Opening Up to Happiness
Current events or unforeseen circumstances can easily dampen anyone’s spirits but being happy is more than just feeling “good.” Research has shown that when you’re happy, you can see such health benefits as reduced stress, increased energy and great self-confidence. To help open yourself up to happiness, even during difficult times, try these exercises:
Keep a Gratitude Journal: Write down anything that makes you happy over the course of a day or week in a journal. If it happens to put a smile on your face, write it down. People who take time to count their blessings each week are not only happier but are healthier, less stressed, more optimistic and more likely to help others. Having a gratitude journal can also be a great pick-me-up when you need reminders of your blessings.
Show Your Thanks: One of the best things about happiness is that it can be contagious. Try writing a thoughtful thank you note to someone you’re grateful to and read it to him or her in person, if able. Studies show that people who do this exercise are measurably happier up to a month later!
Take a Mental Snapshot: Take a mental picture of moments that give you pleasure and reflect on them whenever you’re beginning to feel down or upset. This encourages you to be more mindful and “in the moment” for the things in your life that bring you joy.
Be Kind: Acts of kindness, whether small, large, random or planned, can connect you with others and can create positive feelings such as pride, contentment, satisfaction and generosity. Experts have even found that doing five acts of kindness a week increases your happiness!
Write the Story of Your Life: Think about how you would want someone in the future to describe you to your great-great-great-grandchildren. Write a one-page description of yourself and your life, including your values and your personal qualities. Why did you pick what you did? Read between the lines and look at things that you didn’t include and think about why you left them out. Doing this can help you change those aspects of your life to be in-line with the things you wrote down.
