Did you know that happier people have more friends and social support, are healthier and live longer than people who are not so happy? They’re also more likely to get and to stay married and they’re better leaders and earn more money too.
Many people think “I would be happy IF...”, if they’d be thinner or more beautiful or had more money or a bigger house. Truth is, they wouldn’t, at least not long term. Changing your circumstances will temporarily boost your happiness, but the effect will soon fade.
Another myth about happiness that many people believe is that “Either you have it or you don’t”. They often blame it on their genetic disposition if they’re not happy and think there’s nothing they can do about it, but that’s only partly true.
Your happiness range depends for 50% on your genes, for 10% on your life circumstances (rich or poor, etc) and for 40% on intentional activity. How happy you feel is greatly impacted by what you do!
Positive psychologists have done extensive research about the habits of happy people and came up with a list of happiness activities. Picking 1 or 2 activities that suit you and making them into new habits has proven to have a lasting impact on how happy you feel.
Expressing gratitude has been shown to be one of the quickest ways to feel happier. Appreciating things, saying ‘thank you’ to someone and counting your blessings are all anti-dotes to negative emotions, worry and irritation.
Cultivate optimism. Looking at the bright side of things, seeking a silver lining, being positive about the future and trusting that you can handle whatever comes on your path are all forms of optimism strategies.
Over-thinking and comparing yourself to others will often not only leave you in a bad mood, it also impairs your ability to solve problems and interferes with concentration and initiative. Don’t think too much and don’t compare yourself with other people all the time.
Practising act of kindness is not only good for the recipient of the kindness, but also for the doer. Being generous and willing to share makes people happy, even when they expect or get nothing in return.
Friendships make people happy, happy people attract more and higher quality relationships, which in turn makes them happier. By improving and cultivating your social relationships you will get into what psychologists call an “upward spiral”.
Develop strategies for coping with stress, pain and worries. Having a sort of toolbox of things that you know will work for you when going through a tough time will make it easier to cope in the future.
Learn to forgive people who have hurt you or done you wrong. Research has shown that forgiving someone can improve well-being and mental health and that people who do so experience less negative emotions and have a higher self esteem.
Engage in activities that bring you into a state of ‘flow’: when you’re totally immersed in what you’re doing and you lose track of time. When in flow, people report feeling strong, confident, in control, alert and completely unselfconscious.
The ability to savour the positive experiences in your life is one of the most important ingredients of happiness. Be mindful. Don’t postpone feeling happy, thinking that tomorrow will be better than today.
Working towards a meaningful life goal is another major strategy for reaching lasting happiness. Committing to our goals gives us a sense of purpose, structure and meaning and increases our self-esteem.
Psychological research is suggesting that people who practice a religion or other form of spirituality feel a certain sense of security, peace and calm that people who aren’t religious often don’t experience.
Empirical research shows that cultivating attention or meditating not only has a positive effect on people’s happiness and positive emotions, but also on their physical health, stress, cognitive abilities and creativity.
Moving your body and exercising is not only good for your physical health, it reduces stress and anxiety, boosts confidence, improves sleep, increases quality of life and reduces depression.
A great short term happiness booster is to act as if you are happy, confident, energised and enthusiastic. When you do, your body sends signals to your brain that you’re feeling a certain way, which makes you actual feel it.
When you feel happy, your face and body reflect that happiness. Or as we all know: “If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” Thank you.
