"Delight is the by-product of enthusiasm and a zest for life. It often comes to us in unexpected ways that touch our hearts and make us smile.  We can all live in delight everyday by proactively creating delight and then sharing it with others."

1.  Practice optimism.  Optimism is almost always a catalyst for delight. Optimistic people never stay down for long. For some people, optimism comes naturally; others have to work at it.  Practice seeing the glass as half full, rather than half empty.  When you catch yourself uttering a half empty phrase - STOP, and deliberately change it to a half full phrase.  Read positive literature. Seek out upbeat, optimistic people.  Listen to uplifting music on the way to and from work.

2. Start a "Delight (100 smile) Journal."  Keep a small notebook in your pocket or handbag.  Every time you catch yourself smiling and feeling delight, jot down what caused the feeling.  It may be something as simple as a rainbow, sunlight on the water, or an unexpected call from an old friend.  It may be as significant as a promotion, a special gift, or winning a contest.  Shoot for a minimum of 100 items on your "Delight List" within the first month.  As your journal entries grow, you will find more and more delight coming your way.  It was probably there all along, you just didn't take the time to recognize it.

3.  Make delight a part of your daily vocabulary.  Using the word DELIGHT frequently will raise your delight index. Instead of the standard "Good morning".....greet others with "What a DELIGHTFUL day!"  Sign personal letters and cards -- "with delight."  Tell others you are DELIGHTED to see them.  Use the "D" word as often as possible.

4.  Establish your personal "Delight Dream Team."  Close your eyes and picture eight or ten people you have always admired and respected, and whose experience and wisdom could help you. For example, your "Delight Dream Team" could be composed of past presidents, famous scientists, humanitarians, authors, your parents or grandparents... maybe ???.  Members of your team may be living or deceased.  Be sure to record their names in your "Delight Journal."

5.  Create a "Delight Retreat."  Set aside a special place in your home as a "delight retreat."  This retreat may be an entire room or maybe just the corner of a bedroom or sunroom. Fill your retreat with flowers, candles, beautiful artwork, photographs, inspirational reading material, and music.  Use as many things as possible to bring peace and delight to your retreat.  Make time each and every day to visit your delight retreat.  Spend as much time there as possible.  Ban worry from your retreat, and delight in the serenity and pleasure it will bring you. Cultivate your creativity.  Make it a rule to do something  NEW every week.  Better yet, every day!  Drive home a different  way and delight in the new scenery.  Buy a magazine or book on a subject you have never read about.  Learn a new skill.  Eat at least one delightful new food you have never eaten... and savor it.  Left to our own devices, we humans tend to do the same 'ole' things in the same 'ole' way, day in and day out.  Create and enjoy the delight in your new adventures.

7.  Make out a "Lifetime To Do List."  Spend some time in your delight retreat and forget your household or work "to do" lists.  Make a "Lifetime To Do List."  Compile an on-going list of things you want to do that will bring delight into your life.  Include things as simple as taking up a new hobby or as grand as walking the Great Wall of China or taking a cruise down the Amazon River or sipping champagne in a hot air balloon on the California coast at sunrise.  Keep your "Lifetime To Do List" posted in your retreat and begin looking for ways to make it a reality.

8.  Declare a "Quarterly Delight Holiday."  At least once every three months, more often if possible, announce a "Delight Holiday."  Only do those things from your "Smile Delight Journal" or your "Lifetime To Do List" that will bring you great delight.

9.  Make a clean sweep in your personal and professional life.  In order to make room for more DELIGHT in our lives, we must first clear out the clutter.  We all have areas of our mind, our physical environment, our finances, and our professional and personal relationships that need some cleaning up.  Take the "Clean Sweep Assessment" and set a goal of increasing our original score monthly.  Start with the smallest messes so that you can go after the larger messes after you build up momentum and celebrate your successes.

10.  Seek out ways to bring delight to others daily.  Many people have forgotten the DELIGHT that comes from adding value to the lives of other people.  Delight is a gift that comes back to us many times over.  Giving delight to others may be as easy as looking a stranger in the eye and smiling... giving a friend a much-needed hug of support... bringing someone a token of appreciation for no reason... volunteering for a local charity... taking an afternoon off with your spouse or child to do what delights them...sending a card or a funny note or a thank you to a co-worker, a friend, a relative.  Delight, like optimism, is very contagious.  Spread it every chance you get and let's start a "Delight Epidemic!"