10 practices that will make people more happy.

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." James Dean

Look around: there is no shortage of reading material devoted to the subject of becoming successful. Regrettably, the pursuit of love, power and the ideal figure also preoccupy precious energy that could be allocated to the pursuit of happiness.

By seeking satisfaction through affluence and power, expectations constantly meander toward a dissipating sense of fulfillment.

This tendency establishes a system of belief that derives its energy from a self-fulfilling prophecy based on the false assumption that more is better. Once a person realizes this fruitless endeavor leads to disappointment, they become committed to being ALIVE.

They also become committed to establishing good habits that support more happiness.

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes." Andrew Carnegie

Here are 10 things to focus on to increase happiness: 

Appreciation. Most people I know are very busy. Raising kids. Building businesses and trying to manage their health. Quality time can be elusive. Sometimes we just need to stop and smell the roses. Take a walk. Take in the morning sunrise or tell somebody we love how much they mean to us. 

Exercise. I believe moving your body each day is essential for better mental and physical health. Find anything that inspires you to move and make better health a top priority. 

Generosity. Many people work hard to create personal wealth. That’s ok, but it doesn’t increase happiness. Being generous is the best way to intensify feelings of joy.  Helping others has proven to be one of the best ways to create positive feelings that “positively” impact both parties.

Quality friends. The evidence is conclusive. Our top 5 friends have enormous impact on our belief system. Surround yourself with quality people that appreciate life and you will share a similar mindset. Happiness is contagious!

Positive. It isn’t always easy to stay positive. Nobody is immune to heartache and disappointment. However, how we respond is highly personal. I practice focusing on my options. Creating choices helps obviate the effects of feeling desperate. Desperate people make bad decisions and easily get overwhelmed. Staying positive creates a mindset consistent with success. We manifest our own reality. Maintain a positive attitude and you will always have the upper hand.

"Tension is who you think you should be, relaxation is who you are." Chinese Proverb

Rest and relaxation. Adequate sleep is essential, and each person requires different amounts of sleep to ensure “optimum performance”. I must confess, for years I was highly deficient in this area. Building a successful company for decades came at the expense of “good rest”. I did what was required. However, the research is clear. When we sleep our brain recharges by extracting toxic proteins that accumulate during the day. Our energy, attention and attitude are directly affected. I also believe taking breaks from work is important. Vacation and take frequent sabbaticals from technology.

Deep dialogue. I believe we can increase happiness by focusing on what I call the four tenets of equanimity. Healthy interpersonal relationships should be top priority. Healthy relationships with quality friends exclude; gossip, small talk and judgement. They focus on substantive conversations dedicated to deep dialogue and meaningful connection.

Prioritize. We all have bad days. Exceptionally happy people prevent setbacks from escalating into a bad mood that lingers. When they start “feeling low” they react by controlling their response. They take a walk. Hit the gym. Call a close friend. They act and turn a bad mood into something more productive.

Connect. Many people have substituted technology for real connections. It’s easy to blast off a text or like a post in place of picking up the phone and scheduling time to meet.  Human beings require genuine connection and genuine connection takes time and commitment. There’s not substitute!

Grow. Happy people are committed to grow and people that grow possess a growth mindset. When you make growth a top priority you understand you can change your circumstances and improve. Challenges aren’t insurmountable obstacles; they are opportunity for growth. A growth mindset is consistent with the understanding that life is a journey. Embrace it and let growth be a critical part of that pilgrimage.

"True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." Helen Keller

Sum it up

Happiness is a decision that we can fortify by practicing healthy habits. We can immediately effect our disposition by making minor adjustments each day.

Any other healthy habits that make you happy? Please like and share this article and include your thoughts in the comments section below. I love learning from you as well.

About Steve:

Steve Wohlenhaus is CEO of Weatherology, the leading company in the world at disseminating audio weather information.  Steve began his career as a major market television weather anchor in Minneapolis, where he received several Emmy Awards for science programming. Steve is an author and host of the post program Anatomy of Success. Reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn!