If You’re Happy and You Know It….

Did you know that happiness isn’t just a warm fuzzy feeling? Happiness has actually been linked to good health. People often think of health as the absence of illness or depression or anxiety.  But it’s much more–it also includes all those positive feelings, both physical and emotional, that we enjoy. If you’re happy and you know it, you’re probably making yourself healthier.

What makes you happy?

Take a second and think—when was the last time you felt happy? Maybe you took joy in watching your child or grandchild play outside. Maybe you looked at your farm or your family and felt a real sense of satisfaction and pride. Or maybe you just felt happy listening to your favorite song on the radio.  I know that I always break into a grin and hum along when I’m listening to Tim McGraw sing Humble and Kind. What are the things that consistently make you happy?

Now ask yourself–how often do you do these things? Most things that make people truly happy don’t take a lot of time or money. Why don’t we do them more often? Lots of times, I know I get caught up in the rush of what I need to do next, and then next after that, and then next after that…and soon I’m miserably buried under a huge burden of to-dos. Taking a second to stop and look at my daughters’ wedding pictures, or take a deep breath while enjoying a piece of Dove chocolate (chocolate stimulates serotonin in your brain—the “happy feeling” hormone) would be easy, but I’m too frantic to remember to do it.

So, what are things we can do to remember to be happy? I’m a big believer in visual reminders—for example, I’ve moved the wedding pictures onto my desk right by my mouse so I see them multiple times a day and feel happy about my wonderful daughters.

Reminders help!

How can you build some reminders to be happy into your life? Here are a couple of simple ideas:

• Tape a loved one’s photo onto the dashboard of your car;
• Keep a quote or Bible verse that inspires you in your wallet so you see it every time you open it up;
• Save your favorite song on your phone and set an alarm to remind you to play it at least once a day;
• Keep dog treats right by the door, so when you come in you remember to take a minute and play with your dog;
• Tape a note to the bathroom mirror reminding yourself to do something that makes you happy (whatever unique thing that might be for you).

These are easy suggestions, and I’m sure you can come up with lots more. The key is actually doing them. Please do them—you deserve to feel happiness, and happiness is part of health and thriving.