Happiness - isn't that the thing that all of us strive to find and keep? Nobody is happy all of the time, but some people are definitely more fulfilled than others. Studies on what makes people happy reveal that it doesn't have much to do with material goods or high achievement; it seems to whittle down to your outlook on life, and the quality of your relationships with the people around you.
Most of us are still in the short, dark days of winter, but spring is on the way. Prepare your mindset by beating back the winter blues and making way for rebirth and happiness! Here are answers to your questions about bringing more happiness into your life.
Can being happy really help you live longer?
Yes! For a long time, it has been observed that happy people are less prone to heart disease, and modern science agrees. One study found that one in five patients with coronary heart disease comes from the population of the extremely depressed. Also, cancer researchers have found that laughter and joy increase levels of natural killer immune cells in your body, helping protect you from disease. Laughter also increases the release of endorphins, the compounds in your brain that give you a warm and fuzzy sense of well-being. Joyful people really do live longer and healthier lives.
What are the best ways to get happier?
Exercise is essential, not only for your mood, but for your overall health. Research is in agreement that regular exercise is a very effective treatment for depression. A study conducted demonstrated that 40 minutes of regular exercise could have an instant effect on mood.
Another helpful way to bring happiness into your life is to focus on the positive. Negative thinking is doing nothing to improve your mood. Try some of these: Start your day with a positive daily affirmation, practice reframing negative “problems” as positive “challenges”, begin a daily meditation practice, volunteer your time to help others, keep a list of what you are grateful for, or journal every day to release negative thoughts and emotions.
Find happiness in what you do
Many people expect the right job or the right career to dramatically change their level of happiness, but happiness research makes it clear that your level of optimism and the quality of your relationships eclipse the satisfaction you gain from your job. If you have a positive outlook, you will make the best of any job, and if you have good relationships with people, you won't depend on your job to give your life a greater sense of meaning. You'll find it in your interactions with the people you care about. Now that doesn't mean you shouldn't aspire towards a job that will make you happier; it means you should understand that the capacity of your job to make you happy is quite small in comparison to your outlook on life and your relationships with people.
When you're purposely trying to be happy or cheerful, but just can't seem to achieve it at the moment, do something crazy. Turn your favorite music up loud and do a stupid dance to it. Talk to yourself in the mirror. Try a new food. Rearrange your room in a weird way. Write a funny or inspiring quote on your mirror/wall/locker. Scream as loud as you can (warn your family first!). Bounce up and down, jump all around. Get your swimsuit on, go outside and turn the hose on yourself, if it's a hot day. It's stupid, crazy, weird stuff like that that seems pointless, but could actually lift your mood after you do it, just because you're glad you did it. Most fundamentally, recognise that happiness is a state of mind and not something which can be defined objectively. You can change your state of mind in many ways including these suggestions. When you're old enough and in a steady relationship, have a son or a daughter. Tell them often how much you love and admire him/her and do anything to help him/her. Keep in close touch with relatives and a small circle of friends. You can't beat their love and support. Don't be afraid to admit when you're down and need a lift. Don't expect them to be mind readers - say how you feel and what you need. Conversely, if there's a person in your life who is a negative influence and who is dragging you down in some way, don't be afraid to remove such a person from your life.
“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”
“KEEP SMILING, BE HAPPY”
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