- Decide to be a happy person. As Lincoln observed, most people, most of the time, can choose how stressed or happy, how troubled or relaxed they want to be. Choose to be happy.
- Watch and Read less news. As a recovering news addict, I know this can be difficult because the stock market fluctuates, politicians politic, and sports teams compete. But, most of the time, you don't need the stress. So, just don't watch. I think it was Henry Thoreau who noted that if you've ever read about a train wreck, you understand the principle and don't need to know any more about it.
- Practice the Attitude of Gratitude. We all have so much to be grateful for. Just thanking the many people who assist us, encourage us, teach us and open doors for us could take all day!
- Take Time. My dog has taught me much about loyalty, about noticing the sights, sounds, and smells in the yard, about being relaxed and about play. Eat when you're hungry, nap when you need it. Get your ears scratched whenever possible!
- Laugh everyday. Hear a joke, tell a joke, laugh at yourself, laugh with your friends and family and co-workers. There are very few medicines as powerful as laughter, and I don't think you can over-dose, although it is addicting!
- Love well. Express your affection, appreciation, friendship and warmth to those around you, and they will almost always respond in the most amazing ways! Be generous--it pays great dividends!
- Work hard. This one comes as a bit of a surprise, but there is tremendous satisfaction in being competent, and joy in completing our assigned tasks. One of the great sources of happiness is to do work that is worthy of you, and to do it well.
- Learn something new, everyday. To be happy, most of us must also be growing, expanding, learning and challenging ourselves. Read, listen, adapt and stretch to accommodate new ideas and new information.
- Use your body as it was designed. Walk and run, stretch, throw things, and lift things. Dance! Exercise is good, but so is making love, mixing up a batch of cookies, or exchanging backrubs. You have a body and it can be either a source of joy, or a source of aches and pains. Your choice.
- Avoid toxins. I prefer writing positives (things to do) rather than negatives (things to fear), but reality says there are negative people and there are bad chemicals, stressful noises, and unsafe places. Don't go there! Avoid poisons whenever possible. It seems to work out better that way.
http://superperformance.com/behappy.html
Sense of Humor
The ability to seek and find humor and laughter in any given situation is a gift you give yourself, but one that takes work. Let’s face it – life is funny with all of its quirks and contradictions, but it may not always seem so funny when you encounter a tough situation. However, the ability to gain a new perspective on a bad situation through humor is a real testament to our character. Look for the humor in everything and use it to gain new perspectives, to reduce stress and to make others smile.
Learn
Learning doesn’t end after you’re finished with high school or college. Life seems to be one long lesson plan of learning from the life experience lessons of the real world. The key to always learning is to not be opposed to it. When you’re open to new ideas, you’re exercising and enriching your mind. When you don’t learn from both a positive or negative situation, there’s no self-growth. Learning may be accidental or sought after, but as long as you’re learning, you’re gaining knowledge of the world around you and a better understanding of yourself – and this can all contribute to your happiness.
Resiliency
Learning and resilience go hand in hand becausewe learn from life experiences we encounter and then we must move on. This ability to bounce back is called resilience, and believe it or not, the human spirit is more resilient than we might tend to believe. Resilience means living in the present the best you know how, even in the face of anger, hurt, or sadness, and taking whichever hands you’re dealt and turning them into a learning experience.
When you live in the past, you miss the joys of being in the moment. While it’s true that you’re shaped by your experiences, the key to being resilient is to not let the negative experiences paralyze you.
Courage
Life is scary. We never know what comes next or what direction we should take, especially when it comes to relationships, jobs or achieving our dreams. But sometimes that can be a truly freeing concept. Nothing is certain, so take risks. If you fail, you’ll know that happiness is still possible because you’ll learn from the situation and bounce right back. And if you succeed, your sense of accomplishment is twice as gratifying because you looked uncertainty in the eye and answered back with courage and faith. Without courage to face your fears or the possibility of rejection, you’ll become stagnant and you’ll limit yourself in opportunities for self-growth.
Meaning and Purpose
What makes you tick, your heart dance with joy, you smile? What are you doing that satisfies yourself and others? Ask yourself why you are living. It may seem like a silly question, but shouldn’t there be a reason for living other than to pay taxes and grow old?
