Happiness is an inside job. Do you believe this? I do and I did a bit of research and thinking outside the box about what makes people happy. Here are 8 habits that you can develop to create more happiness in your life.
Spend time in nature. Here’s a quote from Barbara Fredrickson’s book, Positivity.
“When the weather is good, you need to be ready. Locate a dozen places you can get to in a matter of minutes that will connect you to green or blue, to trees, water, or sky. These have been shown to boost positivity. Perhaps a few natural spots bloom just steps from your door. If so, explore them thoroughly. Make them your own.”
Practice mindfulness every day. Practicing mindfulness is about being present in the moment, right here, right now. Focusing on the past or projecting into the future distracts us from the present moment.
Stop to smell the roses. This is about pausing to acknowledge and appreciate the good things in your life. It can be as simple as stopping to feel the sun shining on your face. a smile from a stranger, listening to a bird singing and savoring the moment. This simple practice can really increase your happiness.
Celebrate other’s successes. Rejoice when some shares a victory with you. Ask them to share the experience with you and be happy for them.
Practice gratitude. Focusing on what you have instead of what you don’t have is a key element in being happy. Consider keeping a gratitude journal.
Forgive yourself and others. Learn to let go of anger, resentments, negative thoughts, being hard on yourself, and judging yourself and others. You will be amazed at how much happier you feel.
Be hopeful and optimistic. When you are hopeful, you feel positive, excited, motivated, energized and happy. If you are merely surviving, a hopeful attitude can help you to thrive.
Practice self-compassion. Instead of being self-critical, treat yourself with love, caring, kindness and compassion, just like you would treat a good friend.
What about you? How happy are you on a scale of 1-10?
How can you incorporate some of these “Happiness Habits” into your daily life?
I invite you to join me at my February retreat, Happiness is an Inside Job. Please visit my website for details. http://nancyjambor.com/events/