Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

Caravan Palace

Ideas

Our autonomy, our independence--even our integrity--is fatally compromised whenever our attachment to others becomes so dominant that how we think we're being viewed by them becomes our foremost consideration. For as long as our behaviors are literally controlled by what we think others want from us, we've forfeited the fundamental freedom to be ourselves.

10 WAYS TO LIFT YOUR SPIRITS

1. Realize you can't buy happiness - Wealth is like health: Its utter absence breeds misery, but having it doesn't guarantee happiness.

2. Manage your time - Happy people feel in control of their lives, often aided by mastering their use of time. Set goals and break them into manageable tasks.

3. Act happy - Going through the motions can trigger the motions.

4. Flow - Happy people are often in a zone called "flow." They're absorbed in a challenging, but not overwhelming, task.

5. Exercise - Sound minds reside in sound bodies.

6. Sleep - Happy people allow their bodies to rest.

7. Foster close relationships - Friends who care about you can help you weather difficult times. Don't take them for granted.

8. Be helpful - Doing good makes you feel good.

9. Be grateful - Pause to think about what you have rather than what you don't.

10. Nurture your spirit - Faith can provide a sense of purpose and hope. Studies find actively religious people are happier and cope better with crises than nonreligious people.