The pursuit of happiness sometimes gets a bad rap, usually from those who haven't had the happiest of lives, those who think happiness is beyond their control, and occasionally from judge-y psychotherapists who think having happiness as a goal is unrealistic, ignoble and immature. I personally think there is nothing wrong with expecting happiness in this life. After all, it's your life, and if you want to be happy 95% of the time, then you should go after that goal. I would go one step further and insist that in order to live authentically, and because happiness is your life vision, you have a responsibility to make it happen.
Here are some tips on how you can build a happier life:
1. Notice, savour, elaborate on, and remember high quality connections with people - namely, those interactions that leave you feeling more alive and passionate, with a renewed sense of vitality.
2. Loving-kindness meditation. Love yourself better, love others better. Make time to sit and be loving and kind to you, those around you, and all the little things in life.
3. Respond instead of react. When you get upset, angry, impatient, frustrated, overwhelmed - take a moment, breathe, and then make a conscious choice to respond in the wisest, kindest, calmest way you can. It will change every interaction, and how you feel about yourself.
4. Practice gratitude. Give thanks for little things, like sunshine. Thank people for things you appreciate. Send letters and notes. Count your blessings. Focus on the real and good things in your life, instead of the bad, and sometimes imagined.
5. Exercise - now before you roll your eyes... I am not the most active of people. But I do notice that a long walk, yoga, a few minutes of squats, jumping jacks and stretches put me in a different state. Exercise is not just about your body image - it can be relaxing, take your mid off things, and give you renewed vigor.
6. Keep your heart open. It's really hard to be happy when you're stuck in grief, unable to forgive or forget, and unwilling to love. Allow yourself the possibility of hope.
7. Appreciate what you work to accumulate. If you're always working, or always getting new things but never take the time to enjoy and appreciate them, what was the point?
8. Stop allowing the opinions, words and actions of others influence your mood. Just do you. Follow your internal motivations. Grow for the sake of growing, for yourself, not to please others, or to get them off your back.
9. Take time to relax. Vacation, get away, do something fun. Take a day off and just lounge and rest or go on a field trip with a friend. Allow yourself some time of fun - fill up the tank before resuming your journey again.
10. Smile. Think positive thoughts, and let them radiate from you, warming all those within your reach.
Be happy, friends. I know I choose to be.
Here are some tips on how you can build a happier life:
1. Notice, savour, elaborate on, and remember high quality connections with people - namely, those interactions that leave you feeling more alive and passionate, with a renewed sense of vitality.
2. Loving-kindness meditation. Love yourself better, love others better. Make time to sit and be loving and kind to you, those around you, and all the little things in life.
3. Respond instead of react. When you get upset, angry, impatient, frustrated, overwhelmed - take a moment, breathe, and then make a conscious choice to respond in the wisest, kindest, calmest way you can. It will change every interaction, and how you feel about yourself.
4. Practice gratitude. Give thanks for little things, like sunshine. Thank people for things you appreciate. Send letters and notes. Count your blessings. Focus on the real and good things in your life, instead of the bad, and sometimes imagined.
5. Exercise - now before you roll your eyes... I am not the most active of people. But I do notice that a long walk, yoga, a few minutes of squats, jumping jacks and stretches put me in a different state. Exercise is not just about your body image - it can be relaxing, take your mid off things, and give you renewed vigor.
6. Keep your heart open. It's really hard to be happy when you're stuck in grief, unable to forgive or forget, and unwilling to love. Allow yourself the possibility of hope.
7. Appreciate what you work to accumulate. If you're always working, or always getting new things but never take the time to enjoy and appreciate them, what was the point?
8. Stop allowing the opinions, words and actions of others influence your mood. Just do you. Follow your internal motivations. Grow for the sake of growing, for yourself, not to please others, or to get them off your back.
9. Take time to relax. Vacation, get away, do something fun. Take a day off and just lounge and rest or go on a field trip with a friend. Allow yourself some time of fun - fill up the tank before resuming your journey again.
10. Smile. Think positive thoughts, and let them radiate from you, warming all those within your reach.
Be happy, friends. I know I choose to be.
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