Ways to Get Happy

It may seem trite to suggest ways to help yourself or others be happy, or happier, but research has shown that it is something that we can actually work at and improve.

Are you are glass half full kinda person or a glass half empty one?

This relates to your outlook on life and whether you are an optimist or a pessimist - how you view each and every situation.  Optimists, who see the glass half full, tend to believe that good things will happen; they anticipate the best possible outcome.  Pessimists, who see the glass as half empty, believe that things will probably go wrong; they emphasise or focus on the worst possible income.

A study done in the 1950's, at the reputable Mayo Clinic, proved that optimists lived 8 years longer. Apparently this is because optimism can affect your health including your immune system, your heart and help you to recover from an illness. The word “optimism” actually comes from the Latin word “optimus” which means best or best outcome.

Habits of thinking need not be forever. One of the most significant findings in psychology in the last twenty years is that individuals can choose the way they think. ~ Martin Seligman

Ways to get happy.
So here are some suggestions, from the experts, to help us get happy:

• look for good things, no matter how small
• focus on the good things
• make a list of things that make you happy
• now make a list of the happy things that are actually in your life
• cherish the good things: enjoy doing one or more things that are on your happy list every day
• keep company with optimists as it may rub off on you
• watch positive TV shows and movies
• read positive news
• read positive uplifting books
• help others: giving and helping has been proven to uplift even the most depressed

If you're interested in learning more optimism techniques you might want to read Professor Seligman's book, Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life  Martin Seligman is a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania.

What techniques do you already use to help you get happy? If you try one of these ideas, let me know how it helps.

RESOURCES:
The Long Life Equation: 100 Factors That Determine How Long You'll Live by Dr Trisha Macnair
The Learned Optimism Test: adapted from Martin Segilman's book and audio book Learned Optimism.

This article was contributed by Lesley Tauranac