Happiness

Happiness is ephemeral, of course, but it does seem there are ways to make oneself happier. No, not taking a bubble bath! (There was a time when in every article about dieting in a woman's magazine, the bright idea would be promulgated to "find another way to treat yourself when you are feeling tired or low - indulge in a luxurious bubblebath instead of eating that ice-cream." Yeah, right! Hand me the spoon, please.)

Evidently, the act of smiling gives one a sense of well-being. I have tried this, and by crackey, it works! I felt my whole body relaxing and my spirits inch upward. Now, it can be difficult to smile when one is really, really depressed, but it will help.

I find smiling at people on the street makes me feel good too. I like radiating good will toward people, and often they will respond by smiling back, and I feel that although the world seems like a grim place, there is satisfaction in making someone else's day even a fraction better with a friendly smile. Then, too, it creates a sense of connection with another human, and connecting with people is one of the big things that contributes to happiness in life.

I haven't tried this yet - I just read about it. But smiling at oneself in a mirror is supposed to be good for the spirits and outllook. I guess it is like seeing one's inner self smiling and saying, "Come on, I like you, we'll get through this together."

Doing something nice for someone else definitely contributes to happiness, because it increases one's sense of worth as a human being.

Sing out loud. Studies actually show this increases happiness.

Listen to music you love - "music hath charms to soothe the savage breast," or something to that effect. (Slight digression - more people think this quote goes "savage beast" than "savage breast," which does bring up visions of marauding nipples. But it is indeed "breast.") The quote seems to originally come from William Congreve, in The mourning bride, 1697:

Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast,
To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.
I've read, that things inanimate have mov'd,
And, as with living Souls, have been inform'd,
By Magick Numbers and persuasive Sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than Trees, or Flint? O force of constant Woe!
'Tis not in Harmony to calm my Griefs.

See above right in side column for a portrait of Congreve.

Move to music, otherwise known as dancing.

Hang out only with positive friends, not those who will agree with or encourage your negative outlook on life or a particular problem. A friend can acknowledge your feelings without egging you on or adding their own negativity! Negative energy is a killer.

Go outside and get some sun, and then get some more. Sunlight and a sparkling day are truly mood boosters.

Wear something that makes you feel attractive, NOT your standard "I'm depressed" outfit.

Okay, corny but helpful: write down (this is not a mental exercise, get your pen or pencil out) the good things in your life and read the list regularly, at least once a week.

While you've got your pen or pencil out, write down an important goal, including the steps you must take to achieve it. Place this somewhere you will look at it every day. It will help motivate you and keep you on track.

Think hard: what things make you happy? Think back and try to connect to happy memories. Make a list of things that bring you happiness, and then schedule them into your life. This is so much harder than you would think, but extremely worthwhile.

There are other things, but I'm bushed right now. Besides, that is plenty to get started with!