01 Jun Become more mindful and enjoy more happiness
via the Mayo Clinic by Micah Dorfner
Many people wait around for happiness to find them, when in reality it’s sometimes only a positive thought away. Being happy can be a choice you make. There are many small techniques you can try to create a happier and more enjoyable life.
What science says about happiness
“Research has shown you have control over your happiness,” explains Stacy Blackburn, D.O., Mayo Clinic Health System family physician. “It all relates back to your personality and also your thoughts and behaviors, which can be changed.”
While some people think landing their dream job or driving a fancy car will bring them lots of joy, this is not often the case. On average, people who have wealth, beauty or less stress are no happier than anyone else.
This is great news for many, because there are ways to live a happier life that don’t reflect your income or appearance. Happy people seem to build their life choices around five pillars, says Dr. Blackburn. They include:
- Appreciating what you have
- Devoting time to friends and family
- Feeling a sense of purpose
- Living in the moment
- Maintaining an optimistic outlook
Choose optimism
Optimism is one aspect of your life over which you have complete control. Being optimistic involves seeing your situation from the positive side instead of the negative. It can be easy for negative thoughts to take over, but they don’t have to. If you aren’t naturally an optimistic person, there are ways you can challenge your pessimistic thinking. Dr. Blackburn suggests combating negative thoughts by recognizing them and asking these questions:
- Is the situation really as bad as I think?
- Is there another way to look at the situation?
- What can I learn from this experience that I can use in the future?
…keep reading the full & original article HERE