Seven Things Happy People Do and Seven Things They Don’t

Decades of studies on happiness and emotional well-being have proven one important fact. Experiencing greater happiness is definitely within the control of every single one of us. While there’s no magic cure for a perpetual state of misery, there are multiple behaviors (cognitive, emotional, and physical) that you can practice that exponentially multiply your chances of feeling good about your life.article continues after advertisement

Things Happy People Choose Not to Do

Don’t dwell on setbacks or unpleasantness. Ruminating on negative thoughts crowds out space for positive thinking while also creating grooves in our brain that allow negative thought processes to become the “go-to track” for our brains.
Don’t stress out when things don’t go your way. Take a breath, consider your options, and then move forward. Stress and anxiety don’t allow your brain to assess situations and generate elegant solutions.
Don’t waste time or energy on resentment or envy of other people’s successes. If the Facebook feeds of friends or family just leave you frustrated with your own life, stop surfing others’ feeds. Post what you want, if you want, and then log off.
Don’t jump to conclusions if things don’t turn out the way you want – not in relationships, on the job, or in life. Jumping to conclusions usually takes our thoughts to our less helpful and less healthy assessments and beliefs. Look deeper, reflect more, and seek out more effective solutions
Don’t catastrophize the complications or glitches you run into in life. No one’s life runs like a well-oiled machine 100% of the time. When you turn the proverbial molehill into a mountain, all you’ve done is made your job harder and created more work for yourself and more negative thinking to combat.
Don’t waste time trying to force a “perfect life.” When we learn to let go of the things that we just can’t control, it frees up more energy to better shape the things in life that we can.
Don’t spend as much time worrying about your own petty problems as you spend engaged in healthy interactions with others. An outward focus is key to getting out of your own way in your ability to experience the happiness to be found in everyday living.

article continues after advertisement

Things Happy People Choose to Absolutely Do

Focus on what is going right in life. Positive thinking generates gratitude and an appreciative state of mind. These two things both increase happiness.
Give the brain time to reset–every single day. Meditation gives our brains a chance to let go of negative thoughts and “erase” the damage that negative thinking can do.
Practice awareness of the world around you and stay grounded in the present. Rather than ruminating about the past. You can’t plot a course for your future if you can’t let go of the past.
Debunk negative thoughts. When the brain is mired in negative thought patterns, you need to challenge these thoughts and test them against reality. You can only control so much in this world, but things like the weather, other people, or climate change are beyond your reach. Let go of negative thoughts and faulty thinking that get in the way of your well-being.
Create a strong social support network. The value of this advice can’t be overestimated as every study on happiness points to the presence of a healthy support network as a key predictor of happiness.
Belongingness is essential. Once you develop your network or find your tribe, be willing to work out differences, practice forgiveness, and stay engaged in relationships.
“Give-and-take” with others is what cements relationships and enhances well-being. Remember that a burden shared is a burden halved – ask for support when needed and be willing to offer support in return.

They say that happiness is a choice, but sometimes it’s the result of multiple little choices that work together to buoy us up and keep us afloat when challenges appear.