Skip to main content

How You Can Be Happier Starting Today!

There’s an old saying that goes, “you reap what you sow.” Do you feel happiness is hard to find?  Just when things are going well, does it seem something happens to zap your joy?  Do you wonder if true happiness is something that can ever be grasped? Then, perhaps it’s time to look at planting the seeds of happiness in your life.

Studies show that the ability to feel happy is related to a person’s state of mind.  The good news is that you can choose your state of mind.  Happiness can be yours simply by re-framing your responses to life and its circumstances.

Consider the difference between a positive mindset and a negative mindset:

• Positive-minded people appear happier.  They tend to look for the good in situations and other people.  They choose not to be overcome by trials, knowing a solution is around the corner.

• Problems present opportunities to the positive-minded. When a solution is found, they gain a feeling of accomplishment resulting in feelings of happiness.

• Negative-minded individuals tend to focus on the negative in people and the down-side of situations. Problems can become larger-than-life and seemingly unmanageable.

• Negative-minded people fear problems.  Problems present frustration which leads to anger, hostility and unhappiness.

Some negative-minded people are the way they are because they have never been shown another way to process life’s challenges.  If happiness is largely dependent on your frame of mind, and being positive-minded is apt to increase your ability to be happier, it makes sense to attempt to become more positive-minded.  With skills and practice, you can break out of a negative mind-set.

The following five keys, can start you on that quest:  

1. Keep on top of fitness and health concerns.   You will be happiest and better able to cope with life when you feel good physically.

2. Look for the good in others and treat them as you would have them treat you.

3. Set daily goals.  You will feel happier at day’s end if you've accomplished a goal—large or small.

4. Learn to think in “grey”.  Black and white thinking means you believe something is either right or wrong with no in-between.  Black and white thinkers are often perfectionists.  The world and the people in it are not perfect, nor will they ever be.   Learning to live in “grey” means to allow imperfection.  Doing so will lessen your stress and raise your happiness level.

5. It’s hard to get validation from others.  If you live your life dependent on what others think, you are sure to be unhappy.  It’s up to you to love yourself and find joy in life.

Happiness really isn't about having possessions, money or status.  They are nice things to have mind you, but real happiness is about having healthy thinking patterns.  Being thankful, maintaining good health and accepting imperfections in yourself and others will bring you greater joy.

Happiness can be yours right now.  Change your thinking, and change your life. And if you ever need help creating a step by step plan to reach your happiness, health and wellness goals; contact me. Let’s talk and see what we can do to get you there now.

As always – enjoy your life.

John Aaron Villarreal


Bio: I am a Houston based, male massage therapist and wellness coach specializing in pain management and health programs for individuals over the age of forty. I laugh - a lot. I'm quirky but sincere. And, while I'm not a counselor, I do listen and I do care: Except for the times that I don't. That’s a joke - Did I mention that I like to laugh? Anyway, visit my website, call or email me and let's get together to talk about you, and the many ways to live life better!

 The Legal Stuff: I write to inform, inspire and encourage my readers to enjoy all that life has to offer.
The content and information on this site is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease.
Please consult your physician prior to starting any exercise, diet or wellness program. 

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When Should I Get a Massage and How Often?

This is a question I get often… Let’s face it, if it were up to massage therapists we’d say that you should get a massage every day, but in reality – very few people ever have the means or time to make this scenario play out in their lives. So technically speaking, your frequency should depend on how much you like massage, how often you experience chronic pain, and your budget. If you’re able to afford it, getting a monthly or weekly massage works best at helping prevent injuries by catching tight areas before they become problematic. With my more athletic clients (runners, weightlifters, gymnasts), I usually recommend timing their massage to coincide with the times they are training their hardest. For example, runners can develop tight hamstrings and hips, gymnasts and weight-lifters can get tight shoulders. These tight muscle groups can elicit injuries over time if they aren't treated by massage. If you are physically active, I recommend getting a massage within 24 hours ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Coffee Has Health Benefits

Anyone who knows me knows I love my Joe…. err, “cup of joe” that is. In fact, I’m enjoying a cup as I write this post. However, as a wellness professional that little admission of guilt has gotten me a few sneers and looks of condescension. Caffeine is BAD for you, they say! Well, perhaps abusing caffeine may be “bad” for you, but ‘caffeine’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘coffee.’ Despite this fact, coffee has gotten a bad rep over the years after a few health experts linked it (or rather, linked caffeine abuse) to several diseases. But is coffee actually that bad? Probably not; new research shows that drinking coffee in moderation provides numerous health benefits. Antidepressant It might seem a little odd to find that coffee could help with depression, but new research has shown that it does just that. Now, don’t go throwing out your prescriptions or quit counseling just yet though, coffee is not a cure for depression. Rather, the caffeine in coffee helps regulate your mood trans...
2 comments
Read more

Cutting Calories: 4 Easy Steps

It’s been said that if you want to lose weight, you need to move more and eat less. For some, however, the eating less part is the most dreaded. Yet, cutting calories from your diet doesn’t have to be a struggle and you don’t need to go on some fad or trendy diet to do it. Making small, simple changes can make a huge difference. To prove this point, I’ve outlined 4 simple steps that you can take toward cutting calories today. Step One: Stop drinking soda Whether you drink regular soda or diet soda, it’s a good thing to remove from your diet. It’s a lot of empty calories and replacement sugars that you don’t need in your body, and don’t even get me started on the subject of “corn syrup” or artificial sweeteners. If you want to kick your addiction to sodas then cutting them out completely is the best way to do that. You will save yourself money and a lot of unneeded calories by cutting out just this one item. Step Two: Portion properly It’s very important to learn what prop...
2 comments
Read more