{"id":3641,"date":"2011-12-18T11:54:22","date_gmt":"2011-12-18T16:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/avidbruxist.com\/blog\/?p=3641"},"modified":"2011-12-18T11:54:22","modified_gmt":"2011-12-18T16:54:22","slug":"57-things-or-rules-to-stop-or-start-doing-in-the-new-year-for-your-life-to-be-better-and-to-make-you-more-happier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/avidbruxist.com\/blog\/2011\/12\/18\/57-things-or-rules-to-stop-or-start-doing-in-the-new-year-for-your-life-to-be-better-and-to-make-you-more-happier\/","title":{"rendered":"57 Things, or Rules, to Stop or Start Doing in the New Year for Your Life to Be Better and to Make You More Happier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of lists floating around the internet. Things like Three Rules for Life<\/em>, Five Things to Stop Doing in the New Year<\/em>, and 12 Things Happy People Do Differently<\/a><\/em>. I started thinking about that last article and, since I have a terrible memory, decided to do some research on myself via my blog.<\/p>\n

1. Express gratitude.<\/em> I searched for the terms ‘thankful’ and ‘grateful’, both resulted in “No posts found”. Hm.<\/p>\n

2. Cultivate optimism.<\/em> Ditto, ‘optimism’ and ‘optimistic’. Yikes.<\/p>\n

3. Avoid overthinking and social comparison.<\/em> I do the former with help<\/a>. I do not do the latter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Practice acts of kindness.<\/em> A little, itty-bitty bit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Nurture social relationships.<\/em> Ever since I learned about the importance of appreciating my friends<\/a>, I think I’ve done a good job of nurturing social relationships.<\/p>\n

6. Develop strategies for coping.<\/em> In my fashion.<\/a><\/p>\n

7. Learn to forgive.<\/em> I simply don’t do this, especially with myself.<\/p>\n

8. Increase flow experiences.<\/em> The author describes this as “completely engaged in the activity that you\u2019re doing”. I’m working on it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Savor life’s joys.<\/em> When I’m not clinically depressed, I can<\/a>.<\/p>\n

10. Commit to your goals<\/em>. Yes.<\/a>\u00a0But I don’t set goals nearly enough.<\/p>\n

11. Practice spirituality.<\/em> No results for ‘spirituality’, but apparently I say ‘god’ in nearly every goddamn post. Usually within the word ‘goddammit’.<\/p>\n

12. Take care of your body.<\/em> Cleanin’ and jerkin’\u00a0since August 2010<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So what did I learn from this little exercise? Maybe 2012 should be the year I learn to:<\/p>\n