Tips for Happiness

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Tips for Happiness
Ten Little Shots of Happiness to Make You Happier Now

Smiley Doll These ten tips for happiness give you little shots of happiness you can use to be happier now. A happy life consists of a long string of happy moments, and what better way to make sure you get your daily dose of happiness than to cheer up in the moment?

After all, studies show that happy people are more open to the things around them and better at finding creative solutions. So, when you need to get happier right now, try a few of these do any where, any time tips. Most only take a few seconds and can turn your whole day around.

1 Smile

There is a connection between how we feel and how we hold our body. When we feel happy, we smile automatically, without thinking about it. And, when we smile, we start to feel happy, automatically without thinking about it.

2 Dance

Dancing is a good way to express physical joy. Whether you kick up your heels, shake your hips, or waltz at a stately pace, dancing is something we do when we are happy and, like smiling, dancing can work in reverse too. Plus, anything physical, like running, swimming or playing a sport, will tend to produce natural endorphins in your body that make you feel good.

3 Sing

Singing is another thing we do naturally when we're happy that can work in reverse. This tip is a big part of the reason behind the blues; singing sad songs to feel better. So go ahead and whistle while you work.

4 Play the Glad Game

The character Pollyanna, in the Disney movie of the same name, plays the glad game whenever she is feeling sad or gloomy. What ever the situation, find something to be glad about. She asked for a doll and got crutches instead, but was glad she didn't need them. When everyone complained that they hated Sunday, Pollyanna was glad it wouldn't come around again for 6 more days.

5 Play Any Game

In his ground breaking research on flow, that sense of being in the zone, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi found that people enjoy a challenge that is just within their reach, particularly when they get immediate feedback on how they are doing. Many things lend themselves to games, like seeing how fast you can sweep the floor, or how many homework problems you can do in 5 minutes. The key is to have a clear, feasible objective that makes you stretch and that you can measure.

6 Appreciate Something

Whether you stop to smell the roses or admire a job well done, appreciating something makes you feel good. Often it makes you smile. Acknowledging goodness and beauty feels good.

7 Thank Someone

Just feeling grateful for something, appreciating it and acknowledging your appreciation, will give you a lift, and if you share your gratitude by thanking someone you can get a double shot. Whether you write a letter or tell someone directly, thanking someone lifts your mood, and usually cheers the person you thank.

8 Tell Yourself a Story With a Happy Ending

Human beings like stories. We tend to empathize with the main characters and when they feel good at the end of the story, so do we. This can also work when you tell yourself a story about a situation you are in now. Imagining the situation with a happy ending not only gives you a mood lift, but helps wire your brain and body to make that happy ending happen.

9 Dream about what you want

This can be as simple as thinking about ice cream and as complex as imagining world peace. The more sensory detail you can put into your dream, the better. If you can taste the ice cream in your mouth, feel the cold creaminess of it, smell the chocolate or see the strawberry chunks in the soft pink cream, you will feel better. Your brain produces many of the same feel good chemicals as when you experience something pleasurable when you just imagine experiencing it.

10 Do a Good Deed

Doing good feels good. You could give a compliment, a financial contribution, share these tips for happiness, or just help someone on the street with directions. No matter how big or small, good deeds are like smiles- the more you do self-less acts of kindness, the happier you feel and the happier you feel, the more you want to pass it on by helping someone else feel good.

Often these tips for happiness are better together. For example, try smiling and playing the glad game, or singing your appreciation to someone. Any time you need a little shot of happiness, try one of these tips for happiness and be happier now.

You can find more tools and tips for happiness on the Tools and Tips page

Explore The Science of Happiness

Find out what famous people have in Happiness Quotes.