14 Principles for Finding Pure Joy
By Bevin Cummings
We all want that radiant inner glow and sense of calm that come with true happiness. Achieving it, however, takes practice. Try one of these tips each day for the next two weeks, and see if your bliss quotient spikes.
1. Have a laugh. Your friend who's always got jokes could be good for something more than just a giggle. She may also be good for your health. Humor activates parts of your brain linked to pleasure and happiness, according to a Stanford University study, So give her a ring and listen to her latest comic rant about her crazy coworker. No comedians in your crowd? Drop some old school Eddie Murphy onto your mp3 player.
2. Take a risk. So you never learned to bake a pie from scratch, skip a stone across the top of a lake, or read sheet music. It's not too late to try. Taking on a challenge can be a powerful self-esteem booster--especially if you find something you're good at, says a University of Missouri study.
3. Mind your manners. When you're tempted to lash out in anger--perhaps the phrase "You know what your problem is?" is about to spring from your lips to a family member's ears--take a breath and count to five. (We know that's short, but ten would be a pretty awkward length of time.) When you act on negative impulses, you risk the regret and frustration that can linger after your outburst. A calm reply, however, brings the joy of knowing you took the high road.
4. Get some. Although research can't confirm whether having sex makes people happier or if happier people have more sex, wouldn't you like to conduct your own experiment? Either way, making love triggers your body to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins that will give you a temporary (but worth it) natural high.
5. Put on a smile. No one ever found happiness by focusing on the player who fooled her or the stacks of credit card bills in her mailbox. Instead, beat the blues by flashing a smile and putting some spring in your step. Turns out, your mood will follow suit, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
6. Be sentimental. Place a favorite picture in a beautiful frame to remind you what's most important in life. Whether it's a shot of you crossing the finish line of your first half-marathon, your daughter blowing up balloons for your grandmother's ninetieth birthday party, or a boat gliding across a lake at dawn, keeping a beloved photo nearby will be a reminder of good times and make a difficult day suddenly bearable.
7. Sing it, sister. It doesn't matter what you sound like. Research shows that belting out a tune can balance blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and brain activity. So find an upbeat song and get loud while you're in an elevator by yourself, driving in your car, or simply in the shower.
8. Work it out. Break a sweat in a kickboxing class, move to the drumbeat in an African dance lesson, or grab a jump rope and hit the sidewalk with some kids. Studies show that a 30-minute workout can reduce tension and boost your mood. (Not to mention all the calories you'll burn. That's gotta make anyone happy!)
If You Do Only One Thing…
9. Give thanks. When you're feeling low, write down what you're grateful for in a journal to remind you that things really aren't so bad.
10 Reach out. Feeling down? Touching a loved one and being touched have been shown to help relieve depression and anxiety. So hold your man's hand, give your mother a hug, pat your coworker on the back for a job well done. You'll benefit, too.
11 Ask yourself out on a date. Don't wait around for someone else to sweep you off your feet. Do it yourself. Catch that movie you've been dying to see, make a spa appointment, or grab dinner at an upscale restaurant. Bonus: You avoid a potentially awkward kiss goodnight.
12 Give back. Research shows that people who volunteer in their communities have better health and feel good about themselves. So make an impact in your own backyard: Help a girlfriend's kid with his homework, pick up trash to keep your neighborhood clean, or donate some of your free time to a charity organization in your hood.
13 Nurture friendships. With a busy schedule, sometimes it's hard to make time for friends. But don't sleep on your girls. Pick up the phone and make a brunch date, plan a wine party, or go for a sunrise walk with your sister circle. People with well-developed friendships not only live longer but also have an increased resistance to illness--a clear happiness sapper. Making time to have a chat over coffee with your favorite girls will keep connections strong and allow you time to vent your frustrations without holding back too.
14 Get empowered with flowers. If you're not receiving any floral deliveries these days, buy yourself a bouquet. Studies show that the presence of flowers can heighten feelings of satisfaction with life. Choose an uplifting color like yellow tulips to brighten your day.
