Being happy is something we all want, although not everyone seems to know how. Yet there are a range of methods suited to the various different personalities .
Most people think their happiness depends on their life circumstances. That is, we will be more or less happy depending on what’s going on in our life. That’s why we chase promotions, partners, cars, new clothes, or bigger houses. Come to think of it, isn’t that why we pursue anything at all?
Here are some methods you can use to achieve a happier and healthy mindset:
- Accepting Who You Are and What You Are
Many people are unhappy or self-conscious about their appearance, the way they speak or their background; comparing themselves unfairly to others they see in magazines or on television. These kinds of feeling can lead to an entrenched sense of worthlessness or even bring about conditions such as depression or an eating disorder. By talking to others and expressing your feelings you will be able to get a better understanding of both your weaknesses and strengths.
- Build Relationships with Others
One of the most consistent findings in happiness research is that social relationships and spending time with others makes us happy. Feeling connected with other people is an important part of what makes us human and neglecting this part of life can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Many mental health problems have their roots in trouble with communication and can be helped or even prevented by keeping in touch with others and maintaining strong relationships. Chief Technical Officer Dr George MacKerron’s “Mappiness” research project (mappiness.org) used smartphones to buzz people at random times, asking them what they were doing and how they felt. His research indicated that socialising is one of the activities that makes us the most happy.
So now, try to go out with your friends and colleagues and enjoy!
- Eat and Drink Healthy
We all know that what we eat has a big impact on our physical well being, but it also affects your mental happiness. As the old saying goes; a healthy body makes a healthy mind, so think about your diet and what foods you maybe eat too much of. Eating three meals a day will keep your energy levels up and keep you feeling good all day long. As well as eating healthy foods, drinking lots of water will keep you hydrated and boost your metabolism; making you feel and look better.
- Meditation/Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation is a form of attention and emotion regulation training. Research shows that mindfulness also increases activity in the areas of the brain associated with positive emotion. It also improves several cognitive functions that are conducive to effectiveness in the workplace, such as memory, attention, empathy and communication skills. When you meditate, you are giving your mind time to clear, reformat itself for all the new information that is going to be taken in the following day, or day ahead.
- Spend your time doing something you LOVE!
The most important thing of all is to ensure you spend time doing a hobby or activity you love. When we participate in doing something we love, we radiate so many positive emotions, all magnetizing out into the universe to bring you back more joy and happiness. So many people get stuck in a rut and lose focus on what is important and brings them pleasure. Taking some time out to dedicate just to yourself will help you cope with stress, focus your mind and allow you to express yourself. If you are feeling blue, conveying your thoughts in a painting, a song or in a poem will help you understand how you feel and make you feel much better.
6. Random Acts of Kindness
Studies have shown that performing simple random acts of kindness for other people can actually increase your own happiness. Part of maintaining healthy relationships is returning concern for those who care for you. Really caring for others can help greatly improve your mental health and allow you to explore feelings you may have grown out of touch with. An act of kindness can be as simple as holding a door, clearing up for someone or making them a drink.