5 Ways to Feel Happy
Studies have shown that, on average, happy people actually live longer grumpy people. So it follows that it pays you to feel happy more often. But how can you do that? Check out these 5 ways to feel happy more often.
1. Just smile
Smiling is easy to do.
Even if you're naturally unhappy, you can smile. Honest!
Sure, for the first few times it may look forced - probably because it was - but most people won't take the time to work out whether your smile isn't totally natural before their immediate response of smiling back kicks in.
And as a general rule, smiling people are happy people. Who knows, you may even change the other person's attitude to a happier one. Just by cracking a smile at them.
2. Learn to laugh
Laughter is even more powerful than smiling. It really does change your state to a happier one.
Obviously there is a time and a place for laughter - some situations don't lend themselves to it. But there are lots of places and times where you can laugh out loud and get away with it.
If you're struggling with this concept, tune into a few television comedies and find out which ones are your sense of humor. Then set your TiVo to record the series and make a point of watching it.
3. Find ways to de-stress
Stress has a habit of creeping up on us and sucking the happiness out of our lives.
Sure, there are times when we get stressed out. Especially when the economic climate isn't great.
But you can learn some ways to reduce the amount of stress in your life. Even something simple like a short walk outside can do this - maybe not on a busy high street where you're constantly bumping into people but on a quiet side walk or in a local park or other open space.
Or you could take up a relaxing hobby such as yoga or meditation. Or just listen to some relaxing music.
Take a while to work out what works best to help you cut your stress and relax more.
4. Be grateful
Being grateful for the various things that arrive in your life is a great way to increase your happiness levels.
This could be as simple as just saying "thank you" more often.
Or it could involve actually focussing on the various things you've been grateful for each day. Maybe in a happiness journal that you complete as a matter of routine each night before you go to sleep.
However you go about being grateful, make sure that you bring your focus back to being grateful on a regular basis.
5. Be yourself
So often we wind ourselves up and become unhappy. Often because we are trying to fit ourselves around other people's idea of what we should be.
If you're always seeking the approval of other people then you're almost certainly making a rod for your own back and undermining your attempts to be happy more often.
So take some time out and be yourself rather than trying to act as someone you're not.
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