8 Ways To Live And Be Happy Now

It's probably one of the most important experiences and ways of being that we can cultivate,

And we can cultivate this for ourself on demand.

We are talking about eight science-backed hacks that allow us to live happy and joyful.

I begin with a question for you,

And it's actually one that I'd like you to write your answers to.

The question,

What sacred practices bring you joy?

I'll give you a moment to write your answers before you.

Think of things that are simple,

Yet astoundingly wonderful,

That are important to you,

And that cultivate a sense of contentment and happiness and joy.

So what do you have on your list?

Perhaps you feel happiness with that first hot beverage of the morning,

Or some alone quiet time before you jump into your day when the house,

The world,

Might still be asleep.

Perhaps one of your sacred practices to happiness and joy is exercise,

Or perhaps you enjoy laughter,

Laughing,

Making others laugh.

There's so much that we can remind ourselves of that is front and center,

That we can cultivate daily,

That allows us to feel what I believe is our inherent state,

That of happiness.

Further,

What I see us doing is shrouding our ability to feel happiness as a natural state in our thought-based views and opinions that keep us from feeling happy.

Let me give you one more question to prime your brain on this wonderful topic,

And then we will dive into my list of eight.

So,

I would like you,

On that notepad or in your phone that you have in front of you,

To list eight ways that you can be happy now.

Think of happiness and the feeling you feel.

Be aware of that vibration,

That energy vibration.

What is that energy of happiness?

And whether you use other adjectives as well,

Such as contentment,

Positivism,

Eagerness,

Enthusiasm,

Joy,

What are eight ways that you can live this feeling now?

All right,

Let's dive into this list.

So,

Number one,

Gratitude.

Gratitude,

Appreciation,

Thoughtfulness.

This is the most direct path to feeling happiness.

Gratitude moves us to experience positive emotions and to thoroughly enjoy the good experiences of our life,

As well as reminding us to be appreciative for what we have,

Rather than always being in search of something else.

We can strive for more.

We want to strive for more.

Gratitude is a reminder to be happy with what is.

And gratitude helps us to focus on what we have,

Rather than what we lack.

Number two on my list of the eight best ways to feel happiness now,

Acts of kindness.

Random kindness,

Thoughtfulness,

Considerate words,

Loving actions,

Doing good for others,

All of which allow us to feel joy and happiness easily.

The science behind this is that being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine,

Which are the neurotransmitters in the brain that give us these feelings of satisfaction and well-being and allow the pleasure reward centers of the brain to light up.

We also feel what's typically known as runner's high,

But research has also named this helper's high,

And this release of endorphin is created.

These feel-good chemicals of the brain occur when we are being helpful and kind.

Number three in our grand list of the eight best ways to feel happiness now,

Change your thoughts.

Empower yourself to choose thoughts that uplift your mood.

And I will place in the description several resources,

Audio tracks of CBT,

That is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,

Which really presents the model,

The principles of how our thoughts create how we feel,

And ways to change your thoughts.

That'll give you a starting place to practice changing your thoughts.

A positive attitude helps you to cope with daily life.

It brings optimism,

And positive thinking,

Accurate,

Realistic thinking,

Makes it far easier to sustain a positive mood and to diminish worrisome and negative thinking.

When you practice thinking positively and changing thoughts that are not helpful into ones that are kind,

Loving,

Positive,

Even neutral,

This will bring constructive changes into how you live your life,

And it definitely will make you happier and more successful.

A positive mind anticipates happiness,

Joy,

And a successful result.

And remember,

Whatever the mind expects,

It finds.

Number four on our list of the eight best ways to feel happy now,

Take positive action.

To live happy is not to distract yourself from life's challenges.

It is to embrace the positive steps you take to co-create happiness and joy in the simplest of things.

And the positive action requires discipline,

That is,

Not to talk yourself out of what would be good for you.

And positive action leads to positive thinking.

Positive action decreases your stress levels,

Improves depression symptoms,

And it really does move you into a different way of thinking and feeling.

For example,

You could take five minutes out,

Do some organizing,

Some cleaning.

There's a tangible,

Positive feeling that comes with making a distinct change in your work and living environment that allows you to feel better.

And when you do things that bring happiness and well-being,

Like getting out into nature,

Meditating,

Being social,

Whatever it is for you,

And remember your earlier list that you made,

Whatever allows you to feel happy,

Take action towards that.

And that action has this beautiful effect on how you think.

So,

Positive action creates and brings about more positive thoughts.

Number five in our list of the best practices to live happy,

To be happy,

Now,

Find stillness.

Stillness so that you can return to the present moment,

To witness yourself in now,

And to simply be in now.

There are many proven benefits to being still and letting your mind quiet.

And relax.

Allowing your mind to be still helps you to find mental clarity.

These moments of quieting your mind help you to gain insight and understanding,

Whether of yourself,

A situation,

Perhaps your future.

And with nothing competing for your attention,

You have this beautiful space in which to reflect,

Perhaps to focus on your breath,

Repeat a positive mantra,

Or simply be aware of what you feel.

And as you do this,

As you take time to be still and present with yourself,

You begin to feel the inner peace that lives deep within you.

The absence of the busyness of the mind and the body allow for the true feelings of wellness,

Contentment,

And happiness to flow.

Number six in our list of the eight best practices to be happy now,

Be inspired.

Find your inspiration for happiness.

What inspires you?

What gives you purpose and meaning?

What do you do that you love,

And how can you do more of it every day?

Inspiration cultivates belief,

Hope,

Optimism,

Joy,

Promise,

And certainly present moment happiness.

Feeling inspired in your day-to-day life plays a key role in unlocking our creativity,

Increasing productivity,

And boosting happiness.

And research shows that those people who regularly feel inspired in their work,

In their home life,

Tend to be more engaged,

More confident,

And more motivated to solve problems and create.

Number seven,

One of my go-tos for sure in this list of the best practices to be happy now,

Exercise and movement.

So we have a direct mind-body connection here.

The research,

The science supports how our true feelings of happiness are experienced by the release of dopamine and serotonin and endorphins.

When we exercise,

The body releases these chemicals that boost our sense of well-being.

And the body also suppresses hormones that cause stress and anxiety,

So you're getting a double benefit.

When you exercise,

You activate the brain's reward centers and the system of the brain that helps you anticipate pleasure and feel motivated and maintain hope.

And over time,

Regular exercise remodels this reward system,

Which means higher circulating levels of dopamine and more available dopamine receptors.

And the stress-relieving benefits of exercise,

According to the research,

Shows us that activity enhances production of endorphins,

Those feel-good neurotransmitters,

And the natural cannabis-like brain chemicals,

Endogenous cannabinoids,

And other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being.

So,

A direct and beautiful response to feeling happy when we move and exercise.

And number eight,

Of course,

This is going to be in my list of the eight best ways to feel happiness now,

Be love.

In the same way that kindness and positive thinking and exercise have these beautiful,

Impactful ways on our mind and body,

Being love,

Expressing love,

Whether loving-kindness from one being to another,

Or the brain-altering effects of being in love with a romantic partner,

All of this,

All of the ways that you can be love in the world through your actions and words,

Or feel this immense,

Intensive feeling of love for another,

All support our positive well-being,

Our feeling of happiness and joy and bliss,

And certainly being love,

Whether unto ourselves or others,

Allows us to feel positive,

Uplifted,

Hopeful,

And pure joy.

Sending you great love,

This is Dorothy Sanori Juno.

Namaste.