Happiness Your Road To Success

Hi WA family,

Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Well here I go again. It is all about attitude, and how it contributes to success. This post is all about happiness and how essential it is to our productivity and well-being. Here goes.

Few things are more important than happiness if you do stop to think about it. You're missing out on living if you're living day to day simply by going through the motions — you're missing out on life.

To feel happier is a choice virtually everyone can make, and you can work toward it just like you would any other goal. The first step is making this choice! Feeling happy isn't only a matter of emotional health. Positive attitudes and thoughts are able to prompt changes in your body that decrease chronic disease and pain, strengthen your immune system, and provide stress relief.

The thing about life is it’s completely unpredictable. Any of us could wake up tomorrow and lose our job, lose someone we love or realize we have a life threatening disease. The point is, you never know. So don’t wait until tomorrow to be happy. Enjoy every single moment you have by choosing happiness today.

It seems as if every week we hear about a new tragedy that makes us question the human spirit. Unfortunately, we live in a world where there will inevitably be famine, destruction, poverty, and war. But here’s the thing: good always trumps evil. A ripple effect can be created by the actions of one happy person. This effect can literally change the world. So be the change you wish to create and choose happiness.

I found it amazing today when I heard about the top story on the news in Ontario, Canada. It was about a raccoon that climbed up to the very top of a construction crane. It is frozen there and animal control is trying to get it down. I know there will be a happy ending here.

Personally I am tired of people getting shot. Increases in COVID-19 cases mainly due to disrespect. Not wearing masks, and not social distancing.

Research shows a direct correlation between happiness and health, which is another reason why you should be happy right now. Happy people tend to take better care of themselves by eating healthier and exercising more than unhappy folks.

When you have the right attitude, you will see the solution to every problem. You will overcome difficulties and take on challenges with ease, without much ado. The ability to solve problems skillfully is very important. You see the plus of everything when you are happy. You will always find a way to solve the problem, rather than crib and harp about it. Situations will not overwhelm you and you will acquire the ability to turn things around.

If you are disappointed and depressed all the time, it will bog you down. You will be sucked into it like quicksand! You will be unable to focus on your passion and your interests, in order to develop them. You must be high on spirit In order to be able to feel your passion and develop upon it, but this will not come about unless you are satisfied and happy. Thus, being happy boosts your interests.

Putting aside some time for yourself during your busy day is essential to your daily happiness. Get a manicure, exercise, read a book, collect stuff or do whatever will make you happy. Once you’ve done something for yourself that you like, you’ll exude positive energy that others will vibe off of.

Scientists have documented the physical release that happens when these facial muscles, along with the thin bones of the face, are moved. They found that smiling releases serotonin and dopamine in the brain, sparking a feeling of happiness. This means that by deliberately changing our facial expressions, we can improve our psychological and physiological states.

Dark chocolate—which has a higher content of cocoa butter and less milk than other forms of chocolate—is not only delicious, but it will also help you to improve your mood. Here are some reasons why eating dark chocolate is so incredibly beneficial:
Dark chocolate contains tryptophan, an amino acid precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter of positive mood and happiness.
▪ Dark chocolate is the main food source of anandamide, a neurotransmitter which is very similar to the primary psychoactive component in marijuana.
▪ Dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a compound which creates a brain buzz similar to being in love.

Meditation is like taking a mini-retreat from the world, which is something you need when the world is getting you down. In addition, meditating stimulates the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, releasing endorphins and increasing the production of dopamine, serotonin, and
melatonin—all associated with happiness and relaxation. Our brain switches to a more relaxed mode when we meditate. Parasympathetic nervous system gets activated; this is a part of the brain that is the opposite of our usual stressed mode and is responsible for ‘rest-and-digest’ activities.

Invest some time and learn a technique that will work for you. Be disciplined in your regular meditation practice. Meditation is an excellent way of giving yourself a sense of control and well-being while improving your health and relieving stress. If you need a little help, there are free apps that offer short meditations specifically designed for mood improvement. Stop, Breathe & Think is one such app. This app will prompt you to check how you’re feeling and will then recommend three guided meditations– each one between 5 and 10 minutes long—for you to choose from.

When you’re feeling down, make yourself a smoothie and add a banana, or just peel a banana and eat it. A banana can contain 10 milligrams of dopamine. Our primary reward chemical is dopamine, and since extra dopamine is provided by bananas, they’re one of those feel-good foods you should reach for when you need a mood boost.
With the increasing evidence of a correlation between general happiness and gut health, it makes sense to include probiotic-rich foods in your diet. Cue yogurt. Studies have found that some probiotics may form a potential preventative strategy for depression, in addition to pleasing your healthy gut bacteria.

Boundaries are instrumental in maintaining your sanity and health. If people don’t respect your boundaries, they aren’t respecting you. Make a list of your own personal boundaries, and don’t be afraid to tell other if they cross them.

For a positive mood, exposure to bright outdoor light is crucial. Regular exposure to sunlight releases of endorphins in your body which then help enhance your energy and mood your vitamin D levels can also be optimized by getting sun exposure outdoors. A deficiency of Vitamin D has long been associated with chronic depression, as well as seasonal affective disorder.
One research says that to make most people happier, just 20 minutes outdoors are
need, while other research showed that when the temperature outside is 57°Foutside, happiness is maximized.

Nothing can ruin your mood faster than feeling like you always have to put other people’s needs and wants ahead of your own. If it’s genuinely going to make you feel great to help someone out – go for it! But if you’re frequently being manipulated, guilted or shamed into doing favors for others that you really don’t want to be doing, your joie de vivre is going to evaporate. Put the brakes on doing kindnesses that are killing you by recognizing your
limitations; doing whatever you can happily manage; and then just say ‘no’ to any other requests that come your way. Your mental health and happiness come first.

Some people need less sleep and some people need more, but 8 hours is the gold standard. Everything feels better when we’re rested. Research shows that there is a connection between depression prevention and a good night’s sleep. So create an environment in which you can sleep well – look at the temperature, light and levels of noise in your bedroom.

If you’re irritable and moody and get less than 7 hours sleep routinely, then there is a strong possibility that the cause of your grumpiness is lack of sleep. The lesser you sleep, the more likely you are to feel sad, stressed, exhausted or angry. Getting enough sleep should be a top priority. You will be delighted by how much better you and your life feel.

When you exercise, your brain releases endorphins, adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals all work together to make you feel good. In addition, after exercising you may feel a sense of accomplishment and your muscles will relax deeper because of the workout – easing tension and strain.
Aerobics and cardiovascular exercises: Intense exercise increases the release of those chemicals(endorphins, adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine) in your body. Aerobics and cardiovascular exercise are great for creating the intensity required for a mood-raising chemical high.

▪ Yoga: Yoga has been shown in studies to reduce tension and stress while improving mood. Yoga focuses on a range of breathing, stretching, and motion that promote the release of negative emotions from your body. Yoga, interestingly, has been shown to be particularly effective for men (in comparison to other exercises like swimming)

https://www.pinterest.ca/sherardm/yoga/

Bob Marley - Don't worry be Happy

Wishing you all a happy successful and healthy life,

Michael