When you’re unhappy your whole world feels like it’s caving in around you. You’re dissatisfied with work, you’re disappointed with where you are in life, you’re unhappy with your relationships, and so on. Are you ready to get happy now? Do these five things today and you’ll be happily surprised at how they turn your thinking around.
Random Acts of Kindness: Random acts of kindness do wonders for the soul. When you are kind to others it not only makes you feel good (moral, positive, optimistic) it also makes you happier over time. A study done at the University of California found that when people do random acts of kindness once a week (just once a week!) they find the most happiness.
Writing About Good Stuff: Too often people use their journals for the bad and the ugly, and exclude the good. Journals are a great way to put your feelings out there without sharing them with someone else. They help you clarify your thoughts, solve your problems, know yourself on a deeper level and can help you reduce your stress; and in turn feel happier. But don’t leave out the good stuff. There is so much to be thankful for.
Take Time To Do Nothing: Nothing at all. No phone. No TV. No screaming kids. Just. Do. Nothing. This is a hard practice for a lot of people which is why many of us are running around at full speed 24/7 wondering why we’re so unhappy. Happiness doesn’t come from business. Not giving yourself time to do nothing will further and further disconnect you from your spiritual needs.
List What You’re Grateful For: More and more studies are being done on gratitude because of the positive effects people experience when they take time to be grateful and acknowledge what they have vs. focusing on what they’re lacking. If you want to be happy now, you need to focus on what you have to be happy about.
Meditate: Meditation is another do-nothing practice. Through meditation you let your mind rest. Our crazy lives put a lot of stress on our minds, but most people don’t take the time to detox their stressful minds. Sleep helps the mind rest, but have you ever had a stressful day only to fall asleep and have nightmare after nightmare? Meditation teaches the mind how to calm itself. This retrains the mind to flush unnecessary worries.
If you want to be happier -if you want a life filled with more joy- these five practices are the answer. Don’t believe me? Go out right now and do something kind for a random stranger. I promise it’ll put you on cloud nine.
Share your random act of kindness in the comments below. I’d love to hear and so would others!!!!!
Note to self: take time to do nothing. 🙂
I journal everyday. It’s been a ritual of mine for years. Not only am I able to put my feelings on paper, I can look back at each day and remember it vividly.
I’ve been doing meditation for about 2 months now. Seeing big differences! I feel more awake during the day, I feel clearer, I’m not as drowsy. It’s working wonders!