With closure comes peace, and with peace usually comes greater happiness!

Here are three simple ways to do it:

1)Play.

Most of us tend to take life so seriously. Sure, life can definitely be serious at times, and there are certainly things that we should take seriously - but we also don't need to be so serious ALL the time! Instead, try your best to have more fun as often as you can. Either spend time doing things you enjoy, or simply make your regular activities more fun. Not sure that your regular activities can be fun? Nearly any task or chore can be lightened up a bit - even mundane chores around the house. Take, for example, house work or yard work. Who says you have to grudgingly perform those tasks? Why not put on some funky music and dance around while you do them? Why not listen to a stand-up comedy routine on CD and laugh while you do them? All it takes is a shift in perspective to make something fun and lighthearted.

2)Get inspired.

If you're used to directing most of your focus toward lack or negativity, it can be helpful to start lifting your perspective to a higher place. One way to do that is to purposely concentrate on things that inspire you. You can read uplifting books or watch inspirational movies; or even buy a book of motivational quotes and read a few each day. You can also choose to be inspired by the things you see in your daily travels. For example, rather than rushing distractedly to and from appointments, take a few minutes to pause and gaze around. Notice how the sunshine plays on the trees and flowers, making them glow with beauty. Rather than getting annoyed at your children when they play with their dinner, marvel at their creativity and sense of humor. Take a walk during your lunch hour and breathe deeply of the fresh air, smile at strangers and make an effort to remember what a miracle life is. No matter how you do it, let your heart and mind soar to a place of joy and inspiration, and youll automatically feel more lighthearted, and happy!

3)Unload your worries.

Its difficult to feel lighthearted and happy when you're besieged by stress and worry. Rather than carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders (or in your heart), write your problems and worries on a sheet of paper and place it in a box or drawer. Affirm that for the next few hours, you're not going to think about those things. Then shift your attention to things that make you feel better, like spending time with loved ones or engaging in favorite hobbies. When worrisome thoughts pop back into your mind, firmly set them aside again and remind yourself that you're not going to focus on them right now. It may sound overly simple but it really works! With enough practice you eventually reach a point of knowing that worrying and obsessing isn't helping matters, so you decide not to do it for awhile - and you instantly feel more lighthearted and happy.

When it comes right down to it, feeling happy is a choice you make from moment to moment. Happiness wont make all of your challenges vanish, but choosing to focus more on the lighter side of life can definitely make you feel better and who knows, it might even give you the mental and emotional distance you need to come up with creative solutions that you would have missed if you'd been too busy worrying!

You minimize your own troubles.

Focusing on what you can do for people in need is a great way to put your own problems into perspective. By nature we tend to magnify our own problems and think they're much worse than they really are but encountering someone who is experiencing even greater challenges sure changes that outlook quickly! Its not that your own problems vanish just because you see someone who's worse off than you are, but rather you gain a bit more perspective and realize that your struggles could be much worse than they are.

You focus more on abundance.

When you give to others, you automatically switch your focus from lack to abundance even if you're not giving financially! Focusing more on your problems and difficulties cant help but result in a keen awareness of lack, but by giving of yourself to those in need you are essentially affirming that you have more than enough which will translate into all areas of your life as a focus on abundance.

Blessing others just feels good!

It doesn't matter if you're making a financial donation or sharing your time or other resources it just feels good to help others. That feeling also grows when you make giving a regular habit, regardless of the size of the contributions. The more you do for others, the better you'll feel about yourself. If you want to enhance that good feeling even further, give anonymously. You'll be blessing others without expecting to receive anything in return; and instead allow giving to be its own reward which makes the reward that much sweeter!

You may feel that you don't have anything to give to others right now and this is especially true if you're experiencing serious financial troubles or other lack. However, giving in ANY way can immediately make you feel happier and more abundant!

Become a mentor for children or young adults. Do you have specialized skills or training? Donate your expertise to a non-profit organization for a few hours a week. Are you good at making others laugh and feel good? Volunteer at a hospital or elderly care facility. There are endless ways to reach out to others, and only a few of them involve money.

If you truly have nothing else to give, become a goodwill ambassador and make it your mission to go around spreading kind words and support to the people you meet each day. When you notice that a public servant is having a bad day, say something to make them smile. Compliment your co-workers. Express your appreciation to a police officer, firefighter or soldier. Tip your waiter, hair stylist and cab driver generously, or leave a handwritten note thanking them for the excellent service.

