By Angela Nuñez

My last blog post, “Healthy People are Successful People,” discussed the links between health and success. Another key to health is happiness. Stress, depression, and other negative emotions can lead to health problems, and being happy is one of the best ways to contribute to one’s health. I’m not talking about some unrealistic goal of being happy every minute of every day, but an overall equilibrium set at “happy” puts you on the path to better health. There are a few keys to happiness I’ve discovered in my own quest for it:

• A positive outlook on life
  A generally negative attitude sets you up to be disengaged, pessimistic, and irritated. Making a genuine effort to look at the bright side and remain optimistic will make happiness much more attainable.
  
  
• Focusing on now
  This advice is not new, but is a great reminder. Worrying about the future or dwelling on the past accomplishes nothing. Taking a few deep breaths and becoming fully present in the “Now” brings instant stress relief and revitalization. Now is all you have, so focus on what actions you can take to get you where you want to go.
  
  
•  Maintaining balance
  Overworking only makes you less productive and innovative in the long run. Take breaks, go out with friends, spend time with family, make time for yourself. Striking a balance between your work life and the rest of your life will result in a higher engagement level while at work and a lower stress level overall
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• Taking responsibility
  Perhaps the most important step to happiness is taking responsibility for your own. Don’t depend on others to fulfill your needs and don’t blame others for your emotions. Stepping up and taking full responsibility for your life is an empowering, freeing feeling.

Work on implementing these steps in your life and for your entire workforce, and I guarantee you will find more happiness and have a better organization as icing on the cake. Happy, healthy employees equal happy organizations.