So many of us have heard the hit single “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin. The song has a very catchy way of conveying its message of living a life focused on being happy. Bobby McFerrin’s simple message surely inspired a lot of people by telling them to relax and focus on joy.
Living a happy, resilient and optimistic life is wonderful, and it is also good for your health. Being happy actually protects you from the stresses of life. Stress is linked to some of the main causes of death such as heart disease, cancer and stroke.
The statement – “The only thing in life that will always remain the same is change,” is worth thinking about seriously. In our life we have the power to make necessary changes if we want to. Even if we find ourselves in unbearable situations we can always find solace in the knowledge that each situation will eventually be part of our ever changing lives.
Social networks or relationships are essential to happiness. People are different so accepting people for who or what they are, avoiding clashes and arguments and letting go of all kinds of resentments is a healthy idea for a less stress filled life. If arguments seem unavoidable trying to make an effort to understand the situation may help avoid unnecessary tension.
To be happy can be relatively easy. When we choose positivity over negativity a new world opens up for us. Happiness is actually found in everyone and increasing it is a way to make a life more wonderful and also more healthy.
Abraham Lincoln observed that most people most of the time can choose how happy or stressed, how relaxed or troubled, how bright or dull their outlook is when confronted with situations. The choice is sometimes quite simple really…..choose to be happy.
There are several ways by which you can do this.
Be Grateful
Being grateful is a great way to start. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank the taxi driver for bringing you home safely, thank the cook for a wonderful dinner, thank the person who cleans your windows, thank the policeman for making your neighborhood safe and thank your god for being alive.
Skip the News
News is stressful. Get less of it. Some people just can’t start their day without their daily dose of news. It’s been said that 99% of the news we hear or read is bad news. Starting the day with bad news does not seem to be a sensible thing to do.
Connect
A religious connection is also a suggestion. Being part of a religious group with its singing, sacraments, chanting, prayers and meditations may foster inner peace.
Time Management
Manage your time. Time is invaluable and too important to waste. Time management can be viewed as a list of rules that involves scheduling, setting goals, planning, creating lists of things to do and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to realize the results you desire.
Laugh
Laugh and laugh heartily every day. Heard a good joke? Tell your friends or family about it. As they also say -“Laughter is the best medicine”.
Express Yourself
Express your feelings, affections, friendship and passion to people around you. They will most likely reciprocate your actions. Try not to hold on to pent up anger or frustrations as this may be bad for your health. Instead find ways to express these feelings in a way that will not cause more injury or hurt to anyone.
Work for Satisfaction
Working hard brings tremendous personal satisfaction. It gives a feeling of being competent when finishing our tasks. Accomplishments are necessary for all of us as they give us a sense of value. Work on things that you feel are worthy of your time.
Exercise
Learning is a joyful exercise. Try and learn something new every day. Learning also makes us expand and broaden our horizons and could also give us more opportunities in the future. Run, jog, walk and do other things that your body was made for….feel energized.
Avoid exposure to negative elements like loud noises, toxins and hazardous places.
These are a few simple things you can do every day to be happy.
And always remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln where he says, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”