Boost Your Happiness - 7 Steps to a Blissful Life

Happiness is defined as "a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience; good fortune". So very simple. As it stands--by definition--we should be happy most of the time, right?

Then why is it that every time we sit down to unwind in front of the TV after a long day of work, we are bombarded with commercials for drugs that treat depression and anxiety? We are now being convinced that depression medications alone aren't enough to help us feel better and now we need additional prescriptions that would make depression pills more effective.

For many of us life is overwhelming enough with everyday worries, so who has the time or energy to invest into some high-maintenance quest for happiness? How do we attain something so elusive?

I believe the trouble with happiness stems from our perception that there's a lack thereof. Our failure to stick to the simple dictionary definition has led us to the never-ending hunt for more of everything-and even then it's never enough because something bigger and better always comes up. As a society, we have been sucked into the vicious circle of greed, both psychological and material. We are forgetting to appreciate the moments and memories loaded with great potential for magnifying our state of well-being and contentment.

Happiness should be defined on an individual basis. Here are seven simple steps you can integrate into your life to boost your happiness:

1. Remind yourself to live in the moment by appreciating small things and acknowledging little moments of happiness. This magnifies them and allows you to focus on and enjoy the seemingly insignificant things that you usually take for granted.

2. Ditch excuses, nagging and complaining. They are unproductive and only postpone your bliss. Replace every negative thought and critical statement with something that inspires you to be nicer to yourself and people around you. Remember, it takes the same amount of effort to be nice as it does to be nasty.

3. Choose to take on a more positive outlook and stick with it. It might feel forced in the beginning but you will grow accustomed to it (fake it till you make it!) Positive attitude works wonders for improving your life.

4. Staying true to yourself by doing what feels right to you. This will give you the freedom to replace negative experiences with productive events and opportunities that enrich your life and make you grow.

5. Make a list of 5 tasks that you can successfully complete each day. This can be anything from small errands to reconnecting with an old friend; from organizing your desk to cooking a special gourmet meal-as long as you can cross off everything on that list at the end of the day and revel in your sense of accomplishment.

6. Make time just for YOU. Whether it's ten minutes of meditation, reading a book you enjoy, participating in a fitness class, a bubble bath or anything else--create the opportunity to give yourself a special treat every day.

7. Make someone feel good. Extend sweet gestures like a small gift or a complement; reach out to give inspiration or hope, make someone smile--any nice gesture will benefit all parties involved.

I do realize that not all of us think they can afford the luxury of checking every item on this list every day. You can start with one and then gradually develop the rest of your happiness skills.

Happiness itself is easy. The hard thing is making a commitment to be happy. The bottom line is you are in charge of your own well-being and you are the only person who's accountable for it. Own your reality! If you don't like it, you are the only person who can change it.

Now go find and cultivate YOUR Happiness!

If someone told you that happiness is not only within your reach but also under your control, would you believe them? Do you ever daydream about being truly happy and wonder if you'll ever reach a point where you can say with certainty that you've found your bliss? Happiness is easy. Discover how you can bring more happiness into your life. Learn how to create a happier experience for you and everyone around you by implementing some simple strategies that will enrich your every day life, allow you to define your bliss and show you how to achieve happiness.

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Obama, in Mumbai, to announce reforms to boost US trade with India - Washington Post

MUMBAI - Days after reaping the political consequences of a poor economy, President Obama intends to announce a series of reforms Saturday to increase trade between the United States and India, his first stop on a 10-day Asian tour focused largely on promoting economic growth at home.

In an address to several hundred American and Indian chief executives in this seaside commercial hub, Obama will announce changes in the export-control system that guides trade between the two countries, administration officials said. Those include removing several Indian space and defense companies from the so-called entities list, which identifies firms that make products with dual civilian and military purposes and makes it more difficult for them to trade with the United States.

Obama will also tell the U.S.-India Business Council that he will support India's membership to four international alliances responsible for regulating trade in nuclear, chemical and biological materials, including the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Indian leaders have aspired to membership, but U.S. non-proliferation groups immediately criticized the move for weakening the world's ability to monitor nuclear trade.

Obama touched down just before 1 p.m. local time in a country whose leaders and people have high hopes for his visit. His three-day stay follows months of perceived drift in a relationship that administration officials say is central to Obama's ambitions in Asia.

The high U.S. unemployment rate played a central role in midterm elections that went sharply against Obama's party, and he intends to speak more directly throughout his Asian trip about how his foreign policy goals relate to U.S. economic interests.

Administration officials say he will take part in announcing a set of business deals, some of them in the works for months, after a meeting with American chief executives at the business forum. The agreements - including sales of military transport aircraft, diesel engines, jet engines and other U.S. manufacturing products -- total $10 billion and support 54,000 jobs in the United States, according to administration officials.

"A president's visit is an action-forcing event," said Michael Froman, deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs. "It helps concentrate the minds of decision makers."

Although the primary focus of his visit here is improving economic relations, Obama's first stop represented a show of solidarity with the Indian people.

