Drowning in awareness? Do this to get your happy back.

Living in the world today means being exposed to an enormous amount of information. It's vital to be informed. It's not vital or even a good idea to dwell on it. A lot of what we see on the news or social media is one sided, slanted or manipulated to support one agenda or another. So, before you let it get to you, practice due diligence.

When the world seems to have gone mad, retaining your sense of humor and inner happiness can soften the toll on your mental health. Remember, you have a life outside of the evening news. Live it well. Find joy in the small things. These may be  overused phrases but live, laugh, love!

You can drown in the awareness of negative happenings around the world. Or you can focus on solutions in your own world. Be kind to others. Make someone smile. Plant a few seeds of love. Heck, plant a whole darn garden.

Connect with friends and family. Have a good laugh together. Tell silly family stories. Play games. Dance. Sing. If you can't be together in person, pick up the phone. Have a video chat or just a good old fashioned conversation.

Connect with your favorite activities and hobbies. Don't become so obsessed with what's going on in the world that you forget to do the things you love. Garden, paint, take some beautiful pictures, toss a ball around with your kids. Have fun. Life is short. Make it sweet!

Stop watching and judging other people's lives! You'll be better off and so will they. Get off social media and live your own best life. Doing the right thing, being kind and generous and practicing integrity are contagious. Rather than dwelling on bad news, dwell on making positive changes within yourself.

Spread joy, not hate! Instead of sharing bad news and worries, share happy and inspiring stories. Share your silly embarrassing moments. Share your triumphs. Brag about your kids and grandkids. Be so full of happiness that it spills over on everyone around you.

Want to change the world? Need your happy back? Build a life worth living.