Smiling puppy courtesy of Newyorker10021

I’m interrupting my historical and book posts to share some Rules for Happiness and Rules for Living I’ve collected over the years. So here we go:

From Arnold Beckman, some rules for living:

1. Have absolute integrity in everything. 
2. There is no satisfactory substitute for excellence.
3. Moderation in everything, including moderation.
4. Hire the best people, then get out of their way.
5. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; if you aren’t making mistakes you are probably not doing very much.
6. Acquire new knowledge and always ask why.
7. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

From The Christophers, on living joyfully:

1. Don’t let the past drag you down. “Feelings of guilt can weigh you down, and so can burning resentment over past hurts. But you must not give in to negative thinking. What’s done is done.”
2. Don’t be afraid of the future. “Living in the present moment means saying NO to dark and fearful thoughts about the future.”
3. Be a doer, not a worrier. “Fretting does little more than make a bad situation worse.”
4. Be as cheerful as you can be in all circumstances.
5. Reject all forms of self-pity. “Self-pity is self-defeating.”

The Christophers’ motto is ” It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”

From Dr. Joyce Brothers, rules for happiness:

1. Think that good things will happen. 
2. Express gratitude to a loved one.
3. Put your gripes away in a box.
4. Be patient with an annoying person.
5. Do something special for yourself.
6. Reach out to someone who needs comfort.
7. Focus deeply on each moment.
8. Learn from a mistake.
9. Look closely at a flower or tree you haven’t noticed before.
10. Smile!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Do you have any favorite rules for happiness that inspire you? Share them in the comments!

Images: Daisy the Puppy by NewYorker10021 via Wikimedia Commons; Beckman portrait, Scripps Research Institute; candle, and Dr. Brothers’ portrait, Wikimedia Commons