Lasting Happiness - The 11 Strategies as Recommended by a Happiness Expert

The How of Happiness

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychologist from the University of California who has been doing research on happiness for almost 20 years, offers you the 11 secrets of lasting happiness. The strategies are contained in her latest book, The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. 

 1. Count Your Blessings: One way to practice this strategy is with a “gratitude journal” in which you write down the 3 to 5 things for which you are currently thankful – from the mundane (your flowers are finally in bloom) to the magnificent (your child’s first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night. 

2. Nurture Optimism: This strategy involves such practices as looking at the bright side and finding the silver lining in a negative event. 

 3. Practice acts of kindness: Being kind to others makes you feel compassionate and capable, gives you a greater sense of connection with others, and earns you smiles, approval, and reciprocated kindness. These are all happiness boosters. 

 4. Learn to forgive: The inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge while forgiving allows you to move on.

 5. Increase “Flow” experiences: When you are absorbed in doing something without noticing the passage of time you are in a state called “flow”, a term coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. The key is to be fully engaged at work, at home, and at play.

 6. Invest in relationships: This is one of the biggest factors in happiness. This strategy involves putting effort into healing, cultivating, and enjoying relationships with family and friends. 

 7. Avoid overthinking: There's a time to think about the bad stuff in your life, but it is unhealthy to dwell on your problems excessively. 

 8. Savor life’s joy: Pay close attention and take delight in the momentary pleasures, wonders, and magical moments. Some psychologists suggest taking “mental photographs” of pleasurable moments to review in a less happy time. 

 9.Take care of your souls: Studies show that religious and spiritual people are happier and healthier than others. 

 10. Commit to your goals: When you pursue your dreams or aspirations, you are happier than those without goals. However, being dedicated to any pursuit won’t make you happy if you’re just doing it for superficial reasons such as making money, boosting your ego, or succumbing to peer pressure. 

 11. Use Your body - Exercise, meditate smile and rest: Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching, meditating, smiling, and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term and promote energy and strong mental health. When you do it regularly you can make your daily life more satisfying and increase your long-term happiness.

 It is easy to learn the secrets of happiness but not simple to carry out. With determination and commitment, you will achieve and maintain higher levels of happiness. You do not need to attempt the entire list of happiness activities but should choose to focus only on 1 to 4 strategies that seem most natural and enjoyable to you.