How to Boost Your Happiness?

 Exploring the Road Towards Happiness

Imagine you had a long and tiring day and your cozy bed is waiting for you to unwind. Before drifting off to sleep, look back and ponder upon what you struggled today for; what was the purpose for working your fingers to the bone throughout the day? And did it make you happy? You scroll down Social Media because it makes you happy, you work because it makes you happy, you fall in love because it makes you happy, you chase success because it makes you happy. But ever thought about what really makes you happy?

We humans spend most of our lives hunting happiness and contentment. This ‘Happiness’ is like a beautiful and mischievous butterfly that makes us run behind it like a kid hoping to catch it. Some people find it in the most obvious corners whereas some people scan the entire planet to find it. Wondering what are the common flowers this butterfly called ‘happiness’ sits on most often? Let’s explore together! Read the article till the end to unveil what happiness is and how to be happier. (Psst, there’s a surprise for you as well ;))

What is Happiness?

Happiness is subjective and can have as many definitions as the number of people living on this planet. This question might hold different answers for different people. It depends upon the perspective of looking at life. For some, happiness is an emotion, for some, it's a process, for some, it's an achievement, and for some, it's the ultimate aim of life.

Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment characterized by positive emotions and satisfaction with life. It is a subjective experience that can be influenced by various factors such as relationships, finances, health, and personal values.

What is Happiness Quotient?

Ever thought, can we calculate anyone’s happiness too? Yes, happiness can be measured! The happiness quotient is a measure of an individual's overall subjective happiness and well-being. It takes into account factors such as positive emotions, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. In total seven happiness quotients such as physical, emotional, social, occupational, environmental, intellectual, and spiritual come together under the same roof to form the happiness quotient.

How to be Happier?

We all have different definitions of happiness then how can the pathway of reaching towards it be the same? But considering how the happiness quotient of people is constantly deteriorating, here are a few tips to help you promote happiness in your life. 

1. Practice Gratitude

No one has a straight curve in life. We all come across peaks and valleys in our lives. We mope around when things go wrong, we smile when things go our way. But in this marathon full of tears and smiles, we forget to express gratitude. Every tear shedding from your eyes gives a lesson, every smile spreading across your face is a cue to keep going. We forget to extract this positivity from every situation thereby failing to be grateful.

Gratitude is a positive emotion. When we are grateful towards anything or anyone and not just being grateful but expressing it, it makes you feel happy. Practice gratitude by turning your focus towards the positive things in your life.

2. Engage in activities that bring you joy

Do what you love and love what you do. Indulge in activities that you find interesting. Engaging in hobbies and such leisure activities acts as a stress buster. It reduces the level of cortisol (stress hormone) and stimulates the release of happy hormones such as dopamine which promotes happiness. 

3. Exercise!

As it’s said, “A healthy mind resides in a healthy body.” Taking care of your physical health by exercising and indulging in healthy habits can do wonders for your mental health too. Exercise regularly as physical activity has the power to uplift mood. 

And exercising doesn’t always mean lifting heavy weights at the gym. It could be as simple as taking a walk in nature, stretching your muscles a bit, practicing yoga, and avoiding being a couch potato!

4. Cultivating strong relationships 

As social beings, no human can survive without relationships. Connect with others and build positive relationships. Happiness scatters its magic when one is loved and loves others. 

Cherish every healthy relationship of your life. Extract happiness from these relationships and be their source of happiness as well. Surround yourself with people who radiate positive vibes and plunge in their positivity.

5. Manage Stress

No human has a stress-free life. Still, people could be happy if they know how to manage this stress and how to deal with the tantrums of life. Identify your stressors and devise healthy ways of overcoming them. Practice mindfulness, meditation, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to reduce stress and increase happiness.

6. Indulge in random acts of kindness

When we are kind towards others, it ignites happiness within. Helping others not only makes the giver happy but the receiver also.  Give back to society, volunteer for a good cause, and be empathetic and compassionate. If I talk about myself, I feel the happiest when I’m being my kiddish self, when I’m able to put a smile on someone’s face, and when I help! And believe me, the joy you’ll feel is pure bliss.

Related Post: Developing the Art of Kindness

Besides these, getting quality sleep, eating your favorite food, cherishing even your little accomplishments, savoring every moment, finding a sense of purpose in life, and smiling as often as you can are some of the ingredients of happiness. 

With the increasing hustle and bustle of life, the butterfly of happiness is somewhere slipping through the hands of humans. To be happy you do not need to hit a jackpot, become a billionaire, attain fame or climb Mount Everest, happiness can be found in anything and everything. Look around yourself, there are countless reasons to smile. You do not have to become Sherlock Holmes to search for happiness, just be yourself and embrace life as it comes your way because happiness is not found, it’s seen! 

Take this Oxford’s happiness test to know your happiness status!

So, what makes you happy? Let me know your recipe for happiness in the comments below! :)

What Magic Can Your Smile Ignite?

