Dr. Emma Seppala wrote a book called, The Happiness Track, where she unravels her research on how happiness accelerates success.
She offers the following six keys to happiness:
- Be in the present.
The present moment embodies very little actual stress. If you are stressed or anxious, it is likely you are worried about the past or projecting fear of the future. The more absorbed you are in the moment, the less stress will naturally fall away. Being present has the added benefit of making you more magnetic and helping you connect better with others.
2.Be Resilient.
To boost resiliency, Dr. Sepala says to focus on your breathe. Breathe is something we can control and yet most of the time it happens unconsciously without our effort.
Our breathing effects our emotions. Slow, deliberate breathing can help you immediately calm your nervous system. As a direct intervention to a high stressed life, simply slow your breathing and lengthen the exhale, where the real stress melts away from your body.
3. Do nothing.
Something most people are not good at- Doing Nothing! While you are gleefully wasting your time, engage in purposeful mind wandering and find a quiet space where you can daydream. Ideas often come to you when you're doing nothing.
Most people today are distracted 24 hours a day, continually checking email, cell phones, and social media, we tune out and don't allow our minds to be free.
4. Play more.
5. Diversify your activity.
Doing something new and different stretches the mind. It makes you more aware and open to new possibilities. Most people stick strictly to their comfort zone, interacting with the same people, doing the same things, in the same way. The moment you switch it up you invite new and creative ideas.
6. Practice Self Compassion.
Give yourself a break. It turns out being Self-critical is not connected to self-improvement. Self-compassion is a better way to register success.