Do you want to make your day a little brighter\u2014and a little easier too? Most of us do. Then consider this:<\/p>\n
Research shows that if we make some simple shifts in how we think about\u2014and react to<\/em>\u2014normal day-to-day occurrences, we are likely to benefit in multiple ways. Most importantly, we are likely to vastly improve our sense of well-being and feelings of happiness.<\/p>\n Ready to give it a go? Great! Here are a few tips from cutting-edge \u201chappiness\u201d research.<\/p>\n When I was younger, I had a teacher who managed to bring out the best in her students\u2014even though we behaved like a bunch of rough and tough, mischievous rascals most of the time. I don\u2019t know how she did it, but we learned the value of taking a deep breath, removing ourselves physically from the situation if necessary, and getting a grip on our impulses before talking out the problem. Try to handle the situation as professionally as possible. To this day, I try to follow this simple process and it hasn\u2019t let me down yet.<\/p>\n Human beings are complex, full of interesting\u2014and sometimes annoying\u2014quirks. If the events of a day, or a particular individual, throw you a curve ball, take it in stride. Don\u2019t let your mind go into overdrive\u2014jumping to unfounded conclusions, concocting conspiracy theories, etc. This kind of thinking will quickly take you into a black hole. Instead of wasting energy building up feelings of anger and resentment, make a conscious decision to NOT go down a negative\u2014and self-defeating\u2014path. Instead, put a positive spin on the situation.<\/p>\n Well-meaning messengers may bungle the delivery through poor word choice or other awkward habits, but most people just want to help you get the job done\u2014and offer support along the way. We all could use some practice both delivering and receiving advice, but here\u2019s the bottom line. Before immediately thinking the worst, take a step back and look at the situation objectively. Nine times out of ten you are likely to learn something useful from offered advice. So, take the tip and run with it.<\/p>\n A study recently found that a significant boost of happiness comes from striking up conversations with strangers or people you don\u2019t know well. This can be someone you bump into at the local coffee shop or laundromat, or someone you meet as you wait to catch a train. It can also be someone you don\u2019t regularly interact with at your place of work. If you start up a conversation with someone new, research says you can count on experiencing some unexpected joy. Not a bad result, right?<\/p>\n How did that make you feel? Now, consider a switch: You be the agent of kindness and replicate that act on someone else\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n It\u2019s bound to improve your outlook. We can\u2019t always be chipper, of course, because we\u2019re only human. But hanging with like-minded, positive people is energizing and good for your soul. We\u2019ve all experienced a negative personality\u2014someone who\u2019s outlook is \u201chalf empty\u201d and just plain cynical\u2014even when times are good. In most cases, you want to avoid running into that person again because, let\u2019s face it, a bad attitude is just a drain on your energy. By hanging with positive people, the good vibes have a way of spreading. Before long, your cynical outlook will be a thing of the past.<\/p>\n This one can be difficult to remember to do, but the benefits pay off in spades. Carve out five minutes of your day to think about something you are grateful for. It can be as simple as being thankful for the delicious piece of cake you plan to enjoy at lunch or the fortifying heart-to-heart conversation you had with a coworker recently. Wasn\u2019t it great when your friend gave you two free tickets to a concert last week? (Anyway, you probably get the picture by now.) Even on the tougher days, it\u2019s usually possible to find at least one thing to appreciate.<\/p>\n After all, isn\u2019t it way too easy these days to think of a community or an individual somewhere in the world that has it significantly worse than you do?<\/p>\n A few years ago, a U.S. political figure was mocked by many around the world for his habit of blaming others for what were essentially self-created hardships. To put it bluntly, he was a big baby\u2014and just about everyone in the world knew it. In 2019, a massive balloon in the shape of an infant\u2014complete with diaper and pin–of this particular politician bounced along in a variety of public spaces as part of various political demonstrations. A turbulent relationship between the world community and this international figure soon followed. Needless to say, not owning up to mistakes or refusing to accept blame will rarely get you far.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the underlying message to everything we\u2019ve covered in this article: The mind is a powerful thing. By exerting a little discipline over your thoughts, you can affect your environment\u2014and your happiness\u2014in countless ways.<\/p>\n Similarly, your state of mind can help you achieve both personal and professional goals. It should come as no surprise that high achievers, from medal-earning Olympians to successful entrepreneurs, often visualize their dreams in their heads before attempting to implement them.<\/p>\n So, on a final note, take a moment to consider your dreams\u2014you are worthy of them\u2014and then chart a course to making them happen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do you want to make your day a little brighter\u2014and a little easier too? Most of us do. Then consider this: Research shows that if we make some simple shifts in how we think about\u2014and react to\u2014normal day-to-day occurrences, we are likely to benefit in multiple ways. Most importantly, we are likely to vastly improve…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16,2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen problems crop up, bring out the best version of yourself.<\/h3>\n
Give people the benefit of the doubt and don\u2019t \u201coverthink\u201d it.<\/h3>\n
Take criticism in stride.<\/h3>\n
Reach out to people you don\u2019t know.<\/h3>\n
Think of a moment when you were on the receiving end of an act of kindness.<\/h3>\n
Hang out with positive people.<\/h3>\n
Make gratitude a habit.<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t complain; own up to your mistakes.<\/h3>\n
You\u2019ve got this. Reflect on personal and professional dreams.<\/h3>\n