I have four cats that fill my life with laughter. One of the things I love about them is that they are always ready to PLAY!

Even if they’re not feeling well, even if they’re tired, even if they’re in the midst of a great nap – all I have to do is crinkle a sheet of cellophane or drag a piece of string past their noses and they are instantly on their feet and ready for action.

Even better, they don’t wait for fun to come to them; they seek it as often as possible.

If I leave a crumpled ball of aluminum foil on the kitchen counter, it will most certainly travel the entire length of the house and end up under my bed. I constantly find the plastic rings from new milk containers in the oddest places, and every room of our home looks like a mouse massacre took place (luckily these are fake catnip mice, not real ones!).

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One of the quickest and easiest ways to start feeling happier is to declutter your space. Chronic clutter keeps your thoughts scattered, your energy low, and your mood down in the dumps – you just feel overwhelmed and weighed down, which makes it nearly impossible to feel truly happy.

When you start clearing away clutter, you feel an instant sense of “lightening up,” like burdens are being lifted from your shoulders. As your physical surroundings are cleared, you feel your mind also clearing and your mood lifting!

There are no right or wrong ways to declutter, but here are a few key steps to get you started:

1) Out with the old

Obviously, one of the most important steps is to let go of things you no longer want or need. This can be tricky business because plenty of excuses may pop up and try to prevent you from letting go. What if need this later and don’t have it? What if I can’t find another one if I need it?

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I LOVE the peace and quietness of the early mornings, when the sun is just peeking over the horizon, the birds are singing and it seems like most of the world is still sleeping.

It is during these quiet moments that I feel most connected to my center and therefore have a strong feeling of “all is well”.

I like to think of this early morning hush as a blank canvas. The day hasn’t started yet, therefore I can create anything I want to experience.

I can imagine feeling productive and purposeful as I go about my work. I can imagine great opportunities popping up wherever I go. I can imagine laughing and playing and truly loving my life. I can even imagine winning the lottery or receiving a mind-blowing miracle.

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Is it possible to feel happy when everything around you seems dark and foreboding?

Everywhere we turn these days we seem to be confronted with bad news – and even more dire predictions that things are going to get worse before they get better. Millions of people are really struggling right now, with no end to the struggle in sight.

What can we do?

For me personally, the biggest help has been simply turning away from the negativity as often as I can. I know that millions of people are losing their homes. I know that millions are losing their jobs. I know that companies are going bankrupt and the economy is looking gloomier and gloomier. Do I really need to keep watching news reports about it and hashing it over with people wherever I go? No!

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