10 actions for a happier 2013:

[TaraMaiden]

10 actions for a happier 2013:

 

• Let your family and friends know how much they mean to you
  
• Find ways to make exercise fun and sociable
  
• Do extra acts of kindness to help others
  
• Get outside and enjoy the natural world together
  
• Spend more time getting to know your neighbours
  
• Take time each day to be 'mindful' and notice how you're feeling
  
• Change something that's been making you or others unhappy
  
• Support a good cause you feel passionate about
  
• Try something new that puts you outside your comfort zone
  
• Write down three good things that happen each day
  

There is extensive evidence showing the health benefits of happiness. It is at least as powerful, if not more powerful, a predictor of health and longevity than other lifestyle factors that tend to get a lot more focus - like stopping smoking, improving diet or increasing physical activity. For example, the evidence that positive emotions and enjoyment of life contribute to better health and a longer lifespan is stronger than the data linking obesity to reduced longevity.

 

Williamson continued: "Of course it's great for people to give up things that are bad for them, like smoking or an unhealthy lifestyle, but we're suggesting simple and enjoyable actions that anyone can take to increase their wellbeing and make others around them happier too. You can think of these like a regular work out for the mind to improve emotional fitness, in much the same way that you work out your body to improve physical fitness."

 

Did you know?

 

Happiness can lengthen life. A recent study measured the positive emotional states of nearly 4,000 people aged 52-79 and followed them for an average of five years, tracking their subsequent death rates. Those with high levels of positive emotion were 35% less likely to die during the subsequent period than those who experience low levels of positive emotion (after controlling for other factors).

 

Happy people have been found to be significantly less likely to catch the cold virus than their less happy peers; and if they do contract the virus they tend to report fewer symptoms.

 

Doing good is one of the best ways to feel good. People who care more about others are happier than those who care less about others. When people do good, their brain becomes active in the same reward centre as where they experience other rewards.

Studies show that giving money away makes people happier than spending it on themselves.

 

People who take a basic course in mindfulness training are on average 20% happier than a control group one month later and have better responses in their immune system. Such training can lead to structural brain changes including increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self-awareness and compassion.

 

Our happiness influences the people we know and the people they know. Research shows that the happiness of a close contact increases the chance of being happy by 15%. The happiness of a 2nd-degree contact (e.g. friend's spouse) increases it by 10% and the happiness of a 3rd-degree contact (e.g. friend of a friend of a friend) by 6%.

 

 

Source and further references.

[TheFinalWord]

Awesome list!

[carhill]

Laugh.... I just did, but not at this thread. Good post.

 

I was laughing about my description of love while reading another thread. Great to be alive.

[TaraMaiden]

Well, it seems to work:

 

 

I went to work this afternoon (2pm - 10pm shift) and a guy came in and purchased a few things... queueing... waited until there was a gap at my checkout, and then said - "I like to wait to come to your till, because you always make me smile, you're so friendly!"

 

It's contagious - pass it on!! *Thumbs-up* !!

[ScreamingTrees]

I don't think my family and friends(?) really do give two ****s about me, honestly. I have barely much of either, anyway. Regular exercise doesn't help. I'm not leaving my house, I'm going to be a shut-in for life.

 

I am quite mindful of how I'm feeling, mostly terrible, every moment of every hour of every day.

 

Here, my three good things from yesterday: I took a ****, and I went to sleep.

[TaraMaiden]

If you want sympathy, start your own thread.

This is a thread for positive attitudes, and realising that fundamentally, Happiness - and therefore a peaceful state of mind - is largely a choice.

 

You cannot - simply CANNOT - permit your life to be jaded, affected and hindered by the actions of others.

Ultimately, your serenity lies between your ears.

 

Pick your stance.

if you aim to improve your lot - you're welcome.

 

if not - then maybe you need to consider why you'd post such a downer in a thread designed to lift.

 

Why are you here?

Are you aiming to burst our bubble?

Make us feel sorry for you?

Throw a purler and tell us that CHOOSING to be happy is impossible?

[TaraMaiden]

I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone and anyone, from the bottom of my heart, who chose to 'like' my posts.

 

I've been around a long time. I'm not sure whether I'm a welcome fixture, or a pain in the neck for the Moderators - probably a dose of both, erring on the latter!) but in any case, I enjoy being here, and I'm humbly glad if anything I have presented has supported and helped others.

 

Your kindness in 'liking' is very generous.

[Radu]

Just want to add something.

 

In my family, long lifespans are normal, 80yrs at least with my great-grandfather dying of a broken heart because the commies took his business when they came to power, he died at 93.

My dad died at 57, because he was stressed and unhappy.

Emotions have a way of feeding on one another so the deeper you are in unhapiness, the harder it is to extricate yourself out of it.

 

PS: Nice avatar TM.

[TheFinalWord]

I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone and anyone, from the bottom of my heart, who chose to 'like' my posts.

 

I've been around a long time. I'm not sure whether I'm a welcome fixture, or a pain in the neck for the Moderators - probably a dose of both, erring on the latter!) but in any case, I enjoy being here, and I'm humbly glad if anything I have presented has supported and helped others.

 

Your kindness in 'liking' is very generous.

 

I'm glad you are part of LS TaraMaiden! You always give an interesting perspective on things

 

Interesting list I saw that might add to thread...

 

15 Things You Should Give Up To Be Happy | Purpose Fairy

[TaraMaiden]

Wonderful addition to the thread. Many thanks for your contribution and comments, TFW...

[ScreamingTrees]

If you want sympathy, start your own thread.

