Keys to happiness – unlock the door to the secrets of joy

image

According to Abraham Lincoln, “most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

While that might seem simplistic, it is definitely based on solid evidence, if you compare it with psychological theory today. Psychologists have been saying for years that our attitude about our lives is a critical part of our happiness.

Did you know that allowing yourself to remain in a bad mood can lead to poor health (with happiness leading to better health)? Bad moods are stressful, and according to Jair Soares, MD, PhD, regular stress can lead to systemic inflammation and put people at an increased risk for cardiovascular problems. (1)

All the more reason to ditch those bad moods and seek out brighter perspectives. So let’s explore some ways to hit the boost button on our happiness level!

Using cognitive theory to increase happiness

In the wild and sometimes wacky world of psychology, cognitive theories in particular support the idea that our attitudes are everything, claiming that our emotional state, be it happiness or misery, is a direct reflection of our interpretation of events.

In other words, it is not what happens to you or your circumstances that matter, it is how you choose to respond to them.

Here’s a good example: if you have a family member who tends to be a bit negative or pessimistic, you can respond to that by firing that attitude right back, or conversely, you can use it as a way to practice your skills of patience and unconditional love.

The choice is entirely yours. No one can “make” you feel a certain way, it is ultimately your own responsibility to choose how to feel.

You do have the choice to decide how to feel about things, even if it doesn’t, excuse the term – feel like it.

Raj Raghunathan Ph.D. of Psychology Today counsels us to compare our ability to control our emotions to using a muscle.

“Just as your biceps become stronger only when you exercise them using the appropriate weights…your ability to control your emotional response to events gains strength only when you take on challenges that are commensurate with your current ability,” says Dr. Raghunathan. “If you are currently someone who lets relatively minor events–like an encounter with a rude waitress–spoil your mood, how can you expect to maintain your happiness when a more extreme event–like a weeklong visit from an unpleasant relative–unfolds?” (2)

Using gratitude to increase joy

Some of us remember when Oprah Winfrey touted the benefits of using a gratitude journal on her talk show, many years ago. The idea caught fire, and since that time, the benefits of gratitude have been proven repeatedly.

Author Betty Mahalik, who wrote “Living a Five Star Life,” is a huge proponent of using gratitude to increase happiness.

“Joy and gratitude,” Mahalik says, “go hand in hand. We are not grateful because we’re happy, rather we’re happy because we’re grateful.” (3)

Start a gratitude journal today, and if you can just spend five or ten minutes each evening to jot down some things that you are grateful for, the rewards reaped will be enormous.

Keep in mind that your gratefulness doesn’t have to be on a massive scale – you can just be grateful for the perfect weather that day, or the sight of wildflowers blooming on the side of the road. Taking even just a bit of time each day to focus on the things that light up your spirit will really crank up your joy quotient.

Using music to lift your spirits

The music we listen to can have a profound effect on our moods. If you’ve ever been brought to tears from a beautiful melody or an old love song, you already know this!

Music can also make you feel fantastic – putting on your headphones and jamming out to a lively pop song can lift your spirits immediately!

If you are feeling a bit blue, check out MetroLyrics list of “10 songs that will INSTANTLY put you in a good mood” at metrolyrics.com. (4)

Unlocking the door to enter the realm of happiness does not have to be a major undertaking, as long as you have the right attitude about it!


Antonia is a science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition. She has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. Read more by Antonia here, and SUBSCRIBE!


Sources for this article include:
(1) blogs.naturalnews.com
(2) www.psychologytoday.com
(3) www.beliefnet.com
(4) www.metrolyrics.com

Antonia
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. (http://www.rawfoodhealthwatch.com/)