19 Oct 3 keys to lasting happiness
by Randy Taran from the Huffington Post
If you had to choose three keys to lasting happiness, what would they be? For me, those keys are gratitude, connecting with others and giving. It is not rocket science, although science has proven how these habits can make you live longer, enjoy better health and get more joy out of life.
Gratitude: A simple practice of writing down or otherwise reflecting on a few things you are grateful for has huge benefits. Psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough have researched that gratitude is the "forgotten factor" in happiness research. The benefits of expressing gratitude range from improved physical health to improved mental alertness.
People who express gratitude are also more likely to offer emotional support to others. Even little things count, like being grateful for that delicious bowl of soup, exchanging a special smile or noticing how your pet greets you when you get home. Just jotting these down even a few times a week changes your neural pathways and actually makes you happier.
Connection: In our culture, there are all sorts of classic heroes — often loners who make their way despite all obstacles. Yet, there is an underlying longing for connection that we all share at some level. The Dalai Lama points out, "We human beings are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others' actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others' activities. For this reason, it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others."
The next 2 keys to lasting happiness are "giving" and "making it real" but to read the full and original article JUST CLICK HERE
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