Well Being Hub #2

What makes people happy?

There have been many studies done over the years in many different countries and there seems to be 12 things that happy people do differently to most.

1. Savour everyday moments - Deep happiness cannot exist unless you slow down to enjoy the joy.  So slow down long enough to enjoy those small simple things in life that often give us pleasure.  "Don't hurry.  Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So stop and smell the roses." - Walter Hagen.
2. Give it away - Generous people are happier people.  They practice acts of kindness because selflessly helping others is a super powerful way to feel good inside.  "Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.  Happiness never decreases from being shared." - Buddha.
3. Practice spirituality - When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognise that life is bigger than just us.  We surrender the notion that we are the mightiest thing ever.  "The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it." - Henri J.M. Nouwen.
4. Make friends and treasure family - The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships.  You should always nurture your relationships.  "Good friends are like diamonds previous and rare, false friends are like autumn leaves; found everywhere." - Anonymous
5. Get out and exercise - Taking care of yourself is crucial to being the happiest person you can.  Exercise helps the brain as much as it helps the body.  "Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." - Carol Welch
6. Express gratitude - when you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value.  If we aren't thankful for what we already have, we will have a hard time ever being happy.  "The hardest arithmetic to master is is that which enables us to count our blessings." - Eric Hoffer.
7. Learn to forgive - harbouring feelings of hatred is horrible for your well-being.  Hatred leads to bitterness and anger which will eat you up from within.  "The angry man will defeat himself in battle as well as in life." - Samurai proverb.
8. Set meaningful goals - Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere.  The process of working towards a goal is as important to well-being as attaining the goal.  "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford.
9. Avoid comparisons and over thinking - Don't compare yourself with others.  Comparing yourself with others can be poisonous.  The only person you should compare to is yourself before now. "Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." - Dr Suess.
10. Increase flow experiences - Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still.  It's when you're so focused on what you're doing that you become one with the task. "Happiness is absorption." - T.E. Lawrence.
11. Be optimistic - Smile even when you don't feel like it.  You should aim to have a culture of optimism.  All ways look for the silver lining. "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein.
12. Develop strategies for coping.  It helps to have healthy strategies for coping, pre-rehearsed, on call and in your arsenal at your disposal.  "I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.  Some from ahead and some from behind.  But I've bought a big bat.  I'm ready you see.  Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!" - Dr Seuss.