| As mentioned in my previous post What Is Real | | | | perspiring. Sound minds reside in sound |
| Happiness, there are paradoxes surrounding | | | | bodies. Read my post "Why I Wake Up At 6 am |
| wealth and happiness, which drive everyone to | | | | Every Morning" on my experiences benefiting |
| its pursuit. The reality is, there are | | | | from daily morning run. |
| sufficient evidences to show a significant | | | | |
| disconnect between wealth and well-being. | | | | Have Enough Rest. Happy people live active |
| | | | vigorous lives yet reserve time for renewing |
| Based on the research findings, you will know | | | | sleep and solitude. Many people suffer from |
| that happiness can be elusive and yet | | | | sleep deficiency, with resulting fatigue, |
| attainable. | | | | diminished alertness, and gloomy moods. If |
| | | | insomnia is the cause, try to restore balance |
| The following are suggestions on how you can | | | | in life, exercise regularly, have proper |
| increase your happiness: | | | | diet, get a massage, practice yoga and |
| | | | meditation. |
| Realize That Wealth Does Not Create Permanent | | | | |
| Happiness. People adapt to changing | | | | Give Priority to Close Relationships. |
| circumstances-even to wealth or a disability. | | | | Intimate friendships with those who care |
| Thus wealth is like health: Its utter absence | | | | deeply about you can help you weather |
| breeds misery, but having it (or any | | | | difficult times. Confiding is good for soul |
| circumstance we long for) doesn't guarantee | | | | and body. Resolve to nurture your closest |
| happiness. | | | | relationships: to not take those closest to |
| | | | you for granted, to display to them the sort |
| - "The mind of every man, in a longer or | | | | of kindness that you display to others, to |
| shorter time, returns to its natural and | | | | affirm them, to play together and share |
| usual state of tranquillity. In prosperity, | | | | together. |
| after a certain time, it falls back to that | | | | |
| state; in adversity, after a certain time, it | | | | Focus Beyond Self. Reach out to those in |
| rises up to it." | | | | need. Happiness increases helpfulness (those |
| | | | who feel good do good). As true as the |
| - Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, | | | | saying "what goes around comes around", doing |
| 1759 | | | | good also makes one feel good. Being opened |
| | | | to the needs of surrounding people also help |
| Be Your Own Time Master. Happy people are | | | | you avoid dwelling in your own misery. |
| master of time management, and hence often | | | | |
| feel in control of their lives. It helps to | | | | Be Grateful. People who keep a gratitude |
| set goals and break them into daily aims. | | | | journal-who pause each day to reflect on some |
| Although we often overestimate how much we | | | | positive aspect of their lives (their health, |
| will accomplish in any given day (leaving us | | | | friends, family, freedom, education, senses, |
| frustrated), we generally underestimate how | | | | natural surroundings, and so on.) experience |
| much we can accomplish in a year, given just | | | | heightened well-being. |
| a little progress every day. | | | | |
| | | | - "I cried because I had no shoes," states a |
| Be Happy, Even Deliberately. We can | | | | Persian saying, "until I met a man who had no |
| deliberately put ourselves into a frame of | | | | feet." |
| mind by starting it with physical action. | | | | |
| When you feel moody, look at the mirror and | | | | Learn Not To Compare. Most of the misery of |
| put on a bright smile to yourself. It | | | | people comes from comparing with others who |
| ignites the energy of joyful emotion, which | | | | are better or have more. This is the |
| makes you feel better and trigger subsequent | | | | definite source of discontent and a perpetual |
| positive moods. When you meet people | | | | sense of lack. It may continue to drive you |
| outside, your energy can be felt by people | | | | to achieve more, but for the wrong reasons. |
| and brings forth mutually contagious effect. | | | | It is like the rat on the treadmill, |
| So put on a happy face. Talk like someone | | | | constantly chasing its tail until exhaustion. |
| with high self-esteem, optimistic, and | | | | It puts a person on over-drive without any |
| outgoing. Once you go through the motions, | | | | sense of fulfillment. If there is any |
| it can trigger the emotions. As Mary Kay | | | | happiness from achieving, it is often |
| said: "Fake it until you make it" | | | | fleeting. When you stop comparing with |
| | | | others, you get started on the path of |
| Align Work with Passion. As mentioned in my | | | | freedom. |
| previous post Experiencing Flow State, happy | | | | |
| people often are in a psychological state | | | | - "Our poverty became a reality. Not because |
| called "in the zone" called "in the flow" - | | | | of our having less, but by our neighbors |
| when one is completely absorbed in a task | | | | having more." |
| that challenges them yet without overwhelming | | | | |
| them. Most of the expensive forms of leisure | | | | - Will Campbell, Brother to a Dragonfly, 1977 |
| (such as sitting on a yacht) provide less | | | | |
| flow experience than gardening, playing | | | | Nurture Your Spiritual Self. For many people, |
| musical instruments, painting, keeping fish, | | | | faith provides a support community, a reason |
| socializing, or craftwork. | | | | to focus beyond self, and a sense of purpose |
| | | | and hope. Study after study finds that |
| Be Physically Active. It has become a known | | | | actively religious people are happier and |
| fact the exercise not only promotes health | | | | that they cope better with crises. |
| and energy, it is also an antidote for mild | | | | |
| depression and anxiety. Go for gym, jogging, | | | | May you live a life of pure and permanent |
| swimming, yoga, aerobics, Pilates, and | | | | happiness! |
| anything that works your body and gets you | | | | |