womens health over 50
Kim

How many of these “12 Happiness Strategies” are you exercising?

/in /by

Several years ago I committed to being a life-long learner, so in addition to reading a lot, listening to podcasts, and going to conferences and seminars, I also take online courses on health, happiness, well-being, and living your best life.

I love passing on information that I learn to you, so I hope you enjoy these “happiness strategies” that I studied in one of my recent courses by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor who has spent her life studying the science of human happiness.

More specifically, her work addresses three questions:

1) What makes people happy

2) Is happiness a good thing?

3) How can we make people happier still?

In her course, we studied her 12 Happiness Strategies. Here they are:

  • Expressing gratitude and appreciation
  • Practicing acts of kindness
  • Coping well with stress and adversity
  • Nurturing optimistic thinking
  • Learning to forgive
  • Avoiding social comparison
  • Savoring the present moment
  • Investing in relationships
  • Committing to significant life goals
  • Practicing your religion
  • Meditating regularly
  • Engaging in physical activity or exercise

When you read that list, are you surprised by any of these? If not, neither was I. Of course all of these things lead to a happy life!

But, there’s one little, but big phrase I always like to remember:

“To know and not to do is really not to know.”

So the coach in me would like to challenge you today by asking you to reflect on these three things:

Run down that list again and check off how many of the “happiness strategies” you exercise on a regular basis.
Would you say that those practices have contributed to your happiness? If so, how?
Which one(s) are you NOT doing on a regular basis that you would like to start? Or which one(s) could use an upgrade?

Again, it’s one thing to read the list and understand it, and it’s another thing to implement these strategies to create more happiness in your life.

I hope you choose to pick just one of the 12 Happiness Strategies that you can really focus on this week.

I’ll start.

I love that word – SAVOR, don’t you? It means “to enjoy it completely”.

When I think of savoring I also think of…

…slowing down

…and really experiencing

…all that you can

…in this moment.

See, I’ve already started!

I will commit to SAVORING the present moment more this week.

What about you? Which Happiness Strategy will you focus on this week?

It’s your turn to take care of you,