We all
strive for happiness and a sense of joy in life. Like many, you probably think
achievements such as education, marriage, family and social/financial status
can make you happy.
However,
studies of happiness have found that these achievements have little to do with
your happiness. And for millions of people, happiness remains a rather elusive
goal...
Happiness
can be identified as “whatever gets you excited.” Once you’ve identified that
activity, whatever it is, you can start focusing your mind around that so you
can structure your life to do more of it.
A sense of
adventure and freedom can also ignite that elusive feeling of happiness. This
doesn’t require expensive tickets to some far-flung destination—a walk in the
woods can do the trick, or simply taking a different route on your way home
from work.
More often
than not, it’s the small, simple things in life that bring the most joy
and are the most invigorating. In the featured article, Lynn Newman writes
about what gives her joy:1
“When I
attune to the simple things that give me joy, my body and spirit ignites! I
feel truly alive and wildly happy. I feel free of the heavier burdens, beliefs,
and complicated constructs that kept me stuck by focusing only on the 'storms'
within me.”
HAPPY
13
Simple Tips to Live Happy, Wild, and Free
In her
article, Newman lists 10 simple tips for living “happy, wild and free.” I’ve
also added a couple tips of my own at the end.
1. Review
the Happy List
I recently
published a list of 22
things that happy people do differently. It was widely appreciated and
commented on. So please be sure and review that list to find some novel
additional behaviors that aren’t listed here.
2. Write
a list of simple things that give you pleasure... and do them at least a few
times a week
Writing
down the things that bring you a sense of pleasure and happiness, and reviewing
your list on a regular basis, can help you remember to carve out the time to do
those simple little things that reinforce your belief that life is indeed good.
3. Get
moving
Exercise
boosts levels of health-promoting brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and
norepinephrine, which may help buffer some of the effects of stress and also
relieve some symptoms of depression. Rather than viewing exercise as a tool merely
for losing weight and preventing disease – all benefits that occur in the
future – try viewing exercise as a daily tool to immediately enhance your frame
of mind, reduce stress, and feel happier.
One of the
newest recommendations I have based on NASA scientist Dr.
Joan Vernikos, who I recently interviewed, is simply to set a timer when
you are sitting and stand up every 10 minutes. I even modified further by doing
jump squats at times in addition to standing up. This will help counteract the
dangerous consequences of excessive
sitting.
WILD
4. Eat
light—and right
What you
eat directly impacts your mood and energy levels in both the short and long
term. Whereas eating right can prime your body and brain to be in a focused,
happy state, eating processed junk foods will leave you sluggish and prone to
chronic disease. Ditto for over-eating, which can leave you feeling bloated and
sluggish. My free
nutrition plan is an excellent tool to help you choose the best foods for
both physical and emotional wellness.
5. Take
a cold shower
Exposure to
cold temperatures via cold water may offer health-boosting benefits for
virtually everyone. Taking a cold
shower increases your circulation and helps minimize inflammation. It also
tends to leave you feeling energized and invigorated, so it’s great first thing
in the morning, or right after a workout.
6. Talk
less - listen more
Talking
less and listening more can help increase heart-centered communication.
Listening helps you soak in the wisdom of others and allows you to quiet your
own mind at the same time, allowing you to feel content while helping you gain
different perspective.
7. Get
some sun every day
Have you
ever noticed how great it can feel to spend time outdoors on a sunny day? Well,
it turns out that getting safe sun exposure, which allows your body to produce vitamin D, is great for your mood.
While I
don’t agree with the author’s recommendation to slather on just any sunscreen,
getting regular sun exposure is a critical factor for optimal health,
happiness, and overall life satisfaction. Remember, if you use sunscreen, you
are effectively blocking the sun’s rays, which means your body cannot
produce any vitamin D. If you are going to be in the sun for an extended period
of time, a non-toxic sunscreen may be necessary to prevent burning certain
areas of your skin.
Getting a
little bit of sun on bare skin each day is far better than spending hours
outside on the weekends only, as overexposure could certainly be harmful to
your skin. You always want to avoid getting burned. A better alternative to
topical sunscreen is making sure you’re getting plenty of antioxidants in your
diet from fresh fruits and vegetables. The carotenoid astaxanthin
is particularly effective as an internal sunscreen to help protect you against
UV damage.
FREE
8. Turn
off the TV
Evidence
shows cutting back on TV time can add years to your life. According to one
study, every hour of TV you watch equates to a 22-minute reduction in life
expectancy. Watching
TV also has a major impact on your brain chemistry. In fact, the longer you
watch, the easier your brain slips into a receptive, passive mode, meaning that
messages are streamed into your brain without any participation from you. So,
rather than turning off your brain, why not turn off your TV and mindfully
engage in something from your list of pleasurable activities instead?
9. Create
As the
author states, you don’t have to be an artist to be creative. Creativity can
take any form, from gardening to cooking, to dancing and singing, to taking up
a new hobby.
10. Enjoy
nature
Spending
time in nature is an excellent mental health “prescription.” And while you’re
at it, take off your shoes (as long as it’s safe to do so). Walking
barefoot, grounding yourself to the earth has a wide range of health
benefits over and above the simple feeling of connecting with the Earth.
Take up gardening, even if you have little room there is always enough
space for a few plants.
11. Know
the simple truth about yourself
Positive
self-talk, affirmations and mantras can play a role in cultivating more
happiness. I like the author’s take on this:
“With
enthusiasm and confidence, state what you know to be true about your authentic
self. Ask yourself, 'What is true about myself right now in this moment?' For
example, I am enough, I am worthy, I am good, I am loved, I have what I need,
or I am a success. State this affirmation out loud a few times to embody the
essence of who you really are in this very moment. Take it in! Believe this and
you are free!”
12. Express
gratitude
People who
are thankful for what they have are better able to cope with stress, and have
more positive emotions. The best way to harness the positive power of gratitude
is to keep a gratitude journal or list, where you actively write down exactly
what you’re grateful for each day. Doing so has been linked to happier moods,
greater optimism and even better physical health. Remember, your future depends
very largely on the thoughts you think today. So think positive thoughts of
hope, confidence, love and success. A simple habit to start is to express
appreciation at every meal, either out loud or silently, whichever works for
you.
13. Laugh
it up!
Laughing
causes your body to release beneficial chemicals called endorphins, natural
“pain killers” that contribute to your sense of well-being and may counteract
the effects of stress hormones and cause blood vessels to dilate. Researchers
have even found that just anticipating laughter can increase your
endorphin levels, whereas laughing may help boost your immune system and reduce
inflammation in your body, which is linked to a variety of diseases. So, if
you’re going to watch TV, why not make sure it’s something really funny?
A
Healthy Lifestyle Naturally Enhances Happiness
In many
respects, a lifestyle that will optimize your health will also help you achieve
a happier, more joyful state of mind. You cannot separate your physical health
from your mental or emotional health. Once you adopt a happiness mindset, and
even before you do, embracing healthy habits will help keep your mood elevated
naturally even in the midst of stress. Happy people tend to be healthy
people, and vice versa, so in addition to the tips offered above, the following
lifestyle strategies will also help you achieve greater levels of happiness.
1. Use an
effective stress-management
tool, such as the Emotional
Freedom Technique (EFT)
2. Drink
plenty of clean water
3. Limit
your exposure to toxins
4. Consume healthy fats
5. Eat
plenty of raw
food, ideally organic and/or locally grown
6. Optimize
your insulin and leptin levels by cutting out sugar/fructose and grains from your diet, and
adding high intensity interval training to your exercise regimen
7. Exercise regularly
8. Get
plenty of high-quality sleep