It usually takes a while to find meaning and purpose in your life, and this usually happens through the accumulations of our life experiences. When you find your meaning and purpose in life and you pursue it and sustain it, you’ll really understand what it means to be “living.” Having trouble finding meaning in your life? Read Find your Passion.
Health
Intact mental and physical health allows for many possibilities in your life. Health and happiness are obviously interconnected because it’s difficult to feel happy when your body tells you otherwise. Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with good health, no matter how much we take care of our bodies. So when you are blessed with good health, don’t take it for granted. Don’t settle when you’re at a certain healthy level either. Working for your health is an ongoing, lifelong process.
Happiness isn’t guaranteed in life. You have to make it happen for yourself. And with these keys to happiness, we bet you’ll be well on your way to finding long-lasting happiness.
http://www2.lifescript.com/Soul/Self/Well-being/Lifes_Keys_to_Happiness.aspx?trans=1&du=1&gclid=CIv_39HmtpYCFQOeFQodjRiJLw&ef_id=1350:3:c_2cb5aa790f7e486b2c4dd7eca3c43981_561298625:ajoLTtBkOIYAAE6KXA8AAAAG:20081020215827
Think Happy Thoughts
Happy thoughts are part of our lives. In an average day it is estimated that we have around 60,000 thoughts. Have you ever wondered how many of these thoughts are happy thoughts?
It is known that happy people think more happy thoughts than unhappy people. If we think happy thoughts... we create happy perceptions... we create a beautiful aura of light around ourselves... which leads us to happy events. And so we create a exciting circle (where we become even happier).
Happy thoughts connect us with the light, confidence and courage to act... to the power to believe. To live our lives according to our hopes and dreams not somebody else´s.
Jealous, angry and fearful thoughts and feelings take us away from our own path... our own purpose. But a straight path doesn´t admit compromises. This negative thoughts strip us of our power and ability to act effectively. If we think fearful thoughts we become afraid and act defensively. This pushes away other people and other possibilities away from us. And so we become lonelier and more afraid.
The route to a happier life is through happy thoughts. Not just because they make you feel better immediately... but because happier thoughts give you a stronger and more stable foundation to your life. You are in control rather than being bounced around by life.
http://happythoughtstoday.blogspot.com/
Search for "Keys to Happiness" Google up: Happy Thoughts
Happiness: 3 amazing tips from the world's oldest case study
- by Yeah Dave (David Romanelli), on Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:29pm PDT
We’ve all heard countless studies, articles and TV interviews on happiness. But the other day I stumbled upon something that is just now being revealed to the media for the first time.* It's a 72 year old study that began all the way back in 1937 when 268 Harvard University sophomores were asked to participate in a study measuring “a formula-some mix of love, work, and adaptation-for a good life.” And while many of those who were college sophomores in 1937 are now dying or in their fading twilight, this study continues to be diligently maintained to this very day.
And never before has science been able to report such fascinating and thoroughly time-tested results on happiness. Following are 3 powerful lessons from this study.
1. Have a Healthy Outlet
So many of the people in this study seemed to have all their ducks in a row. In their prime years in the 1950’s and 1960’s, they were making big money in powerful careers. They had beautiful families and lived in idyllic neighborhoods. Oddly enough, later in life, many of these fortunate people ended up breaking down mentally and physically. Why? If one didn’t have a healthy outlet for their fears, nerves, and struggles, it was only a matter of time before repressed demons erupted to the surface. The happiest people in this study had a healthy outlet. They were altruistic or had a rich sense of humor. They funneled their issues into sport, “their lust into courtship.”
It’s something important to consider. As the study proves, a human being can get away with sustaining daily nerves, fears, and doubts for a number of years. But ultimately, such a nervous nelly will crack. If you haven’t already, develop an outlet…find a sport, commit to helping others, lighten up, and laugh more often. A wise one said, "A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs, jolted by every pebble in the road."
2. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
This study, as reported in Atlantic Magazine, was summed up beautifully by the journalist Joshua Shenk: “Herein lies the key to a good life--not rules to follow, nor problems to avoid-- but an engaged humility, an earnest acceptance of life’s pains and promises.”
In other words, one can only carry the burden of a big ego and lots of pride for so long before your proverbial knees will buckle. Don’t take life too seriously. We all have weaknesses. Do you really want to battle your dark side year after year? Or might it just be time to lay down your arms, take a deep breath, and enjoy life. It’s shorter than you think.
