Difference between revisions of "Be Happy"
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#*Give a person in need food, clothing or shelter, if it would be safe. It's so basic, we often forget to think about it, yet so easy to do. | #*Give a person in need food, clothing or shelter, if it would be safe. It's so basic, we often forget to think about it, yet so easy to do. | ||
#*Increase the happiness of those around you by giving small gifts. This will increase your happiness as well - in fact, the one giving the gift usually feels a larger pulse of dopamine (the neurotransmitter responsible for feeling happiness) than the person receiving the gift! <ref name="rf620">http://www.pnas.org/content/103/42/15623.abstract</ref> | #*Increase the happiness of those around you by giving small gifts. This will increase your happiness as well - in fact, the one giving the gift usually feels a larger pulse of dopamine (the neurotransmitter responsible for feeling happiness) than the person receiving the gift! <ref name="rf620">http://www.pnas.org/content/103/42/15623.abstract</ref> | ||
| − | #* Try loving-kindness meditation. This type of meditation stems from Buddhist traditions that focus on increasing compassion for others.<ref name="rf621">http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/loving-kindness</ref> Studies have shown that this type of meditation can reduce feelings of sadness and depression.<ref name="rf622">Galante, J., Galante, I., Bekkers, M.J., & Gallacher, J. (2014). Effect of kindness-based meditation on health and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(6), pp. 1101-1114.</reF><ref>http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/11/meditations-positive-residual-effects/</ref> | + | #* Try loving-kindness meditation. This type of meditation stems from Buddhist traditions that focus on increasing compassion for others.<ref name="rf621">http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree/loving-kindness</ref> Studies have shown that this type of meditation can reduce feelings of sadness and depression.<ref name="rf622">Galante, J., Galante, I., Bekkers, M.J., & Gallacher, J. (2014). Effect of kindness-based meditation on health and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 82(6), pp. 1101-1114.</reF><ref name="rf1">http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/11/meditations-positive-residual-effects/</ref> |
#[[Make Friends|Make friends.]] In a 2010 study published by Harvard researchers in ''American Sociological Review'', people who went to church regularly reported greater life satisfaction than those who didn't. The critical factor was the quality of friendships made in church. Church-goers who lacked close friends there were no happier than people who never went to church. When researchers compared people who had the same number of close friends, those who had close friends ''from church'' were more satisfied with their lives. This research shows just how important it is to make friends with similar values and outlooks as you. It doesn’t matter what your interests and beliefs are. Finding something you're deeply passionate about and making friends with those who share similar interests will result in the same intimacy. | #[[Make Friends|Make friends.]] In a 2010 study published by Harvard researchers in ''American Sociological Review'', people who went to church regularly reported greater life satisfaction than those who didn't. The critical factor was the quality of friendships made in church. Church-goers who lacked close friends there were no happier than people who never went to church. When researchers compared people who had the same number of close friends, those who had close friends ''from church'' were more satisfied with their lives. This research shows just how important it is to make friends with similar values and outlooks as you. It doesn’t matter what your interests and beliefs are. Finding something you're deeply passionate about and making friends with those who share similar interests will result in the same intimacy. | ||
#* Be a peacemaker. If your ideas and understandings would continue dissension in a family squabble, or in your group of friends, or at a meeting of an organization such as on the job in a workplace, or in a church group, do something else. Be agreeable as much as it is up to you, applying yourself where you can be happy without unnecessary argument, anger and discord. Don't insist on getting your way/preferences in a personality conflict, on shades of meaning and adversarial issues at the expense of the order and peace of the group and your own happiness. | #* Be a peacemaker. If your ideas and understandings would continue dissension in a family squabble, or in your group of friends, or at a meeting of an organization such as on the job in a workplace, or in a church group, do something else. Be agreeable as much as it is up to you, applying yourself where you can be happy without unnecessary argument, anger and discord. Don't insist on getting your way/preferences in a personality conflict, on shades of meaning and adversarial issues at the expense of the order and peace of the group and your own happiness. | ||
