Happiness is a very intangible and a fleeting concept. One can only experience moments of happiness or a feeling of contentment. Even during good times we know that happiness can be fleeting. Or else life is full of setbacks, distractions, frustrations, uncertainties that can make it difficult to enjoy and maintain genuine happiness and contentment.
The concept of happiness has been somehow wrongly attached to the feeling of being successful. As life can throw up an illness, a loss of a job, or a breakup in a relationship.
Popular psychology and self help books talk about being positive most of the time. Look at the silver lining, focus on the solution and not the problem and seek help. It is easier said than done.
What are we to do? How can we find and hold on to the peace, contentment and joy that we crave?
It is very important to work on our beliefs in life, be prepared for the tough times and smile no matter what. Also, remember that almost every second person has a problem and is facing stress and anxiety.
Let’s focus on a few pointers which can help in the long run.
Practice Mindfullness: Be aware and focus on being responsive and not reactive. Whatever be the situation it is ourside and how we react or talk is within our control. Take a deep breath and slow down. By getting angry or shouting you are not adding any value.
Be kind to yourself- You made a mistake or could not achieve the goal, it doesn’t matter. Be nice and kind to yourself. Afterall, you can be your own worst friend or enemy.
Exercise everyday – Exercise releases oxytocin and helps us feel good and light. No matter what, go for that jog, do your Yoga or dance away your blues.
Get into the happiness “flow” —Cultivate a hobby and be in that happy zone where you’re super engaged and absorbed. Work on your passions and see how time flies happily by. Banish toxic thoughts from your mind. You’ll discover effective ways to cultivate that happy flow and transform “have to” tasks into “want to” pleasures.
Identify your strengths – Find your energy and perform better. Research shows that people who identified their key strength and used it in a new way each week significantly increased happiness and reduced depression.
Magnify gratitude. Be spiritual and thank God for all that you have. Remember, everybody doesn’t get everything and there’s a time for everything. Adversity is the mother of invention. Go build something new, create a product and build strong relationships with friends and family.
Celebrate the simple pleasures in your day – Singing in the rain, playing the guitar, having a good meal are all simple pleasures of life. The abundant sunshine, beach basketball, beautiful nature are all gifts of god. The fact that you can enjoy all of this is reason to be happy.
Be one with the nature and feel the joy.
Rewire your brain – How do we relieve stress? Don’t let stress build up. Being mindful and easy-to-learn techniques can help us relieve anxiety or depression. Focus on the present.
