C'MON GET HAPPY: SIX REASONS TO ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE.

Byline: Tim O'Brien Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

Here are six reasons to be happy or sad. It depends on: whether you accept responsibility for where you are in life; whether you see these reasons as opportunities or obstacles; and, whether you feel that you can make changes in your life. Here they are, six reasons to be happy:

1) You're alive. If this doesn't make you happy, consider the alternative. If you often find yourself feeling depressed or feeling hopeless, seek help in finding and correcting the cause. Some causes will be organic, requiring medical attention. Other causes will be psychological and will require the help of a mental health professional. If you're not happy to be alive, figure out why and work to correct it.

2) You have at least one person who loves you: yourself. Your self-concept is the combination of your sense of self-esteem and self-worth. If you have a strong, positive self-concept, make sure you have based it on actual accomplishments and consistency of action, and not ego. If you have a low or negative self-concept, decide today to begin to act and think more positively about yourself. Start with small projects where you will have success. Then, build on those small steps to an increasingly stronger, positive self-concept.

3) Your place in life has meaning and purpose. There are few pleasures in life greater than to feel that the work we do has purpose and meaning. Regardless of the role you play, it is probably more important than you currently believe. Sometimes it takes an attitude shift to appreciate fully the work one does. Most of us serve others in some way. Even those with high-prestige occupations, like physicians, attorneys and accountants, all make their reputations and earn their money by serving others.

4) Simple pleasures are free and they surround us. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets can give joy. Watching children play with wide open imaginations, turning big boxes into forts, castles and ships can give joy. Seeing others helping others. Taking a walk with a friend. Sharing memories and experiences. Remember: The happier you are with simple things, the simpler it is to be happy.

5) You have a mind bounded only by your preconceptions and opinions. All invention and innovation comes from the human mind. Everyone can be creative. Think big thoughts. Dream big dreams. Turn your world upside down. Turn it inside out. Rotate an idea 90 degrees and look at every belief from a new perspective. The inner frontiers of your mind are boundless. Enjoy exploring it. Write a story. Write a poem. Invent a gadget that solves a problem that annoys you. You can do it. Give it a try.

6) Count your blessings. Most of us can come up with a long list of ways that life has blessed us. Many of us have a comfortable home, a loving spouse or friend, children that we love and who love us.

Tom Peters, the best selling author, often says, ``Perception is reality for people.'' What is your perception of life? Is it a positive, enhancing, growth oriented view? Or, is it a negative, or cynical perception?

We decide what our perception will be. And through that decision, we decide whether or not we will be happy. What is your decision?