get happier

Because I’m Happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof, because I’m happy.
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth, because I’m happy.
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you, because I’m happy.
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do.
(From “Happy” by Pharrell Williams)

If you are going to get a song stuck in your mind, this is not such a bad one. I have seen several television shows on happiness recently. You can look for them on television or the internet and/or read my take on them below.

Shawn Achor is a professor at Harvard University and has traveled the world studying happiness. He asserts that 90% of our happiness depends not upon our external world, but upon how we process the events in our lives. In his book, "The Happiness Advantage" he says that by increasing your happiness level you will:
• Increase your brain health and remember things better
• Lessen your chance of heart disease and other illnesses
• Make better financial decisions
• Have more energy
• Have fewer backaches, headaches, and other fatigue related symptoms
• Be more successful at losing weight
• Live longer

According to Dr. Achor, there are five habits that have been shown to increase your happiness level if you do any of them for as many as twenty-one days. They are:
• Writing down three things for which you are thankful
• Journaling a positive event that occurred within the past 24 hours
• Exercising for ten minutes per day
• Meditating on your breathing for two minutes per day
• Writing an email praising someone

Marci Shimoff wrote "Happy For No Reason" and there was a show on PBS by the same name. Some of the keys to happiness that she discusses are:
• Taking ownership of your happiness level
• Taking care of your health with nutrition and physical activity
• Spirituality
• Nourishing relationships
• Love
• Meaningful activities

And finally, the documentary film, “Happy” that was shown recently on PBS looked at different cultures around the world and how they strive for and achieve happiness. Filmmaker Roko Belic found that across the world some of the activities that promote happiness are community ties, regular exercise, personal improvement projects, and volunteer activities.

Consider trying some of the ideas listed above to increase your happiness level and thereby also increase your health, immunity, resiliency and personal productivity. Contact your Employee Assistance Program. We can also help. 770.834.8327