These eight changes or reminders can ensure that you live a happier life. Enjoy.

1. Choose every day, every single day, to have a good day.

Happiness is often a decision. A tricky one, filled with emotions and obstacles; but if you choose it, if you choose to be happy, 9 out of 10 times you will be. Be firm, and stick to your decision. It will be good practice when things really do get hard.

2. Look at life with an optimistic mindset.

Being a hopeless optimist has been one of my greatest allies throughout life. Having the “glass is half full” mentality has been the force behind my inability to give up or settle. I rarely get put down, because I am rarely unable to see the good in a situation.

3. When something goes wrong, think of the ten other things that have gone right.

This one is easy to do, if you really want it to be. Yes, your day started out with you spilling your coffee on your blouse. But you got to work safely. You woke up this morning. You brushed your hair. You ate a breakfast. You were able to sleep through the night. You were able to walk into your office. Try to think of all the things that could have gone wrong, but you were fortunate enough that they didn’t. Don’t take what seem to be your normal abilities for granted.

4. Start every day with a mindset of thankful living.

Think of everything in your life that brings you happiness. This way, even when you’ve had a bad day and the weather is less than ideal and you ruined your favorite pair of pants, you can still reflect and find happiness. I’m thankful for my family, my dogs, my cats. I’m thankful that the sun shines and the wind blows and the grass becomes green in spring and summer.

5. Gain perspective.

A bad day for you might be a great day for someone else. You have to get new tires? Be thankful for your car. Your food is cold? Be thankful for your resources to have a full stomach. Your air conditioning went out? Thank God that you had one to break. Seriously, people. For everything that has dampened your day, there are millions and millions that have it worse.

Do you live in the United States and complain about the current leadership? Threaten to move and get out of this "upsetting and disgusting and dangerous place"? Look into other places across the world. Look into the lifestyles that the majority live under.

For example, 500,000 burmese have been under the same military dictatorship since the 90’s. They had an open election—and then their results were cancelled. Burma has more child soldiers than anywhere else in the world, and you’re complaining because your internet is slow and your president is ignorant.

6. Correct your language.

Some things can be altered in as little ways as changing the words used in your everyday life. “I wish I wasn’t so different” can be changed to “I realize I am unique.” "I can’t do this” can be changed to “but I can do this.” "I hate this type of person” can be “I don’t agree with this particular practice or belief, but I will respect this person and their right to a differing perspective.” It sounds silly, yes; but words have the ability to change your entire mood and situation.

7. Give more compliments.

It is amazing to see how your own happiness can reflect from someone else's. If you’re having a bad day, making someone else’s better can lighten up your own. Seeing someone smile, especially when it’s caused by something you have done, can reverse any negativity settled into your daily routine.

8. More than happiness, choose joy.

Happiness can be a fleeting thing, but joy, true and pure and unbreakable joy, is a forever kind of thing. I find my joy in Christ alone. I know that a bad day, or a broken car, or a lost check, or spilt food, or scary current events, cannot disrupt or take away my joy. Nothing gives me more peace than this knowledge. And with joy, and with peace, comes happiness that is not easily broken.