Here is another great article by Andrew Matthews on 5 Happiness Tips Anyone Can Use. He starts the article with this statement, Happy people don't have less problems. They think differently. All five tips are obvious and easy to do if you really want to. My favourite is quit complaining. You can read the full article here.
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Happiness seems to be the ultimate goal in many people's lives. But seeking happiness is like trying to find the end of a rainbow. The closer you try to get to it, the further away it moves. Happiness isn't something you find when you're looking for it, happiness is something you achieve when you follow a higher goal or purpose, like helping others.
According to www.dictionary.com a natural high is a euphoric or excited state that is not due to ingestion of drugs or another substance. Drugs and alcohol can give you a high but they also have some rather unfortunate side effects such as drug induced psychosis and inhibited judgement. Why not try a natural high - here are some suggestions:
Go for a run Do some vigorous exercise Try yoga or Pilates Eat spicy food - try a vindaloo curry Listen to music Dance Sing or play an instrument Give someone a hug Go bush - go hiking or camping Have a good laugh Do something that scares you (within reason - I'm scared of sharks but that doesn't mean I'm going to go swimming with one to get a natural high) Eat healthy food Eat chocolate (not too much) Do something nice for someone Play frisbee with a friend Bag a bargain at the shops Go for a walk on the beach Go swimming in the ocean (watch out for sharks) Play with a puppy Swing on a swing Watch the sunrise or sunset Make something... Just because you're having a bad day, doesn't mean you have to stay down in the dumps. It's called being resilient when you can bounce back. There's a great article on www.tinybuddha.com by Sirena Bernal on 10 Ways to Turn Around a Bad Day in 10 Minutes or less. The first three are:
1. Sing along to your favourite song 2. Take a shower 3. Watch a funny youTube video. If you want to find our more check out the full article here. In his 2011 TED Talk, Ron Gutman referred to recent research about smiling. Apparently one smile creates the same amount of brain stimulation as eating 2000 chocolate bars! It is also healthier as it reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine while increasing the level of mood enhancing hormones like endorphins - basically it makes you feel better. You can view the whole talk here.
The Sunday Times published this article on the weekend. To feel happier they suggested:
1. Hug someone. 2. Pet an animal. 3. Buy some flowers. 4. Turn up your favourite song. 5. Wear Yellow. If you need more ideas check out this article from www.bodyandsoul.com.au of 100 ways to be happy (Note: not all of them are suitable for teenagers). When you are happy, you smile and apparently, when you smile, you are happy. Psychologists have found that even faking a smile can make you feel happier and help you deal with difficult situations. So next time you find yourself in a stressful situation, grin and bear it! For more information see Andrew Merle's article, The Science of Smiling, in the Huffington Post.
Did you know that helping others makes you feel happier? And what better place to start than home. Why don't you surprise your folks by emptying the dishwasher before you're asked (contrary to popular belief, the dishes don't get in and out on their own and there is no such thing as the dishwasher fairy). They will be impressed by your initiative and helpfulness. They may also be more willing to part with some cash or give you a lift next time you ask.
Today it's World Smile Day - take the time to make someone smile. Research shows that helping other people and making them happy makes you happier too.
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