39 posts tagged “happiness” (page 2)
Today's excerpt from Better than Chocolate.. for those keeping track this is post 28 out of 50.
We all like a good smooch. Maybe because a kiss is a form of affectionate interaction with another person, maybe because we like how it feels, maybe simply because it indicates that someone really likes us. (In some cases, really, really likes us!) Whatever the reason, science backs up what most of us intuitively feel - that kissing makes us feel happier!
so, are you kissing enough? Could you arrange more kissing moments with your partner? Or if you're single could you figure out more ways to get some lip smacking in your life? However you manage it, remember that kissing may be a simple thing - but it can have a truly wonderful effect on your smile-o-meter.
Believe it or not, there has been loads of research on smiling and the power it has to improve a persons mood. Put simply, if you smile you are likely to feel happier.
Researcher Rachel Kettner and Lee-Anne Hather of the Univeristy of California studied class photos from a 1961 yearbook of Mills College, a women's college in Oakland, California. Astonishingly, they found that the women who were smiling broadly and genuinely in the photos were on average, experiencing significantly more happiness in their lives thirty years later.
Also, lets not forget that smiling at people in your environment tends to put them in a better mood too! As the saying goes, smile and the whole world smiles with you.
No Erin this does not mean what you think it does :)
Over the years, I have often seen friends with little to do slipping into a state of mild depression and lethargy. My observation has been backed up by recent research in the field of Positive Psychology. Apparently the brain craves "ordered consciousness" and is happier when it has a series of challenging tasks to do.
if you are experiencing down times, create a daily to-do list each morning and get busy! When life seems gloomy, the less time you have to think (and think and think) about your situation, the happier you will often be.
2 Posts today because I missed yesterday. Yes Erin you win but I am not sure how Christian it is go gloat or revel in other people's failures.
Several decades ago, Abraham Maslow became famous in psychology circles with his theory of Self-Actualization. In order to feel that all our needs are being met, Maslow believed that we need to find our calling. He claimed that, to be lastingly happy, we need the opportunity to unlock our inner potential.
According to Maslow, self actualizers have developed a wide range of abilities, including:
self acceptance
the ability to maintain loving relationships
freedoms from social pressures and conformity
a clear sense of purpose and meaning in life
Which of these could you work on to enhance your life satisfaction? What could you do to release your inner potential and get closer to your calling?
Excerpt from Better than Chocolate!
Twenty years of research by Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School shows that people who mediate regularly are usually happier than those who don't. Not sure how to meditate? He suggests the strait forward technique:
1. Choose simple, positive word, such as "calm", "love", "one", or "peace"
2. Repeat that word to yourself for 10 or 20 minutes. You can either say the word aloud or just in your head every second or two.
3. Try to clear away everyday thoughts that come up and steer your focus back toward your repetition.
It's that easy - and that hard!
Today's excerpt from Better than Chocolate!
Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, is one of the three great philosophical schools of ancient China. The Tao Te Ching, the main text of Taoism, is the most translated work in the world other than the Bible.
Taoists believe that happiness can be found by following a nature. For instance, water always travels around rocks, so we should try to go around problems rather than plough directly through them. When a tiger's belly is full, it stops hunting - in the same way, we should not work constantly or take more than we need. You get the picture.
It's a fact that people's moods improve when they meet new people. It's easy to get into a social rut and only hang out with the same old friends. Yet weren't these great old friends once new acquaintances?
There is a strong connection between how many friends we have and how happy we tend to be. Happiness researcher Ed Diener has shown that the happiest people have both more casual and more close friends than the average person.
The truth is there are probably hundreds of people in your area who could become great pals, if only you took the time to meet them. Join a club, take up a hobby, or attend a new social event each week. Creating regular opportunities to meet new people isn't just fun - it will inevitably lead to new lifelong friends.
This one is just at the wire!
L-tyrosine is an amino acid you can take to keep your mood up and your mind serene. The U.S.Army discovered that L-Tyrosine was able to ward off depression and many of the effects of stress amongst the soliders it tested.
It's easy to find sources of L-Tyrosine: chicken, turkey and most types of seafood are best. If you are a vegetarian, don't worry! You can get ample amounts of L-tyrosine from tofu, beans, peas and lentils. Or ask at your local health-food shop for an amino acid supplement that contains L-tyrosine.
As always: Todays post from a book I have called Better Than Chocolate - 50 Proven ways to feel Happier by Siimon Reynolds
The mind can easily be guided toward thinking happy thoughts with the use of simple questions. Regularly asking ourselves the following questions can have a noted effect on our life satisfaction:
1. What am I happy about in my life?
2. What is going well?
3. What am I excited about?
4. What can I look forward to?
For best results, ask yourself these questions each morning and at the end of the day. Be sure to take a few minutes to dwell on the pleasant and inspiring answers.
As always: Todays post from a book I have called Better Than Chocolate - 50 Proven ways to feel Happier by Siimon Reynolds
In today's society many of us simply do not get enough sleep. A regular shortage of sleep not only makes us physically tired - it also lowers mood and increases irritability, according to sleep therapist and happiness psychologist Timothy Sharp.
Ideal sleep amounts very from person to person, but usually any amount less than six hours is detrimental to our mood and our body's repair systems. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep per night. If you have trouble sleeping, try eating earlier in the evening, meditating or taking a soothing bath before you hit the sack.
