Are you satisfied with your life? Most people would have to say “no” to that question. What can you do to improve your life and achieve happiness?

Here’s the Sobering Reality…You have only one life and there is no restart button. This isn’t a video game, where you can earn bonus lives through the accumulation of points or where you can simply load up a new game if things start to go badly. This is it. You have one life. What are you going to do with yours?

It’s at this realization that some people just throw up their hands and resign themselves to mediocrity or disappointment. Others lose themselves in depression or escapism (drugs, alcohol, etc.). What about you?

You may have lost several jobs, had trouble with the law, suffered failures and setbacks in friendships or relationships. Now is not the time to throw in the towel. No matter how many times you’ve fallen, you can still get up. No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to turn things around.

The fact that you have only one life should not send you deeper into despair or depression, no matter how tough things are for you right now. It should motivate you to drive your personal flag into the ground, and take your stand!

Some people will seize onto that hope. But then comes the tough part. Improving your life requires one fundamental choice. You must accept personal responsibility. That means you must stop blaming God, nature, circumstances or other people for your lot in life.

And you then must start building a NEW life and a NEW perspective and vision on life….from wherever you are.

Here’s where I recommend you start…

1. Decide Your Faith and Basic View on Life – If you believe in God, that will give you a very different sense of your worth, value, and purpose than if you reject the existence of God. To help you in that quest, I encourage you to read The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren and The Case for Faith or The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

2. Cast a Positive Vision – Set a vision for your life. Establish some goals. Decide on a positive direction. For help in this, I recommend Joel Osteen’s Your Best Life Now or A Better You.

3. Take Charge of Your Mind – In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul told them to think on things that were “true” and “lovely” and “virtuous.” We often feast on things that agitate, depress, or upset us. You’ve got to control your mind and direct your thoughts. To help you with this, read The Power of Positive Thinking by the late Norman Vincent Peale.

4. Work on Your Relationships – Start being an encouragement and blessing to others. Add value to them, without expecting or demanding anything in return. Help others. Serve others. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel about yourself, and how your relationships will start to turn around! For help with this, read Winning With People by John Maxwell or How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

The road to happiness starts with a single step. Start your journey today! And stick with it!