No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.

Given this principle, the first step to become a happier, more serene person is to manage your thoughts and purify your thinking. One of the best ways to begin this inner work is to improve the quality of your personal environment.

Our surroundings shape our moods, our thoughts and our dreams.

Take a good, hard look at your environment. Your thoughts are shaped by the people you associate with, by the books you read, by the words you speak and by your daily physical surroundings. Are you spending your time at work with negative people?

If so, they will eventually make you negative and cynical.

Are you watching violent TV shows and mindless videos at home?

If so, your mind will grow restless and noisy.

Take steps to make the environment you work and live in a better one. You will quickly detect improvements in the way you think, feel and act.