(VIDEO) Dr. Aymee's 4 Steps Toward Serenity While Working

Four easy steps to keeping your smile at work. Sounds good right? Sure, how many people have had a bad day at work? Seriously? EVERYONE HAS! What would you say if I said: You can eliminate bad days at work forever?

You can, by following these four simple steps:

1. EMPOWER yourself to take charge of your own happiness
2. FOLLOW YOUR HEART and ENGAGE your MAPS
3. CONTROL your environment to the best of your ability
4. BOOST your mood using positive mood boosting techniques

STEP 1: EMPOWERMENT - MAKE THE HAPPINESS DECISION

First things first: you have to take care of your own happiness. No one or nothing else is going to make you sustainably happy. No one else can create deep inner contentment and fulfillment inside you except you. No one can create positive mood for you.

The first step is to choose happiness right now which gives you control. Choose to concentrate on your happiness and maintain it above all else. You would never throw your money out the window, so why would you throw your happiness out the window if you knew it was as good as gold?!

Your happiness is as good as gold! Truly, it is!

Without happiness, you are in a downward spiral. I want to inspire you to want to take charge of your own happiness at work and everywhere else in your life! You can even sign a declaration THE HAPPINESS DECISION written by Lionel Ketchian of the Happiness Club International who has been happy for almost 20 years and has read over 2,500 books on happiness!

STEP 2: FOLLOW YOUR HEART - ENGAGE IN YOUR MAPS

MAPS = Meaning, Authenticity, Purpose, Strengths

Lisa of Books. Lists. Life blog says, "I try to find work that I enjoy, things that I would do even if I weren't getting paid."

Your MAPS will lead you into passion and flow, so work will seem like fun! Instead of applying the strategy of getting the right person, place, thing, or circumstance to achieve your pursuit of happiness, FOLLOW the MAPS from your HEART! You were born for a reason; everyone has a purpose. Your purpose lies with the voice in your heart. Engage your heart with questions, such as:

• Who am I?
• What is the change I want to see in the world?
• What do I have endless energy for?
• What is going to get me out of bed everyday with a smile on my face?
• What am I passionate about?
• What are my strengths?

The answers to these questions will guide you into knowing your heart-based MAPS, and when you engage these MAPS, deep inner contentment and fulfillment will burst open in your heart center! When we place reminders of the greater good around us, it helps engage our sense of meaning in our work.

STEP 3: CONTROL - FLEXIBILITY & ORGANIZATION

Admit it, we all want control all of the time. We want control of ourselves, others, our environment, tasks, traffic, you name it, we want to control it! We want to control it in the name of our own happiness. So when it comes to your work environment, it is imperative that you keep a mindset of control to the best of your ability. This will give you a sense of grounding, understanding, organization and efficiency.

This means it is important to build in flexibility to your work schedule. Decide what an optimal work schedule would look like. Adopt a working routine where you work for X hours and can take X breaks. For example, work for 50 minutes and then take a 10 minute break for yoga, a walk, talking to a co-worker, or going outside.

When we build routine into our experience, we get a sense of grounding, comfort, and familiarity. All in all, if you can create flexibility by creating your own schedule, focus time and breaks, designate an inspiring place to work, learn to harmonize domestic vs. professional, and keep up organization, this will greatly help you with being happy and engaged at work.

STEP 4: HAPPINESS BOOSTERS

As you take control of your happiness, engage your MAPS, and work toward flexibility and organization, it is also important to incorporate mood-boosting techniques to keep your mood positive at all times. The reason we want to be positive is because that's when we can access our brain best! We want to expand our brains, especially while we work, so we can think our best and access our highest productivity, creativity and innovation. Research has shown without a shadow of a doubt if you are happy you are performing your best at work!

How do you stay happy and engaged at work? Please share your best tips and techniques in the comments below!

Dr. Aymee Coget, Sustainable Happiness Expert, founder of The Happiness Makeover™ Training Program offers services and products on how to become happier at her website www.happinessmakeover.com. Ask questions and visit her on Facebook or Twitter (@draymee), or her blog www.draymee.blogspot.com.