Cultivating Higher Qualities of Happiness

...by way of self-control and learned skills

“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” - Charles Spurgeon

7 Ways to Be Happier:

1. DO SOMETHING YOU REALLY ENJOY EVERY DAY - It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive. A bag lunch with a friend. A free concert or movie in the park. A new piece of clothing or furniture from a thrift or consignment store. A walk in the country. A table game. A one-day vacation close to home. What do you really enjoy? What would you enjoy doing today?
2. KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU WANT - When we have clarity about who we are and what we want, we are better prepared for experiences and relationships that fulfill us. Of course, we often learn who we are and what we want through experience. Know what you’re good at. Be clear on your boundaries. If you wake up feeling yucky, don’t do that again.
3. CHOOSE ACTIVITIES AND PEOPLE WHO MAKE MORE OF YOU, NOT LESS - The way to grow is not simply by eliminating destructive pleasures, but also by embracing the happiness that builds us and others up. Connect with others in ways that are meaningful, productive and intimate.
4. BE THANKFUL - Be thankful for every experience you enjoy. Beyond that, choose things you can enjoy even when you are not thinking about them. When you choose a good bed, your body is grateful every night. When you work and are paid, every time you spend money is an opportunity for thankfulness. When we live with gratitude, we see more in life to be thankful for.
5. RELAX – DON’T OVERTHINK IT - Enjoy the good things in life without thinking about it too much. Food isn’t delicious because we think about it and adjust our attitude. And don’t worry about pleasing everyone if you want to be happy. After the Dalai Lama had spoken for more than an hour to a stadium full of people about finding happiness, he looked up, smiled, and concluded: “And if you don’t like what I’m saying… I don’t care.” Enjoy what is good while choosing what is better.
6. ADJUST THE PACE OF YOUR PLEASURES - If you must always outdo yourself, eventually you will wear yourself out. An overstimulated psyche continues to raise the quota for happiness. This can come from a sense of inadequacy or wanting what others have instead of getting in touch with what you want. Instead of looking only for the happiness excitement brings, enjoy the happiness of satisfaction too. What excites and satisfies you?
7. GROW - Raise your self-confidence by learning new skills. What would you like to do, or do better? Raise your self-esteem by listing things you appreciate about yourself and stopping negative self-talk. Strengthen your self-concept or sense of identity by learning from your experiences, even bad ones.

AN OVERSTIMULATED PSYCHE IS HARD TO PLEASE

“We cannot be happy if we expect to live all the time at the highest peak of intensity. Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.” Thomas Merton

How Jessa Created More Happiness And Joy In Her Life?

Jessa is a young, married professional who considers herself joyful. When asked how and where she learned to be joyful, she couldn’t quite explain it but attributed it to something she learned as a child when her family immigrated from India to Canada. When asked if she was happy, however, Jessa realized that she wasn’t as happy as she’d like and wanted to elevate her happiness levels. She accomplished this by learning to increase her self-value, which allowed her to not be so frugal and to spend money on herself. Bringing more happiness into her life was a long process, but today she feels she has a good balance between joy and happiness.

Now, it’s your time to increase your happiness and joy! Visit here to learn more how to increase joy.