26 Secrets to Happiness

This list floated around via email a few years ago and I really enjoyed it.  I took some time one day to think of scriptures to go along with them (in parenthesis).  Some phrases are bold because those are the ones I am still praying about and working on.  I hope you enjoy this list as much as I do.

26 Secrets To Happiness 

1. live beneath your means
2. return everything you borrow
3. stop blaming other people
4. admit it when you make a mistake
5. give any clothes you haven’t worn in three years to charity
6. every day do something nice and try not to get caught (Matthew 6:3)
7. listen more; talk less (James 1:19)
8. take a daily 30-minute walk in your neighborhood (Genesis 3:8)
9. strive for excellence, not perfection (2 Timothy 2:15)
10. be on time
11. don’t make excuses
12. don’t argue
13. get organized
14. be kind to kind people
15. be even kinder to unkind people (Luke 6:27)
16. let someone get ahead of you in line
17. take time to be alone (Matthew 26:26)
18. reread a favorite book
19. cultivate good manners
20. be humble
21. understand and accept that life is not always fair (C’est la vie)
22. Know when to say something (Matthew 10:19)
23. Know when to keep your mouth shut (Matthew 27:13,14)
24. try to go 24 hours without criticizing anyone
25. learn from the past, and plan for the future
26. don’t sweat the small stuff

Do you have any secrets to happiness to add to this list?

Can you think of any scriptures to go along with the ones that I missed?