I saw a film-"Pursuit of Happyness".It has a great line said by Will Smith-"I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the pursuit part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How did he know that? ".Yes happiness is ephemeral, it is subjected to everything from the day's weather to the size of your bank account.
If you think you can you can reach a permanent state called "happiness" and remain there,you are mistaken.But there are many ways to deviate from the path of anxiety, anger, frustration, and sadness into a state of happiness once or even several times throughout the day. Here are some ideas that you can follow everyday,that may bring you closer to happiness ,every now and then.
Make a list of things you got to do.There's nothing like writing down your tasks to help you organize your thoughts and calm your anxiety.Checking off each item provides a great sense of fulfillment and confidence to do other rather difficult things.Also making a note of important things to do, will make sure that you don't fulfill something and later regret it.
Never rush into things,just take your time-Do one thing at a time.A psychological study found that people who multitask are more likely to have high blood pressure. Take that finding to your mind. Instead of talking on the phone while you fold laundry or clean the kitchen, sit down in a comfortable chair and turn your entire attention over to the conversation.Instead of checking e-mail as you work on other projects, turn off your e-mail function until you finish the report you're writing. This is similar to the concept of mindfulness.Practice mindfulness. Be present in the moment rather than wandering off with your thoughts. Instead of worrying about your checkup tomorrow while you have dinner with your family, focus on the here and now the food, the company they give, the conversation!.
Humor or Laughter is the best medicine ,they say.And it's true to the core.Laugh out loud when you get the chance,don't refrain yourself from expressing your feelings. Just anticipating a happy, funny event can raise levels of endorphins and other pleasure-inducing hormones and lower production of stress hormones. Researchers at the University of California, tested 16 men who all agreed they thought a certain videotape was funny. Half were told three days in advance they would watch it. They started experiencing biological changes right away. When they actually watched the video, their levels of stress hormones dropped significantly, while their endorphin levels rose 27 percent and their growth hormone had risen up to 87% (indicating benefit to the immune system).
Music is a very good stress reliever.It can get you into any mood-sadness, anxiety, energetic,calm,etc., so hum along the songs whenever you can because music soothes more than the savage beast!. Studies find music activates parts of the brain that produce happiness (the same parts activated by food or sex!). It's also relaxing. In one study older adults who listened to their choice of music during outpatient eye surgery had significantly lower heart rates, blood pressure, and cardiac workload (that is, their heart didn't have to work as hard).But make sure that you don't overdo this music thing and get yourself a headache!.
Go to sleep for your health sake,our nation has become a nation of sleep-deprived citizens.Taking a daily nap or getting into bed at 8.30 p.m. one night with a good book and turning the light out an hour later can do more for your mood and outlook on life than any number of therapies or massages.Because deprived of sleep,your whole body cannot cope up with the physical and mental activity that follows.You are more prone to become restless and even before you know it, anxiety and frustration will be hitting harder at you than Dhoni!
Try to declutter and keep things in order. It's nearly impossible to meditate, breathe deeply, or simply relax when every surface is covered with papers and bills and magazines, your workload thoughts, and your thought and worries about money.Clean both your minds and your environment frequently(atleast you own room).Plus, the repetitive nature of certain cleaning tasks such as sweeping,cleaning, wiping, and scrubbing can be meditative in and of itself if you focus on what you're doing.
We have a famous tag line - "Just do it!" but I'd suggest "Just say no".Eliminate activities that aren't necessary and that you don't enjoy. If there are enough people already to handle the your accessory projects and you're feeling stressed by the thought of running the committee for yet another year, step down and let someone else handle things.This not only goes for the things that require responsibility,little things that might not need your attention should be kept as it is- without your attention to it.
The green thinking and doing the green thing has become a hot topic these days.try gardening if you have the opportunity to do so.Not only will the fresh air and exercise provide their own stress reduction and feeling of well-being, but the sense of accomplishment that comes from clearing a weedy patch, watching seeds turn into flowers, or pruning out dead wood will last for hours, if not days.And you can be content that you've contributed a small part of what you could for the improvement of the surrounding environment.