This is a thread for positive attitudes, and realising that fundamentally, Happiness - and therefore a peaceful state of mind - is largely a choice.

 

You cannot - simply CANNOT - permit your life to be jaded, affected and hindered by the actions of others.

Ultimately, your serenity lies between your ears.

 

Pick your stance.

if you aim to improve your lot - you're welcome.

 

if not - then maybe you need to consider why you'd post such a downer in a thread designed to lift.

 

Why are you here?

Are you aiming to burst our bubble?

Make us feel sorry for you?

Throw a purler and tell us that CHOOSING to be happy is impossible?

 

If you're talking to me, no one listens to me in general anyway, I don't care at this point, LS is sort of like a half-assed diary for venting to me. I figure someone's hearing me, regardless of how they actually feel about what I'm saying.. Or the kind of person they imagine me to be.

 

It's obvious that if anyone feels sorry for me, it's not in a sympathetic manner, so I don't see the purpose anyway, it wouldn't change anything. You can "choose" to be happy, I guess, but I don't know how you can flip the switch when the bulb's broken.

 

I didn't permit my life to be the way that it is, it just is what it is. You're right, I shouldn't have tainted your thread with my negativity, I was just in a sour mood yesterday.

[TaraMaiden]

..... You can "choose" to be happy, I guess, but I don't know how you can flip the switch when the bulb's broken.

 

I believe it entails doing a bit of work and actually changing the bulb.

[NewPerspective93]

Great post!

[LittleTiger]

Awesome post TM!

 

I am just recovering after a long bout of illness which has had a very negative effect on my life. Despite being a 'fighter' and someone who aims to be as positive as possible, the most likely cause of my illness is chronic stress. Most people don't realise how much our physical body can be affected by our mind. I didn't myself until I got ill!

 

I have decided 2013 is going to be my happiest year ever and I will NEVER take my health for granted again. I just wish it hadn't taken 47 years and a nasty illness for me to learn such a valuable lesson!

 

This list has given me a great place to start!

 

Thank you TM, from the bottom of my heart.

[TaraMaiden]

The best way to enjoy happiness, is to share it.

And I have found that focusing on positive factors, is so much more beneficial and constructive.

 

I haven't always been like this - there have been times in my life when things have been very bleak and dark but, astonishingly, even if you fake a smile, and fake jolity - after a while, it actually rubs off on others, they reciprocate - and things aren't so dark.

 

There's a lot to be said for 'Fake it until you make it' - but isolation is the killer.

You (generic) need to socialise, find company, get out and just talk to others....

Occasionally I've been looked at in that "Oh my God, she's a crackpot!" kind of way - but mainly, even just walking through a park and actually saying "Good Morning!" out loud to people you meet, surprises them, and evinces a similar response. Sometimes, even a smile.

And simply touching another life, as if with the tip of a feather.... well, you never know what good you're doing THAT person.

Who's to know you haven't connected with someone worse off than you, and lifted THEIR moment?

 

I love smiling at everyone.

It brings results.

 

It also gives them.

[TaraMaiden]

mtnbiker3000 when you say "Eastern philosophy" could you narrow it down a bit?

I'm thinking it could be anything from 'The Book of Tao' - to 'The Kama Sutra' here.....

[tbf]

If you're talking to me, no one listens to me in general anyway, I don't care at this point, LS is sort of like a half-assed diary for venting to me. I figure someone's hearing me, regardless of how they actually feel about what I'm saying.. Or the kind of person they imagine me to be.

 

It's obvious that if anyone feels sorry for me, it's not in a sympathetic manner, so I don't see the purpose anyway, it wouldn't change anything. You can "choose" to be happy, I guess, but I don't know how you can flip the switch when the bulb's broken.

 

I didn't permit my life to be the way that it is, it just is what it is. You're right, I shouldn't have tainted your thread with my negativity, I was just in a sour mood yesterday.

This is so unfortunate, in that you're far from being a terrible person. I do feel sympathy for you because you're not one of the crazy obsessives, you're someone capable of balanced thought.

[iKING]

mtnbiker3000 when you say "Eastern philosophy" could you narrow it down a bit?

I'm thinking it could be anything from 'The Book of Tao' - to 'The Kama Sutra' here.....

 

Why not both?

 

Could make for an interesting evening.

[TaraMaiden]

Just to clarify something.... because it looks completely disjointed:

 

My comment above, to mntbiker3000 was in reference to his request for more info on Eastern Philosophy.

It appeared in another thread, and to save taking that thread O/T, I suggested this thread and gave him the link....

[TaraMaiden]

Why not both?

 

Could make for an interesting evening.

 

What would you like to know?

I have both books within easy reach.....

 

[iKING]

What would you like to know?

I have both books within easy reach.....

 

 

All of the above!

 

Tao is life, kama sutra is whoa.

 

Reminds me of one of my friend's students Geo.

 

Specifically the second one in the gallery.

[TaraMaiden]

Beautiful pictures....

[FitChick]

Happiness can lengthen life? Maybe. I knew a bitter old crone who hung on until she was nearly 90. Perhaps she was happy making everyone around her miserable.

[TaraMaiden]

Bitter old crones tend to play the woe is me, pity card.

Bitter old crones play on their age.

They make excellent Emotional leeches.....

 

I honestly cannot be asked to give them the time of day.

 

Imagine how much longer they'd last if they WERE happy!!

[mtnbiker3000]

TM - Not really sure. Just know that Eastern Philosophy really seems to help people become at peace with their lives. Understanding and accepting all of the ups and downs and realizing life is all about both. Realizing you can't derive happiness from another or anything beyond yourself... You know, that kind of stuff...