He made his way -- first by helicopter, then motorcade -- to the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, a focal point of the November 2008 terrorist attacks by a group of men from Pakistan. Gunmen killed more than 170 people, including Americans, over a days-long siege.

Obama and first lady Michelle Obama each placed a white rose on a memorial to the victims. The president then signed the hotel guest book before telling the roughly 50 people gathered - family members of those killed, survivors and hotel employees present for the Nov. 26 attacks -- what "an extraordinary honor it is to be here in India."

"To those who ask if this is designed to send a message, my answer is simply: Absolutely," Obama said of his first stop. "In our determination to give our people a future of security and prosperity, the United States and India stand united."

Obama did not mention the role of Pakistan, an essential if unpredictable U.S. ally in the Afghanistan war. Indian authorities have accused Pakistan's intelligence service of training the gunmen, an allegation that Pakistan's government has denied.

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US Officials: Military Wants To Boost Aid To Yemen - NPR

Enlarge Associated Press

Yemeni soldiers take a break during exercises Wednesday Nov. 3, 2010, in Dar al-Hajr, Yemen, a tourist destination in a mountain valley west of the capital San'a. Yemen's weak central government is struggling with a growing threat from al-Qaida, which has stepped up attacks in the impoverished and largely lawless country

Associated Press Yemeni soldiers take a break during exercises Wednesday Nov. 3, 2010, in Dar al-Hajr, Yemen, a tourist destination in a mountain valley west of the capital San'a. Yemen's weak central government is struggling with a growing threat from al-Qaida, which has stepped up attacks in the impoverished and largely lawless country

Associated Press

Yemeni soldiers seen during exercises Wednesday Nov. 3, 2010, in Dar al-Hajr, Yemen, a tourist destination in a mountain valley west of the capital San'a. Yemen's weak central government is struggling with a growing threat from al-Qaida, which has stepped up attacks in the impoverished and largely lawless country.

WASHINGTON November 4, 2010, 06:32 am ET

The U.S. military wants to significantly increase its equipment and training aid to Yemen in 2011, proposing as much as $250 million to help the struggling country battle al-Qaida-linked extremists within its borders, according to U.S. officials.

The increase in funding was recommended well before last week's failed mail bombings, which U.S. officials believe were linked to the terror group's branch in Yemen, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Military aid to Yemen in 2010 was $155 million, and the 2011 recommendation is expected to be well in excess of $200 million, depending on final negotiations between top administration officials.

Despite the fact that the funding recommendation from senior military leaders was made before the mail bomb plot, the Yemen aid proposal underscores the growing terror threat from Yemen and the need to bolster that country's ability to track and battle militants.

U.S. administration officials spoke about the aid recommendations on condition of anonymity because no final decisions have been made.

The exact funding has not been decided because Congress has yet to finalize any of the 2011 spending bills. Any specific foreign military spending recommendations must be approved by the defense secretary in coordination with the secretary of state.

The funding could be further complicated by the Republican election victories if they lead to any changes or cuts to the 2011 military spending bill. Under the proposed legislation, the Pentagon would spend $500 million overall on foreign military aid, up from $350 million in 2010.

The $155 million pledged to Yemen in 2010 was allocated for helicopters, planes and other equipment. But many of the big-ticket items are moving through the contracting process and have not yet been delivered.

A senior Yemeni official briefed on the aid details said the equipment is in the pipeline. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

Two Chicago-bound packages shipped from Yemen were intercepted Friday in Britain and Dubai after authorities were tipped that they contained bombs. Officials believe that cell phones attached to the explosives were designed to detonate when the planes were airborne.

The U.S. has been growing more concerned about al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula over the past two years. Those fears were realized on Christmas Day 2009 when, authorities allege, Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner.

The attack was later linked to al-Qaida leaders in Yemen, including radical American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. Since then, the U.S. has redoubled its efforts to help Yemen target the insurgents.

Senior Obama administration officials have said they are focusing on broader economic and governmental problems in Yemen, targeting the confluence of factors that led to instability and the rise of the al-Qaida terror group.

Overall U.S. assistance to Yemen in 2010 was nearly $300 million, including roughly $150 million from the State Department for economic development and other government aid.

In a phone call this week with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, President Barack Obama said the aid is part of a broader, more comprehensive strategy to promote security as well as economic and political development. The U.S., Obama said, is committed to building the capacity of Yemen's counterterrorism forces as well as improving the lives of the Yemeni people.

The poorest country in the Arab world, Yemen is threatened by plummeting water and oil resources and an exploding population of 22 million. Almost half the population is 15 or younger, and many live on less than $2 a day.

In addition to the threat from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the country is battling Shiite Hawthi rebels in the north and a secessionist threat in the south, which has provided fertile ground for al-Qaida's recruiting efforts.

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Associated Press writers Robert Burns and Kimberly Dozier contributed to this report.

Initial claims for unemployment aid rose by 20,000 last week after two straight weeks of declines.

The bomb, addressed to the French Embassy, was safely detonated.

British and American officials pressured the company to take down sermons from the site

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