3. Happiness Must be Shared
The other night I was watching the movie adaptation of Into the Wild, the true story of Chris McCandless (see above photo which is a self-portrait found undeveloped in McCandless's camera after his death). Fed up with the rat race, McCandless graduated college in the early 1990's, left his worried parents in the dust, sold all his belongings, and ventured deep into the Alaskan wilderness. Before dying of starvation, he seemed to regret his isolationist ways and wrote these last words in his journal, “Happiness only real when shared.” According to the 72 year old study, McCandless was spot on. In the study, those who spent too much alone time ultimately struggled. The happiest subjects in the study were those who sustained meaningful, healthy relationships with friends and family. One can never give enough hugs, say enough "I love you's," and send enough "I miss you's."
As I emphasize in my book and to my own crazy self each and every day: Livin' the good life is not fancy trips, and expensive jewels, and high brow country clubs. Rather, livin' the good life is livin' the moment!
*This study was reported in the media for the first time by ATLANTIC MAGAZINE, June 2009
by David Romanelli (www.yeahdave.com)
5 Keys to Happiness
You've watched "Seinfeld" re-runs, splurged on yourself and downed pints of Ben and Jerry's. Nothing's helping. Maybe you're one of the 20 million Americans diagnosed with depression, you're bottoming out or you just want something to improve your day.
Here are five ways — some admittedly challenging — to help you get that much-needed mood boost:
1. Pick good parents
Genes do not provide free passes from the doldrums, and other external factors will still try to mow you down. But, heredity could provide some people with a horde of happiness that they can draw from when the good times aren’t rolling.
And Canadian researchers' ability to genetically stifle depression in mice in 2006 indicates that human happiness could one day be improved by manipulating genes. This was the first time science throttled the throes of any organism. Mice bred to be void of the gene, called TREK-1, acted as if they had been downing anti-depressants for at least three weeks.
2. Give it away
It only takes $5 spent on others to make you happier on a given day, according to a 2008 study. And selfless acts can also help your marriage become a more enjoyable experience for you and your spouse.
After performing good deeds, people are happier and feel their life has more purpose. But is the act selfless if you expect something in return? Maybe it just depends on how you look at it.
3. Ponder this
Think of a happy place. And you, too, like Happy Gilmore, might sink that putt and earn back your grandmother's house — or overcome your own hurdle.
Humans are more resilient than we think and can endure trying times, as demonstrated in a 2005 study that tracked mood changes in dialysis patients. They were in a good mood most of the time despite having their blood cleaned three times a week for at least three months. But healthy patients envisioned a miserable life when asked to imagine adhering to this demanding schedule.
As Winston Churchill said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
4. Work out
Consistently breaking a sweat, along with medication and counseling can help people battling depression by sapping lonely and vulnerable feelings.
Exercise improves one's state of mind in part by affecting the body's levels of two chemicals: cortisol and endorphins. The adrenal glands of angry or scared people produce cortisol. This increases blood pressure and blood sugar, weakens the immune response and can lead to organ inflammation and damage. But working out burns cortisol, restoring the body's normal levels.
Running, biking or using an aerobic exercise machine also causes the brain to release endorphins — the body's natural pain relievers — into the bloodstream. The body foregoes the negative side effects of drugs while still experiencing a natural high. To gain the most from your workout, make sure its intensity reflects your stress level. And challenge your body to continually adapt by varying the exercise’s length and intensity.
5. Live long
If you have the right genes and are selfless, optimistic and active but still find yourself down in the dumps, just give it some time.
A study of 2 million people from 80 nations released in January found that depression is most common among adults in their mid-40s. Among Americans, the worst of times hit women around age 40 and men about age 50.
But with age humans are more inclined to filter out the negatives while focusing on what they enjoy.
Americans in their golden years tend to see the glass as half full, despite their increased doctor visits and chemo treatments. After battling cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other health-related obstacles, 500 independent Americans from age 60 to 98 rated their own degree of successful aging as 8.4 on average, with 10 being the highest in a 2005 study.
Happiness, it seems, takes time.
5 Keys to Happiness By Greg Soltis, LiveScience Staff
posted: 22 August 2008 10:16 am ET