Happiness is often thought of as a status that we’ve accomplished something and we have something to be happy about. However, happiness is really more of a mental state that we must practice every day to keep it strong, just like our muscles.
It can be easy to see the things that make us unhappy and often our minds, trained through evolution for survival, make us consider all the bad things around us with more attention than the good things. What if we practiced more positive psychology, how would that affect life? Here are a few easy steps to help train your brain to see the things to be happy about.
1. Write 3 good things. No matter how big or small, writing and acknowledging that 3 good things (or maybe more when you get on a roll) are happening to you on any given day.
2. Develop a mantra. Whether you want to be happier, calmer, or something else, saying it to yourself over and over again throughout the day starts to ingrain this philosophy in your head.
3. Be fully present. Instead of being half on your phone and half-aware of the conversation you are in, be fully there and engage. Look into someone’s eyes as they are speaking to you and connect, for happiness and feeling a sense of togetherness.
**This blog is not to be treated as medical advice, please discuss with your physician if you have any concerns.**