The creative art to happiness.
Smiles and laughter, positivity and doing things that make you feel good are elements of a happy life.
Smiling releases endorphins, which combat stress hormones. When we smile we create an eye crinkle, often referred to as “Duchenne smile”. This causes our cardiovascular system to calm. When we laugh we are forced to exhale which lowers our heart rate so we instantly feel better.
What goes on in our head and how we choose to perceive the world shapes are own reality.It is important to focus on the good, colourful areas of our lives, rather than the grey, dark gloomier side. Apply positive psychology to your life
Many of us live our daily life on autopilot due to ingrained habits. We often ignore the pleasure and appreciation of small experiences that create our reassurance and routine. Living in the now can bring us back to moments of pleasure and can still our over-active minds. Do what you enjoy today, don’t leave it too far in the future.
Laptops and mobiles transport us out of our real surroundings. Escape the devices and take a stroll in the garden or park and appreciate nature’s own conversation.
Happiness comes with achievement. Learn a new skill and enjoy the challenge (belly laughing anyone?). Revise your self-expectations, lower them and see results increase.
Learn more about sprinkling happiness into your life by reading The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama or The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
Other tips to shine happiness into your life:
- Wake up earlier – take time for yourself and your thoughts – keep them positive.
- Laugh at yourself
- Smile more often
- Choose a piece of music that’s uplifting
- Spray perfume that relates to happy memories
- Exercise more
- Give a gift to someone
- Light a candle and think of happy memories
- Add an act of kindness to your day.
- And at the end of the day, reflect on all the good things you have enjoyed
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
― The Dalai Lama
