Bright side up: 100 ways to be happier right now

Introduction: What Does It Mean to See Bright Side Up?

When You're Not Feeling Like Your Fantastic SELF …

Look, your life is art

Ask your one-hundred-year-old self.

Flip-flop it.

Steer life like a motorcycle

Take pride in persistence.

Live ten minutes in the life of "the ideal you."

Always spring for your limo.

Take the microphone

Rephrase to reframe

Do the can-can

Keep your eyes on your own paper.

Yes, go for a walk!

Fill in the easiest answer first.

See plans as just blueprints

Grab the color wheel

Cover your blank canvas

It's more than it's not

Practice self-compassion

Don't take your "blah" personally.

When Life's Little Annoyances Happen …

Love the line.

Thank the lemons

Re-appreciate the redo.

At least you're not…

Recognize your new route is better.

Ask, where doesn't it hurt?

Create calm in your storm

See life like a seesaw.

High-five your failures.

Rally in the rain delay!

Put a bow on it for your future self.

Save the laugh for later

When Your CAREER Isnt Going Your Way…

Rest for a minute … maybe two

Find your sweet spot

Lower your standards. Sort of.

Don't aim for a winner every time

What's your why?

Park the car or drive away.

Use your underdog as an upper hand

Let it go like a Chinese lantern

Get the ball in the basket

Break the un-rules!

Elbow fear out of the way.

Keep going, keep gunning

Appreciate your abundance.

Walk a positive tightrope

Take back control

Focus on the horizon.

When Your Relationships Could Use a Reboot…

Enjoy the cusp!

Feel warmth within the quills.

Be your own gift-with-purchase

Just do you

Celebrate the life in loss

Follow in Joan's footsteps.

Don't waste worries on the "what-ifs."

Force the run of excitement.

Take the tourist's point of view.

Tune into your "real-ometer."

Don't salt it before you try it

Hope to it!

When Your Social Life Goes a Little Awry…

Dress with your attitude.

Seek out a "smiler."

Give a gratitude shout-out

Gaffe in all your glory!

Ask, WWMRMD?

Be friendly first

Listen for the gems.

Elevate the throwaways

Gift someone their own name

Climb into the boat of great company.

Set your own sound track

Make the worst the best

Why can't "someday" be now?

When Family and Friends Are Stressing Your Out …

See "help" is not a four-letter word

Give an unconditional gift

Make the most of your middle.

Out your oughts!

Zoom out

Write them a letter

Call it a credit in the school of life

Peek in your picnic basket

Remedy the rash of regret

Channel someone else's strength

When Technology is Breaking Down…

Reveal thyself to tech support

See the grass is digitally greener, too

Delightfully disengage.

Choose backward

Think about the postman

Take a mental photograph.

When You Hit a Bump in Your Travels…

Put yourself in another driver's moccasins

Ask, what didn't you lose?

Plan your party story.

Make a good scar out of it.

See it through a "look-up-to" lens

Float with the current… then kick to shore

There is beauty. Take it in

Let them pass

Find your piña colada

Enjoy the right-this-second now.

Leave the "should haves" at the door

The good news is

Epilogue: Look on the Bright Side

Acknowledgments