Do you realize just how much you have going for yourself?

As we move towards the conclusion of this year it’s easy to fall into old patterns of hitting the snooze button on life. We may have the tendency at this time to give our attention to what didn’t work about this year and where we fell short of our enthusiastic first of the year intentions.

You may have a thought running through your mind that says there is nothing to do but get through the holidays and launch like a rocket into to 2018. But I have a great way to switch it up this year for yourself and for others.

Have you thought about doing this, for yourself? How long has it been since you have taken a few minutes to list your accomplishments, your “assets”, the things that bring you pleasure and make you happy?

You know, happiness is a here-and-now situation, and despite the sad and frustrating news coming at us, there are always plenty of reasons to feel good, if you stop to take a deeper look. Are you proud of your family? Are you managing to pay your bills, maybe even save a little? Are you reasonably healthy, with the use of all your senses? Do you have friendships you treasure, work you enjoy, and time to do things you like to do?

Take a moment and make a list of the plusses in your life and share them with someone close to you. Let yourself feel pride and pleasure in your accomplishments. Allow yourself to feel happy. And like the children’s song says, “If you’re happy and you know it, then your face is sure to show it!” Smile! You are alive and kicking! Enjoy yourself in the present, the only time frame you really have any control over.

Next, take time to remind the people in your life how much they are appreciated, how quickly they learn new things, how much fun they are to be around, how cooperative and helpful they are. Help them concentrate and focus on the plusses in their lives because we know that is a very useful habit to have when creating an environment for the fulfillment of one’s dreams and goals.

And when we and others have an honest sense of what we have going for ourselves, we also have the strength and maybe the courage to tackle the challenges we face every day.