6. Treat yourself well.
If you don't take care of your own happiness, no one else will. Be sure to buy yourself the luxury items you enjoy, rather than putting off purchases for "some day." You deserve good things in life. Treats don't have to cost a lot, either—flowers for your table, bubbles for your tub, or that new book you've wanted to read can be acquired for a negligible price and will do much to add pleasure to your day.

7. Believe in your destiny.
Your path isn't one of chance, but of purpose. There are no haphazard events in the universe, including the circumstances of your life. You are exactly where you are supposed to be, with one caveat: you have the power to change your circumstances as soon as you decide to do so. You have a special role to fulfill. By listening to your own intuition, you'll be able to determine what you need to do to carry out your destiny. Trusting in your path will open doors to opportunity and success.

8. Know the power of your words.
In order to keep conflict to a minimum and understanding to a maximum, practice clear communication skills. First, pay attention to the words that you say, because your words can have a powerful effect on friends and strangers alike. An offhand negative comment can inflict more damage than you may realize, so take care to monitor your words for any possible destructive result. Second, your word is your bond—so don't promise something that you cannot or will not deliver. By saying one thing and doing another, not only will your friends and associates lose faith in your words, but you will lose faith in them as well.

9. Provide the best service.
In your work, do your utmost to use your skills in service to others. Whether or not you have clients or customers, at work you are providing a service in some way. Believe it or not, you truly can change the world through your own actions in your immediate environment. Doing your job with integrity and out of a sincere desire to help others will bring back untold rewards. Just the other day, I experienced both ends of the customer service spectrum at two retail stores. In one national chain store, I was ignored, although I needed assistance in finding an item. The customer service personnel were too busy arguing among themselves to pay attention to my needs. I left, deciding never to shop there again. The experience was completely the opposite in the second store—I was treated with respect, and received the answers I needed from a person with kindness and enthusiasm. The moral of the story is clear: your attitude and the way you deal with the people in your work environment have far-reaching consequences. If you perform your job with a positive outlook and genuine caring, you will be successful and bring joy to others at the same time.

10. Be patient.
When it comes to career achievement and personal happiness, you'll do best by practicing patience. In this era of instant gratification, you might have the tendency to expect everything right now, when the universe could have other plans for you. All happens at the proper moment. Do what you can to move your goals along, but stay alert for any adjustments that might be necessary. Let's say your desire is to be in a fulfilling romantic relationship. For you, it would be necessary to be patient as you wait for the partner who feels right according to your intuition. There is no absolute timetable for getting things to happen. It takes as long as it takes, so practice serenity and patience while you wait for the universe to bring you the essence of what you request.

In our upcoming book, The Seasons of Your Career, we'll be discussing more ways you can stay positive and happy in this busy world of ours.

© Kathy Sanborn
Life Channels Staff Writer
All Rights Reserved
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