The secret to happiness, like the secret to success, has long been studied and debated. What makes one person happy could well stress out someone else (take skydiving, for example). Still, psychologists and other researchers have found that some activities and mind-sets appear more than likely to increase joy and contentment.
Help other people. Doing things for others obviously helps them, but research shows it can increase your happiness, too. Big projects that involve a lot of time or money are great. Yet small gestures, done with sincerity, can also do the trick. Call a friend or family member you haven’t spoken with in a while, smile at a stranger, hold the elevator or subway door, let someone merge in front of you on your way to work, and commit other random acts of kindness.
Share a laugh with someone. Not only is laughter the best medicine, it brings people together, increases joy, and counteracts conflict and stress. To add laughter to your day, spend time with happy, funny people, watch funny movies or TV shows, or read the funny pages in your newspaper or online. You could also spend time with children, choose a funny screensaver for your computer, or ask friends and family to tell you the funniest thing that happened to them today.
Take time to play. Playfulness helps anyone of any age be more resilient, happy, flexible, and creative. It teaches us to manage and transform stress and negative emotions, too. It’s easy to be playful with pets and children. But looking for ways to play with grown-ups at work and home is a great way to increase the strength and health of your relationships.
Embrace joy by trying one of the above suggestions today.
Article from the StayWell Company, LLC