Get Happy Fast
It’s quite clear that good health contributes
to our feeling of well-being. Indeed, traditional Chinese medicine
identifies the liver as the organ of happiness (or unhappiness)
and treats it appropriately with herbal tonics. Activity of
all sorts has been shown to raise your mood instantly and, as
you get fitter, to improve your long-term sense of self-esteem.
Relaxation is also vital to a sense of calm and of being at
peace with yourself. It goes without saying that to be in harmony
with your body you must clear up any long-standing physical
problems, whether that’s a sore neck or poor digestion.
There are many areas of our lives that we probably can’t
change – and certainly not at a moment’s notice.
But there are things that everyone can do to be happier now.
Professor Michael Argyle, the author of The Psychology of
Happiness (see Beauty Bookshelf) and many other works on the
subject, compiled with us these ways of helping yourself to
happiness:
Reel away the blues: dancing, whether
it’s Scottish reels, waltzing or doing the lambada, scores
the highest points for making you feel joyful, followed by
involvement in sport, music and drama.
Get closer to friends and people you love:
being with old and new friends, expressing love and being
told you are loved, and praising others make you feel better
and warmer for the whole day.
Practise being a good talker and a good
listener: the single most important factor in close
relationships is communication. Learn to be open about your
feelings and to listen to other people – without interrupting
or judging them.
Don’t live in the problem, live in
the solution: think positive and bring problems out
in the open. Then set about finding constructive ways to deal
with them, with others’ help if necessary. Solutions
may be simple – such as letting time heal wounds or rebuilding
bridges with other people – or more demanding –
such as completing a task, attaining a goal, e.g. a work deadline,
or consulting an expert for advice, whether the problem in
emotional or practical.
Keep laughing: smiling and laughing
– even if you fake them – and watching funny films
and plays trigger the release of feel-good hormones from your
brain, which improve your mood and help you sleep better.
Set attainable goals: make a list
of goals you need to achieve, and those you want to achieve,
and give yourself a realistic time frame, e.g. one goal a
week. Don’t overcommit yourself.
Be assertive: assertiveness on
one day helps ensure a positive mood the next. Being assertive
means asking for what you want, and sometimes saying ‘no’
to requests – clearly (but nicely). Practise saying ‘no’
in front of the mirror; it really does get easier.
Get close to nature: seeing beautiful
scenery, breathing clean air, watching animals and birds in
the outdoors, and sitting in the sun are all effective blues
beaters, and help you sleep soundly.
Explore spirituality: a sense that
life has meaning and direction, plus confidence in a set of
guiding values, makes many people happier. Choose whatever
spiritual path appeals. You could start by simply lighting
a candle at home or in a holy place.
Quick fixes:
- Listen to music
- Pay someone a compliment
- Plan a trip or holiday
- Read a poem, short story or novel
- Eat a good meal
- Stroke an animal
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