Happiness Blog

June 17, 2013

Happiness studies have shown that you can increase your overall level of happiness by feeling more grateful.  It turns out there are ways to practice gratitude that are more effective than others.  Experts suggest that you keep a journal or some other concrete record of your gratefulness.  Here’s what they recommend:

1. Make a conscious decision that you want to be happier.
2. Write in your gratitude journal once or twice a week – more than that and you run the risk of becoming used to having positive events occur.
3. Pick 2-3 items to write about.  Take the time to explore all the ways in which you are so grateful for them.  Really delve into it.  Perhaps consider what it adds to your life, how those benefits go beyond you, how it positively affects you and others in the short and long run, etc.
4. Imagining your life without a certain person/thing/event can help you notice what it brings to your life.
5. Focusing on people and unexpected surprises can be more meaningful than focusing on items.
6. No repeats!  This forces you to be specific – instead of being thankful for your friend, you might focus on how thankful you are for the moment of laughter you shared that day, or the email they sent reaching out to you in a time of stress.  You’ll be amazed at how much gratitude you have for seemingly small things, without having realized it!

June 4, 2013

At a previous job I had to downgrade to a smaller office when we moved. I was disappointed and annoyed, thinking it was unfair. It wasn’t a battle I wanted to pick, so I decided to embrace it. My new office had large windows with a great woodsy view. As I moved my stuff in, I made it a point to notice the window with the view, and actively appreciate the beauty. By the last box I was grateful to have been given this particular office, which I now viewed as cozy and nature-filled and ideal for me. Every morning when I walked into that office for the next five years, I felt happy being able to start my day with that view. During my work day I would notice it, and learned that a particular skink enjoyed sunning himself on the brick on warm days. Since I was now in the habit checking out my window occasionally, I saw deer meander through, chipmunks nibbling in the pine needles, and once saw a fox dart by. Squirrels and birds would tap and peck on the glass (just in case I was forgetting to appreciate it in that moment). If I hadn’t decided on actively appreciating my office on day one, I might have nurtured a sense of bitter entitlement rather than appreciation and happiness.

May 27, 2013

Everyone has something good in them.  Even the people that irritate you the most.  It’s way too easy to focus on the negative attributes of others…instead, make a conscious effort today to find something positive about every one you encounter today.  Doing anything that’s challenging or difficult will offer you some type of reward.  It might be small, peace of mind, or just gratification – but those things can go a long way to creating a positive outlook.

May 20, 2013

If you have ever pushed yourself to do something that stretches your comfort zone, pushes the “normal” boundaries for you, or even tests your mental/physical endurance then you understand that feeling of accomplishment.  Setting a goal to test your abilities on a regular basis is a way to gain happiness along with insight about what motivates you.  If you’ve never deliberately done this, start small.  If you are used to challenging yourself, decide to do something that stretches you in a way you never thought possible.  Either way, you will reap rewards!

May 13, 2013

There is something about deciding it’s time to paint the toes for the spring & summer.  It’s a sign that it’s time for sandals, trips to the lake or beach, and being outside until the evening.  It’s time to get rid of the old nail polish we have that’s clumpy, too dark, or just out of style.  Get some bright colors, wear sandals, and put some sparkles on those toes.  Nothing like some happy, sparkly toes for the summer! 😉

May 6, 2013

A good exploration of happiness should include the world’s happiest person. And neuropsychological studies show that a 66 year-old French molecular geneticist who dropped everything to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk actually holds that title. While meditating on compassion, his brain imaging showed previously never before seen levels of gamma wave activity and excessive activity in the left pre-frontal cortex, both markers of happiness. What great lessons of living according to our own values and internalizing control of life (as depicted by dropping a successful career in the pursuit of happiness), as well as the positive effects of cultivating a sense of compassion for others.

April 29, 2013

I definitely don’t know the meaning of life. But, what I do know is that we all have challenges to face. Some are pretty intense on that spectrum, and some are just normal daily things everyone has to deal with. Given that everyone faces challenges, why do some people rise to the top and others crumble under that type of stress & pressure? I assume there are many reasons that explain this concept. What I do feel is that our happiness can depend on how we address those “bumps” in our life. I know that some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced are things I have purposely flip-flopped in my life – taking those negative things & turning them into positive opportunities is one way to look at that problem. Granted… it takes time, it’s not a quick-fix, and you have to be willing to grow.

If you have taken a negative experience in your life and used it to your advantage to grow, maybe even help others, and improve your happiness with life please share your experience with us. We’d love to hear about it!

April 22, 2013

Our Interns are at the end of their college career and looking ahead to their next chapter – most likely being the start of their workforce career.  We asked them what makes for a “happy” choice regarding their future at work.  Without knowing it, they all said almost the same thing!

• A happy workplace/job is one where the people are friendly, nice, and easy to get along with. Having a good set of coworkers is the key to being happy in the workplace.
• Any work site, job, or career is a happy place if you enjoy what you do and enjoy the people around you.
• If you have the luxury of choosing your career, then choose one that’s going to satisfy you- whether that be the work itself or the money it brings! (If you have a career that’s enjoyable in both respects, you’ve hit the jackpot.)
• A happy workplace is not always easy to find. Enjoying your job and the people you work with is key to a happy career. Avoiding/ resolving conflict is important if it arises. Going into work with a positive outlook will only help ensure happiness throughout the day.
• I think a workplace is transformed into a happy place when relationships and bonds are formed between coworkers and the environment promotes friendly interactions as well as work