Exploring the Perks of Smiling

Did you know that you have something so precious that you can flaunt before anyone without the fear of getting it stolen? Just let your lips form an upward curve, there you have the answer, that pretty smile of yours!

Even before this world heard you crying for the first time, your mother’s womb witnessed your smile. With time, that fragile body grew up robustly. The irony? In the attempt of firmly facing the world, facing life, connection with that pure smile somewhere became fragile instead. And now, that smile is trying so hard to claim a place on your face. 

Ever wondered why do your smile need to play this hide and seek with the world? Why does an expression as simple as a smile need a complex reason to be evoked on your face? In my view, every piece of the universe is in itself a reason to smile. But if you’re still hunting those reasons, here are some of the finest ones to lift the impression of your smile in your eyes. Read till the end to fill your pockets with the benefits of your smile and unveil the magic it holds! 

5 Benefits of Smiling

1. Smiling can enhance your overall health.

Research suggests that smiling reduces the level of stress and helps in better stress recovery. It aids in relaxing the mind and body. Smiling helps in lowering blood pressure. It is also beneficial in enhancing heart health as well as strengthening one's immune system. So the next time you want to add more warriors to the defense system of your body, smile more! 

2. Smiling elevates the mood.

Smiling rings the mini celebration alarms in your brain. Every time you smile, your brain releases neuropeptides (chemical messengers that enable communication between neurons) that combat stress.

The brain also releases happy hormones (or feel-good neurotransmitters) such as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine to rescue you from a bad mood. Serotonin acts as an antidepressant or mood enhancer. And endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers. They relieve pain and promote the feeling of pleasure. So, use that factory of painkillers that comes with no side effects!

Even if it's a fake smile, it can still do wonders. Here’s a secret for you, your brain can be naive sometimes and can be tricked to feel happy. It cannot differentiate clearly between a fake and a natural smile. So when your facial muscles are stretched into a smile, your brain gets the signal to release happy hormones.

Facial expressions, thus, can play the role of a referee in deciding what we feel! If we smile, it’ll make us happier, whereas frowning will lead to feeling sadder. This is called the facial feedback hypothesis. 

So if you’re finding this post boring, just smile, maybe it’ll help you continue. ;) 

3. Smiling changes the perception of people towards you.

Your smile can act as a magnet in attracting people towards you. Smiling makes you appear more attractive and smarter to others. It’s your natural make-up! People perceive you as more approachable, warm, and confident. According to a study by Sing Lau, a smiling person is also perceived as intelligent. Another study reports that smiling makes you look more sincere, sociable, and competent. So flash that beautiful smile at others, as they say, ‘If you have it, flaunt it.’

4. Smiling is contagious.

Just like the Covid 19, a smile has a wide network of viruses that can infect anyone. The only difference is that, unlike Covid, it's healthy and desirable! You can make someone smile back at you with your smile. And if they do not smile back then they are forcing themselves not to. This is indeed backed by many studies. So spread the glitters of your smile, maybe it can lit up some sad faces out there!

5. Smiling increases your longevity.

Smile for a good mood, for better health, for others but moreover for your life! If you smile at your life, for your life, the favor will be returned to you. Yes, the biggest reason to smile is that it can add on to your life span. A happy person lives a long and enriching life.

Smiling can benefit us in more ways than we could think of. Of course, context matters when it comes to smiling. You can’t just smile insensitively if you’re at someone’s funeral. Smiling just to numb your feelings constantly is also not healthy. Smile but not at the cost of avoiding other emotions, acknowledge what you feel! 

Smiling can be the best antidote if you allow it to. There are innumerable reasons to adorn your face with a smile. Look at the morning sun rays shining bright at your face, the stars and moon scattering their warmth, the rains and rainbows singing a euphoric melody, your loved ones’ irreplaceable presence, your little yet remarkable achievements, the breath down your lungs and the rhythm of your beating heart. These are enough to get that pretty face of yours to smile a bit. 

From your mother's womb to the tomb, choose to smile! So, let's tweak the popular slogan a bit from “Muskuraaiye, aap Lucknow me hai” (smile, you’re in Lucknow) to “Muskuraaiye, aap iss zindagi me hai!” (smile, you’re in this life). 

Did this post make you smile? What other benefits of a smile could you think of? Let me know in the comments below!

Keep smiling. :)

References:

1. Kraft, T. L., & Pressman, S. D. (2012). Grin and Bear It. Psychological Science, 23(11), 1372–1378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612445312

2. Reis, H. T., Wilson, I. M., Monestere, C., Bernstein, S., Clark, K., Seidl, E., Franco, M., Gioioso, E., Freeman, L., & Radoane, K. (1990d). What is smiling is beautiful and good. European Journal of Social Psychology, 20(3), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2420200307

3. The Effect of Smiling on Person Perception. (n.d.). Taylor & Francis. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224545.1982.9713408

4. Wild, B., Erb, M., Eyb, M., Bartels, M., & Grodd, W. (2003). Why are smiles contagious? An fMRI study of the interaction between perception of facial affect and facial movements. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 123(1), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0925-4927(03)00006-4