What if I tell you that I can give you a pot full of joy today? Will you buy it? How much are you willing to pay for it? Happiness is a subjective experience that varies from person to person and can be influenced by various factors such as genetics, environment, culture, relationships, and personal beliefs.
It is often associated with positive life experiences such as success, love, and joy, but it can also be a more stable state of being arising from a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection with others. Here is a list of ingredients that float on the surface of our happiness pot! (Source)
1. Believe that you deserve happiness.
You might be having a terrible day and find yourself deciding to never smile again. While you can’t prevent many of the difficulties that you’ll encounter in life, you can control how you respond to them. You’ll be more content once you begin to see happiness as a choice rather than as a good fortune that only some people enjoy.
We smile because we are happy, and smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, which makes us happier. That doesn’t mean you have to walk around with a fake smile on your face all the time. But the next time you find yourself feeling down, smile and see what happens. Or try starting each morning by smiling at yourself in the mirror.
Also Read: How to Stay Positive If You Have Acquired Facial Paralysis: Useful Tips by Tumour Survivor
2. Share a smile – use strong compliments!
A sincere compliment is a quick and easy way to brighten someone’s day while giving your own happiness a boost. Catch their eye and say it with a smile so they know you mean it. You might be surprised at how good you feel.
If you want to compliment someone on their physical appearance, make sure you do it in a respectful way and at an appropriate event and time.
3. Acknowledge the unhappy moments.
A positive attitude is generally a good thing, but bad things happen to everyone. It’s just part of life. If you get bad news, make a mistake, or just feel like crap, don’t try to pretend you’re happy.
Acknowledge the feeling of unhappiness and allow yourself to experience it for a moment. Then focus on what caused you to feel that way and what may take time to recover from.
Journaling is a good way to organize your thoughts, analyze your feelings, and make plans. And you don’t have to be a literary genius or write tomes to benefit from it. It can be as simple as writing down a few thoughts before bed. If writing certain things makes you nervous, you can always shred it when you’re done. It’s the process that counts, a simple way to vent out the devil’s emotions.
Let the moment pass and take care of yourself. Remember that no one is happy all the time.
4. Leave the work of comparing to Mr. Sharma, periodt.
Whether it happens on social media, at work, or even in yoga class, it’s easy to fall into a place where you compare yourself to others. Result? You may experience greater dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and even depression and anxiety.
Stopping comparing yourself to others may take practice, but it’s worth it for your inner peace and happiness. You can start with some of the other tips on this list that can help bring your attention inward, such as deep breathing and journaling. You might also consider talking to a therapist for perspective.
5. Forgive yourself and self-care.
Treat your body the same way you will nurture a newborn baby. Anger at yourself, at things that have happened in your life, or anger at other people can be a significant burden. When you can let go of anger, you can begin to learn how to be happy with yourself.
In a busy world, it’s easy to neglect self-care. But making time to take care of yourself as much as possible is important to support your body’s responsibility to carry your thoughts, passions, and spirit through this world.
Maybe you can make the work week more pleasant with a long hot bath. Or it could be adopting a skincare routine that makes you feel indulgent. Or it could just be setting aside a night to put on your finest jammies and watch a movie from start to finish.
Whatever it is, make time for it. Put it in your planner if you have to, but try to make it a priority.
6. Befriend nature!
Nature isn’t called a mother for no reason! Spending 30 minutes or more a week in green spaces can help lower blood pressure and the likelihood of depression. Your greenery can be anything like your neighborhood park, your own backyard, or a rooftop garden – anywhere you can appreciate and enjoy nature and fresh air.
Better yet, add some outdoor exercise to the mix for extra benefits. The same study above found that people who spent time in green spaces were also more likely to exercise more often and for longer.
7. Plan your week
Feeling like you’re floundering? Try to sit down at the end of each week and make a basic list for the following week.
Even if you don’t stick to a schedule, blocking out time to do laundry, shop for groceries, or tackle projects at work can help calm your mind. You can get a fancy planner or app, but a sticky note on your computer or a piece of paper in your pocket will do the trick.
Realize the role your thoughts play in the quality of your daily life. Focusing on bad things and negative emotions can be destructive. You can learn to be happier when you stop dwelling on the negative and focus on the more positive side of things. Reflect back on the list whenever you feel down.
8. Take yourself out to Movies, Travel, and Hangouts!
Even if you’re a social butterfly, spending some thoughtful time alone can help you reconnect with the activities that truly make you happy. With a constantly hectic schedule, it’s sometimes easy to forget to schedule something else that’s crucial to your well-being: time off. You can get even more benefits by planning a trip, whether it’s close to home or further afield.
What’s more, research also supports the mental and physical benefits of taking a much-needed vacation. In one such study, researchers looked at stress and heart rate when it came to vacation. They found that not only did the vacation itself reduce stress, but the weeks leading up to the planned trip had similar effects.
9. Consider professional help.
We are definitely happier when we learn how to cope with obstacles. If you feel like you’re hitting a brick wall, consider talking to a mental health professional like a therapist every week. You don’t have to have a diagnosed mental health condition or an overwhelming crisis to seek therapy. You don’t have to fight alone.
Also Read: Facts About Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders You Probably Didn’t Know!
10. Sincerely follow your therapy rituals.
Mental health professionals are trained to help people improve their coping skills. Plus, once you start, you don’t have to keep going. Even just a few sessions can help you add some new tricks to your emotional toolkit.
You may be advised meditation, a change in sleeping pattern, medication or more by your professional. Follow them regularly without any skip. Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as sitting quietly with your own thoughts for 5 minutes. Turn off all electronics and put your headphones away for at least 1 hour. They will be there for you later if you want them. Trust your therapist, listen to their advice, and enter the path of recovery!
