Happy as You Want to Be
The ancient Greeks were on to something. Ancient ideas about happiness have been brought into the 21st century and are now backed by science.
This blog post is all about happiness, what it really means to be happy, and the many ways we can actually make ourselves happier. We will explore 5 different ways of being happy: living in the present moment; cultivating gratitude; practicing acts of kindness; engaging in healthy habits; and maintaining a sense of humor. And we'll also offer a few simple steps you can take to start making these changes in your life right away.
Let's get started!
#1: Live in the Present Moment
Being in the present moment means appreciating what you have and what is. People who spend more time living in the present moment report having more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions than people who spend more time reminiscing about the past or imagining the future.
Living in the present moment is also associated with greater subjective well-being, better relationships, as well as better physical health and psychological adjustment. It has even been linked to a longer life.
When our minds are wandering (as they often do), it is difficult to be happy, but simple practices can help us stay focused on what we're doing right now.
Here are a few to try:
Focus on the "now": The next time you eat a meal, pay attention to the taste and smell of your food. Be present during conversations with friends or family. Take a walk outside and appreciate all the sights, sounds and smells around you. If you're in a meeting, listen carefully and make eye contact with each person in the room.
The next time you eat a meal, pay attention to the taste and smell of your food. Be present during conversations with friends or family. Take a walk outside and appreciate all the sights, sounds and smells around you. If you're in a meeting, listen carefully and make eye contact with each person in the room. Look at the present moment: Many of us find ourselves getting lost in our thoughts when we look down at our cell phones or stare out a car window. Instead, choose to look at the actual "now". When you drive, for example, instead of looking ahead, take a moment to observe the beauty and shape of everything around you.
Many of us find ourselves getting lost in our thoughts when we look down at our cell phones or stare out a car window. Instead, choose to look at the actual "now". When you drive, for example, instead of looking ahead, take a moment to observe the beauty and shape of everything around you. Accept that you'll be unhappy sometimes: Everyone has days when they are not happy, when they think negative thoughts or they feel down or anxious. That's okay. Accept this as part of being human and move on.
Everyone has days when they are not happy, when they think negative thoughts or they feel down or anxious. That's okay. Accept this as part of being human and move on. Focus on the positive in your life: Life is full of both very negative and very positive experiences, so focus on the things you are grateful for. Gratitude has been shown to increase happiness, so making a note of the good things in your life will make you happier.
Life is full of both very negative and very positive experiences, so focus on the things you are grateful for. Gratitude has been shown to increase happiness, so making a note of the good things in your life will make you happier. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is a practice that involves paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgemental way. This includes being aware of your body, thoughts and emotions. There are guided meditations you can use, or you can just dedicate time each day to be mindful of what is happening around you. This can be done while eating breakfast or taking a shower, for example, or during any other part of your daily routine.
#2: Cultivate Gratitude
Gratitude is about recognizing what you have to be thankful for, whether it's the people in your life, a good meal you just had or that amazing vacation you took. It's all about acknowledging and appreciating things in your life that make you happy.
A recent study found that people who were more grateful reported being happier and experiencing higher levels of happiness than those who were less grateful.
In one study, participants listed the things they could be thankful for, then went through a series of exercises designed to help them focus on the positive aspects of their lives. After the exercise, they were interviewed about how grateful they felt. Respondents who had engaged in the gratitude meditation reported significantly higher levels of happiness than those who hadn't.
Other studies have shown that people who are grateful also express greater positive emotions, such as gratitude and contentment.
A simple mindfulness exercise can help you cultivate gratitude:
Take a moment to view your life in a positive way—at this time, right now, right here: Look at your life with an open heart and be thankful for the things you value in it. Think about what you're grateful for today, and write them down on paper or in your journal.
When you're done, ask yourself some of these questions: How do I feel when I'm grateful? How does it make me feel to be grateful? What's the exact feeling of being grateful?
Gratitude is the most powerful tool we have at our disposal for cultivating happiness.
#3: Don't Worry About What Others Think Of You
Get this straight: I'm not encouraging you to ignore what other people think about you. Nothing more gives us a headache than people who are self-centered and wrapped up in themselves. And nothing more makes us feel envious and resentful than people who are not.
But it's important to know that what others think of you is not going to make you happy.
A study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that people who are more concerned with others' approval at a particular point in time were less happy in the long-term.
After reflecting on their lives, those who focused on how others saw them reported lower levels of happiness than those whose focus was on self-appraisal.
Researchers also found that if you focus on how you're perceived by others, it "unintentionally and detrimentally affects your ability to find satisfaction in your own life and causes distress. It also precludes you from finding comfort in your own thoughts and feelings, which prevents you from having a positive relationship with yourself."
If you're more worried about what others think of you than on the relative merits of your own opinion, you may be jeopardizing your happiness. And that's not good.
You'll never make everyone happy so it's important to be happy with yourself:
Be true to yourself: It's okay to care about what people think about you and to want them to like you. But it's important to know that most people are not really sure what they're thinking half the time, so don't take everything they say or do personally.
Conclusion
Everyone wants to be happy and the trouble is, it feels good to be sad sometimes. It's much easier to just go along with the negative feelings we have, especially when it means we have an excuse to stop trying so hard.
This is why it's important to learn how to enjoy being happy. Once you do this, you'll have a much better chance of living a happier life!
The Best Self-Help Quotes for Happiness "It is better for you if you enter your house each day as though you had entered a large banquet hall filled with great foods and wonderful wines.