Many people try to do everything they can to achieve happiness. In fact, as Aristotle says, 'Happiness is an activity'. So, no need to wait until you have a house or a luxury car to feel happy.
"There are many things in life that may happen to us, but there are many other things we can do, and being happy is one of them," said Jason Wheeler, PhD, a psychoanalyst in New York City.
Wheeler and two therapists try to share strategies to help us stay positive, even during times of stress. Here, there are four steps to making happiness present in our lives every day.
Write down gratitude
Not only in the heart, studies show that expressing gratitude in writing can lead to health benefits, such as more sound sleep and lower the risk of depression.
"If I feel down or anxious, I will write a list of things I can be grateful for today and say thank you for those things," says Kasi Howard's therapist, PsyD. "This method is able to reset my mindset and stop contemplating things that are stressful.This is also great in improving your mood. "
Ready to try it for yourself? Howard challenges you to make a list of things that make you feel happier and grateful for 21 days.
Run
"Running is a source of sanity for me," Howard said. "Not just stress-reducing, running also gives me the opportunity to discover new ideas."
There was a scientific reason why Howard felt so happy after a sweaty running session. Exercise causes an adrenaline surge throughout the body, followed by an endorphin release that improves mood.
Even a relatively simple sport can also make a difference. One recent study found that mild physical activity has been associated with greater emotional benefits than with moderate and high intensity exercise. Let's sweat, smile, and repeat.
Connect with others
"I spend a bit of quiet time with my husband every day to talk about 'us'," says Gail Saltz, MD. "Doing so keeps our relationship strong, and it makes me happy."
According to Saltz, positive communication is the key to happiness in all relationships, especially romantic relationships.
Not just yoga
Meditation in yoga can make the mind more focused and clear, which ultimately directs the mind in a positive direction, making it easier to find happiness. However, if you are a man who did not think to beryoga, swimming can be an option. Natural repetitive movements during swimming can help you to think attentively.
"To swim well, I have to concentrate only on what I do," Wheeler explains. "I focus on myself during breathing and moving, so when I'm done I do not feel pain, but it's fresh and energized," Wheeler says, adding that 30 minutes to an hour of swimming is the perfect meditation break during busy days.