 | Five things likely to make you happier in the short term |
| Here is my list of things to give you a short-term "hit" of happiness. Each is virtually guaranteed to give you some satisfaction. |
| It’s not easy being happy when you’re not in control |
| The basis for happiness is having control over your own existence. This is a simple and obvious statement, yet who among us has not ceded such control before? To assume responsibility for our lives can be a struggle, often it’s easier just to let outside forces take over. |
| Six things likely to make you happier in the long-term |
| I've previously looked at how to get a short-term "hit" of happiness. Now I'll explore the more important subject of long-term happiness. |
| It's okay to be sad sometimes |
| We live in a society where sadness is seen as a terrible thing. In a classic case of "blame the victim", people going through a period of unhappiness are looked upon as sick and even pathetic. According to the health and well-being tyrants, if you don't have a big, stupid grin on your face the whole time, there's something very, very wrong. |
| Strategies to beat anxiety - learning to relax |
| Dealing with unnecessary anxiety is something you can train yourself to overcome, I've found. Like many other skills it's possible to train yourself to relax. Being able to relax yourself under stress not only makes you feel better, it helps you deal with difficult situation more effectively. |
| The only way to win an argument with your emotions |
| Most people notice two parts of their conscious mind - the rational top layer, and the emotional underlayer. The rational layer analyses what's happening to us, and the emotional layer interprets how we feel about that. |
| When everything's horrible, it may be time for a drastic change |
| One of the difficulties with defeating depression inolves overcoming the weight of habit. On top of a possible chemical imbalance, sufferers often fall into a routine of connecting familiar surroundings with feeling miserable. |
| The source of most self-inflicted problems |
| Why do we do things that we know are going to hurt us? Why do people take drugs, eat too much, deliberately ruin their relationships, commit pointless crimes, and spend themselves into bankruptcy? |
| Take responsibility for your actions |
| Let me tell you a few things about my childhood. When I was seven years old, my parents divorced. They had been fighting many years, and it's difficult for me to remember them ever being in love. |
| Learn how to say "no". |
| Some people can be very persuasive at getting us to do things we don't want to. For the selfish, greedy and power hungry of the world, convincing others to do what they want is a very important skill. You can expect them to spend a lot of time searching for and perfecting strategies for doing so. |
| Ignore the cynics, it's fine to pursue happiness |
| Some people sneer at the idea of trying to become happy and improve yourself. They think it's intelligent to dismiss such efforts as futile and pointless. They strike cynical poses and ridicule those who try to achieve contentment. |
| Get some frustration tolerance |
| Life is filled with frustration - both large and small. From the car that won't start, to the child who just won't listen, to the career you just can't get off the ground - sometimes nothing seems to go our way. Our attitude towards these setbacks can make a big difference to our success. |
| Become immune to insult |
| One thing that's certain in life is that a lot of people are going to try to insult you. This is true no matter what your position is. Bill Gates and George Bush are regularly ridiculed in the media, just as your average homeless person is abused by passers-by. |
| Achievement brings the greatest satisfaction |
| "I can't get no satisfaction," sang Mick Jagger; thus summarizing the spirit of the modern age in rich countries. Today, we have amusements available to us that would amaze royalty of the past. Thousands of movies, plasma TVs, fast cars, video-games, every type of restaurant, endless books and holiday options. Yet most people just don't feel no satisfaction. Why? |
| Spend some time living in another country |
| Many people will read the title of this article and dismiss the advice as too impractical or scary. What could be more difficult than upping-sticks and moving to another country? Yet I'm convinced that in most cases, those who do so for a time find that it contributes substantially to their well-being. Here are some reasons why. |
| It's worth staying around for the good times |
| Let's face it, sometimes life can be truly awful. Horrible things happen in the world, often for no apparent reason. Nobody can avoid some level of pain or misery in life, although some receive more than others. |
| The enemies of depression |
| For many of us, being depressed is our default mood - just as being hungry is the default state of our appetite. Just as we have to feed ourselves to satisfy our appetite, there are things we have to do to keep our emotions upbeat. These things are the enemies of depression. Here are some of the main ones. |
| Don't hate your anxiety too much, it may be why you're here |
| A lot of people in the modern world have a problem with being over-anxious. Psychiatrists' offices are full of people who worry too much. Sufferers often know they have a problem, but they just can't seem to do anything about it. It's as if they're hard-wired to fret. Maybe they are. |
| Don't let others manipulate you by making you feel uncomfortable |
| We all want others to do things our way. If we can persuade those around us to somehow bend to our will, we feel that life's riches will be provided as a reward. So people can become very sneaky when it comes to trying to manipulate others. One of their most cunning tricks is to create uncomfortable situations that they hope you will be desperate to get out of. |
| Don't get sucked in by the "it's all an emergency" mindset |
| What is one of the biggest obstacles standing between most people and what they want? Other people of course. |