These are all such small gestures but they have a huge impact, both on the one who receives and the one who gives.

1)Universal guidance and support. Lets face it; life's trials and challenges can often leave you feeling battered and alone. A strong belief that you're being guided and supported by universal forces can help you feel stronger and better able to cope with difficulties and disappointments.

2)Purpose and meaning. Belief in an afterlife may make you feel happier and more secure because you'll know that your trials and tribulations aren't without meaning or purpose. Knowing that you'll go on from here to a better place may provide a measure of comfort and hope to sustain you through difficult times.

3)Deeper connection to others. Its easy to perceive yourself as being separate and distinct from other people, which can result in a sense of isolation and disconnection. However, with a spiritual foundation comes a greater awareness of your interconnectedness with everyone and everything around you. This awareness can help you feel more connected even if it doesn't show up in obvious ways in your outer circumstances.

4)Seeing the bigger picture. Spiritual beliefs can give you an expanded view of life that you wouldn't otherwise have. Rather than seeing only the physical characteristics of people and the world itself, you realize that there is more to life than just the physical things you can see and touch.

5)Deeper inner connection. Lack of spiritual beliefs can often make you feel like your life is empty and meaningless, while a strong spiritual foundation can help you see that there is a deeper part of you. You might call this your soul, spirit, essence or divinity, but the name doesn't matter as much as the realization that this part of you is timeless, infinite and wise - which helps you feel like more than you would as a limited physical person.

There are many more benefits to be gained from a spiritual practice, but only you can say whether such a practice would help you to feel happier in your everyday life.

Its important to note that spirituality and religion are two distinct practices. You may feel resistant to spiritual practices because of negative religious experiences when you were younger, but a spiritual practice can be quite different and pleasing. For example, taking walks in nature could be considered a spiritual practice. Sitting quietly and journaling your deepest thoughts and feelings could be considered a spiritual practice too.

If you like the idea of a deeper life experience that contributes to greater overall happiness, choose a spiritual practice that interests and inspires you whether it involves religion or not. Simply follow your heart to the right type of spiritual expression for you, and you wont be able to help feeling more centered, fulfilled and happy!

Below you'll find three simple ways to use gratitude to be happier every day:

1)Be grateful for the blessings you have now. Obviously, focusing on the positive aspects of your circumstances helps you feel happy and content but its very easy to slip into a negative focus and see only problems and obstacles. Make it a habit to consciously focus on the good stuff as often as possible. You can keep a written gratitude journal, or simply recite a mental list of things to be grateful for each night before you go to sleep. If you're dealing with a lot of problems or upsets in your life right now, you may not think you have much to be grateful for, but even the small things can make you feel more fortunate. Give thanks for the people in your life, beloved pets, your health, freedom and more. Take nothing for granted, and you'll soon realize just how blessed you are.

2)Be grateful and optimistic about the good things on their way to you. One reason you may feel dissatisfied with your life is because you believe it will always be this way. However, just because you cant see any way to improve your circumstances now doesn't mean that miracles cant show up later. Instead of getting mired in pessimism and doubt, affirm and know that the things you want are on the way. Give thanks for these things as if you know with absolute certainty that they will be yours. The more you do this, the happier you'll feel and that happiness will continue to grow as your circumstances improve.

3)Make mountains out of molehills. Have you ever made a big deal over a minor problem and blown it all out of proportion? Most of us have. While thats typically a bad thing to do, you can turn it around and make it a GOOD thing. Make a huge deal out of every tiny blessing and good thing that happens to you. Did you win $5.00 on an instant scratch ticket? Whoop and holler about it (even if only mentally)! Allow yourself to be overcome with the same amount of gratitude you'd feel if you won $50,000.00. When someone pays you a compliment, allow yourself to feel wonderful about it. When anything good happens, mentally turn it into a GREAT experience.

You may notice that these gratitude exercises have one common theme: they are all about PERCEPTION. In every situation there are positives and negatives, and your mood and mind-set are very much the result of what you choose to focus on the most. Choose pessimism and lack, and youll feel miserable. Choose gratitude and joy, and you'll feel happy!