We all want that radiant inner glow and sense of calm that come with true happiness. Achieving it, however, takes practice. Try one of these tips each day for the next two weeks, and see if your bliss quotient spikes.
1. Have a laugh. Your friend who's always got jokes could be good for something more than just a giggle. She may also be good for your health. Humor activates parts of your brain linked to pleasure and happiness, according to a Stanford University study, So give her a ring and listen to her latest comic rant about her crazy coworker. No comedians in your crowd? Drop some old school Eddie Murphy onto your mp3 player.
2. Take a risk. So you never learned to bake a pie from scratch, skip a stone across the top of a lake, or read sheet music. It's not too late to try. Taking on a challenge can be a powerful self-esteem booster--especially if you find something you're good at, says a University of Missouri study.
3. Mind your manners. When you're tempted to lash out in anger--perhaps the phrase "You know what your problem is?" is about to spring from your lips to a family member's ears--take a breath and count to five. (We know that's short, but ten would be a pretty awkward length of time.) When you act on negative impulses, you risk the regret and frustration that can linger after your outburst. A calm reply, however, brings the joy of knowing you took the high road.
4. Get some. Although research can't confirm whether having sex makes people happier or if happier people have more sex, wouldn't you like to conduct your own experiment? Either way, making love triggers your body to release feel-good chemicals called endorphins that will give you a temporary (but worth it) natural high.
5. Put on a smile. No one ever found happiness by focusing on the player who fooled her or the stacks of credit card bills in her mailbox. Instead, beat the blues by flashing a smile and putting some spring in your step. Turns out, your mood will follow suit, according to a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
6. Be sentimental. Place a favorite picture in a beautiful frame to remind you what's most important in life. Whether it's a shot of you crossing the finish line of your first half-marathon, your daughter blowing up balloons for your grandmother's ninetieth birthday party, or a boat gliding across a lake at dawn, keeping a beloved photo nearby will be a reminder of good times and make a difficult day suddenly bearable.
7. Sing it, sister. It doesn't matter what you sound like. Research shows that belting out a tune can balance blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and brain activity. So find an upbeat song and get loud while you're in an elevator by yourself, driving in your car, or simply in the shower.
8. Work it out. Break a sweat in a kickboxing class, move to the drumbeat in an African dance lesson, or grab a jump rope and hit the sidewalk with some kids. Studies show that a 30-minute workout can reduce tension and boost your mood. (Not to mention all the calories you'll burn. That's gotta make anyone happy!)
If You Do Only One Thing…
9. Give thanks. When you're feeling low, write down what you're grateful for in a journal to remind you that things really aren't so bad.
10 Reach out. Feeling down? Touching a loved one and being touched have been shown to help relieve depression and anxiety. So hold your man's hand, give your mother a hug, pat your coworker on the back for a job well done. You'll benefit, too.
11 Ask yourself out on a date. Don't wait around for someone else to sweep you off your feet. Do it yourself. Catch that movie you've been dying to see, make a spa appointment, or grab dinner at an upscale restaurant. Bonus: You avoid a potentially awkward kiss goodnight.
12 Give back. Research shows that people who volunteer in their communities have better health and feel good about themselves. So make an impact in your own backyard: Help a girlfriend's kid with his homework, pick up trash to keep your neighborhood clean, or donate some of your free time to a charity organization in your hood.
13 Nurture friendships. With a busy schedule, sometimes it's hard to make time for friends. But don't sleep on your girls. Pick up the phone and make a brunch date, plan a wine party, or go for a sunrise walk with your sister circle. People with well-developed friendships not only live longer but also have an increased resistance to illness--a clear happiness sapper. Making time to have a chat over coffee with your favorite girls will keep connections strong and allow you time to vent your frustrations without holding back too.
14 Get empowered with flowers. If you're not receiving any floral deliveries these days, buy yourself a bouquet. Studies show that the presence of flowers can heighten feelings of satisfaction with life. Choose an uplifting color like yellow tulips to brighten your day.
posted by James at 12:09 AM
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