Get disconnected from the news. For one week go without reading the newspaper, watching the news, or scanning the headlines online. Instead, take a vacation from the misery we're exposed to every day via the media and use that time for a walk, a meditation session, or to write in your journal or personal diary.It might seem ridiculous but until you are a politician or businessman, you would prefer a happy thought than knowing someone has died or someone was murdered!.We are all in a fake thirst for information,this makes us vulnerable to media, especially we are prone to more negativity through news.
You have a pet,perhaps a dog?take your dog(or even a neighbor's) for a walk. There are numerous studies that attest to the stress-relieving benefits of pets. In one analysis researchers evaluated the heart health of 240 couples, half of whom owned a pet. Those couples with pets had significantly lower heart rates and blood pressure levels when exposed to stresses than the couples who did not have pets(In fact, the pets worked even better at buffering stress than the spouses did !)
Enjoy the air around you!.This might not be possible always, since most of the time we are exposed to a lot of smoke and other harmful pollutants.But whenever you get a chance-if you happened to have a garden or if your work place has a garden or even in the early morning, have a scent of the air around you.Research finds that the benefits of aromatherapy in relieving stress are real. In one study people exposed to rosemary had lower anxiety levels, increased alertness, and performed math computations faster(that doesn't mean you kill others by using a strong dose of perfume everyday!). Adults exposed to lavender showed an increase in the type of brain waves that suggest increased relaxation. Today you have a variety of room-scenting methods, from plug-in air fresheners to essential oil diffusers, potpourri, and scented candles, take your pick!.
If you are a businessman,ignore the stock market and think about your family and friends for sometimes every now and then. Simply getting your quarterly statement can be enough to send your blood pressure skyrocketing. In fact, Chinese researchers found a direct link between the daily performance of the stock market and the mental health of those who closely followed it. Clever investors know that time heals most financial wounds, so give your investments time and give yourself a break now and then.
You probably already know that exercise is better than aspirin or sleeping pills or tranquilizers for relieving anxiety and stress. But what you do with your mind while you're walking can make your walk even more beneficial.You can always kindle your thoughts by pondering about your environment, the wonders of nature rather than thinking what you're going to do at work that day.It will help you relax your mind and get you thinking creatively.
Never forget to give priority to close relationships. One study of more than 1,300 men and women of various ages found that those who had a lot of supportive friends were much more likely to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar metabolism, and stress hormone levels than those with two or fewer close friends.Studies also find that people who feel lonely, depressed, and isolated are three to five times more likely to get sick and die prematurely than those who have feelings of love, connection, and community.(It's time to get social!)
If you are religious, then take care of the soul. In study after study, actively religious people are happier and cope better with crises. For many people faith provides a mental support , a sense of life's meaning, feelings of ultimate acceptance, a reason to focus beyond yourself, and a timeless perspective on life's woes. Even if you're not religious, a strong belief in things, yourself and the people around you can make the difference.Because a little trust can go a long way in you life in building relations.
Visit a quiet place. Libraries, museums, gardens, and places of worship provide islands of peace and calm in today's frantic world. Find a quiet place near your house and make it your secret getaway. Most people prefer the beaches at the early morning time.Some prefer parks at the same time of the day.Whatever it is, try to be in a place where you can hear "silence!".Although relationships are one of the best antidotes to stress, sometimes you need time alone to recharge and reflect. Take yourself out to lunch or to a movie, or simply spend an afternoon reading, browsing in a bookstore, or doing your favorite hobby(not watching tv, you need to spend time alone, interacting with your thoughts).
Finally,volunteer for activities. Helping others enables you to put your own problems into perspective and also provides social interaction. While happy people are more likely to help others, helping others increases your happiness. One study found that volunteer work enhanced all six aspects of well-being: happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and depression.
