Have you ever determined to achieve something, worked steadily at it, and finally got it! Happiness is the same way; it can be obtained. You may have heard the saying it takes more muscles to smile than to frown. There is some work involved in being happy. And the reward is great.
First, let yourself be happy. Give yourself permission to be happy. Sometimes we feel guilty about being happy because other people are suffering or because folks will be uncomfortable with us. Or maybe we just don’t think we deserve to be happy. It’s okay to be happy. In fact, part of the struggle of life is to move away from unpleasantness towards more pleasantness. If life is short, then why not be happy on this brief journey.
Next, determine to be happy. Decide that you are going to enjoy that cup of coffee or that extra snooze in the morning, not just do it, but being happy while you do. A study found that workers who smiled because of cultivating positive thoughts exhibited improved mood and less withdrawal.
Smile your way to happiness. You may have heard that smiles, just like yawns, are infectious. While affecting others and making them smile, smiling infects us too! Whether we are laughing at ourselves and the human mistakes we make or smiling because we remember a joke, smiling can trigger feelings of happiness and foster a more positive outlook on life.
And this positive mindset helps us deal with challenges better, which reinforces the positive outlook ultimately creating a positive feedback loop of resilience and happiness.
Finally, practice gratitude. Here is a simple exercise: take 5 minutes before bed and reflect on your day. As you scan your day, ignore the negative things (there will never be a shortage of those!) and consider 5 things that worked out well, or went as planned, or happened to you through the generosity of others. Maybe a near accident or a small breakthrough in a family member’s treatment. Going to bed with a grateful heart will give you better sleep.
