08 Oct Practice these 10 Positive Psychology Strategies…because then you’ll be happier!
Thanks, for this article, go to Linda Esposito and Psychology Today
You can read all the anxiety advice in the world, but none of it matters unless you take action. To feel better you have to ruthlessly focus your efforts on those things that reduce your anxiety, and increase positive emotions, and stop doing the things that keep you down, tense, and awake at night.
Today I’m going to make it easier for you to feel happier. Your part is to set aside at least 5-60 minutes per day to tackle one of the steps below.
The more tasks you complete, the more progress you’ll make.
You’ve probably already familiar with some of these exercises, but if you’re still feeling unhappy, indecisive and irritable, I guarantee you haven’t done all of them.
I’m a huge fan of Positive Psychology, and the work of Dr. Martin Seligman. Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and positive traits that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to accentuate their positive traits, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.
Positive Psychology emphasizes gratitude, and this is especially important if you're raising children. Research on teens shows that giving back boosts positive emotions, mental health, life satisfaction, and increases their motivation to use their positive strengths to contribute society.
Here's to improving your happiness, and paying it forward to service others.
Action #1: Know that Life Hurts, but Happiness is the Cure
Happy and unhappy people have the same pain and trauma. The difference is happy people possess a disposition which helps them bounce back very quickly. When you cultivate a happier attitude, you become less dependent on external sources of validation, and trust your thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
The following 5 facts highlight happiness as a key factor in reducing anxiety:
-
Happy people are smarter and more creative
-
Happy people have more stable and happy marriages
-
Happy people make more money
-
Happy people are healthier and live longer
-
Happy people are more generous
Don’t wait to start your attitude adjustment. The sooner you do this, the faster you’ll develop the motivation to change your anxious ways. Writing #1 took me 30 seconds, and now I’ll feel better for the rest of the day!
Action #2: Start a Gratitude Journal
When we ruminate about negatives events, we lose perspective. Keep a simple journal of what you’re grateful for, and write three things daily at least twice per week. Refer to your journal when you feel down.
Action #3: Add the Gratitude Diary
When you understand why you see the world the way you do, you’ll begin to see that you have complete control over your emotions. The Gratitude Diary is more in-depth than the Gratitude Journal and highlights how you got from a negative thought to a more positive one.
Let’s face it, most of us are experts in finding negative situations. But do you know how you make the transition from a bad mood to a good one? Each day, write 3–5 things that you liked.?
-
What happened to me?
-
Why did it happen?
-
What did I do right?
-
How did I help it happen?
-
Why did I do that?
Then write one thing that you didn’t like.
-
And how is it keeping me stuck?
-
When I am stuck, what are the thoughts and actions that get me unstuck and in a better mood?
After repeating this daily, you’ll begin to see your negative thought patterns. Instead of ruminating on what’s not going right, you can re-focus your mental energy on doing things differently…
…keep reading the full & original article HERE