Positive Thinking training for happiness!
We have already spoken about positive thinking and how this philosophy of life says that in reality to be happy we must train ourselves the same way as we do with our body, but ho do we do it exactly?
The positive psychology is a new current of modern psychology, which is proving to be a huge success precisely because it teaches us how to become more happy and this positive psychology aim is to study the optimal operation of man i.e. the positive things such as emotions, aspects of the character and positive institutions.
Amongst the most famous authors we find Martin Seligman, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ken Sheldon and Ed Diener who propose some new visions enlightening on happiness.
Sonja Lyubomirsky proposes a model called ” model of sustainable happiness” and supports in short that:
- The 50% of our happiness depends on genetic causes.
- The 10% by circumstances of life.
- The 40% by our actions and thoughts.
It is therefore clear that, not being able to change our genes, nor often our circumstances of life, we can modify the remaining 40% i.e. put in practice specific actions or strategies of thought that allow us to increase our positivity and consequently our happiness.
WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
But what is really happiness? In the centuries and indeed over the millennia philosophers, scientists, simple thinkers and many others have questioned themselves what is happiness? Apart from the scientific value of 50% due to the genes, confirmed also by a group of scientists from Edinburgh, happiness seems to be a feeling, an emotion that is really personal and inside our soul. But what sustainers of positive thinking claim is that we can train ourselves to be happy through daily practices and exercises.
POSITIVE THINKING TRAINING FOR HAPPINESS
A first aspect to consider is that there are activities that make us feel good and have been verified such as yoga, meditation, laughter and physical activity but of course we are all different and these activities do not have the same effect on all of us as well as the exercises which however certainly improve the situation.
Practicing yoga in fact relaxes the mind, invigorates the body and consequently when feeling more relaxed we are also more likely to humor.
To deepen on the benefits of yoga, click here.
Laughter also if forced is capable of giving us a good mood with respect to those people who never smile, as well as meditation makes us get rid of the stress and anxiety of everyday life.
The sustainers of positive thinking in addition to these activities also suggest exercises to do on a daily basis to train for happiness.
One of the most known exercises of positive thinking is SAVORING, i.e. to literally enjoy the pleasures of life.
When speakink of savoring it is meant to focus our attention on the value of every experience, enjoying it not for the result that it involves but for the path through which we pass.
For example:
- Write a list of “happy memories” (an engagement, a dinner, birth of a son/daughter, a happy moment) you can also select photos, gifts and souvenirs that help you recall these memories.
- Then for a couple of times a day, focus your thoughts back on these memories with a lot of calmness, enjoying them completely, bringing them back to mind in a most real and practical manner possible (now and here).
According to the theories of positive thinking this exercise can boost happiness because:
– Focusing on positive memories makes you feel complete, a person who is slowly fulfilling and living his/her dreams.
– Increases your self-esteem.
– It is a pleasurable exercise which however can cheer a moment
– It helps you store up on positive and pleasant emotions that can help in times of stress.
And remember, “IT IS NOT THE GOAL THAT COUNTS BUT THE JOURNEY TO GET THERE”
So let’s all try training for happiness!
If you want to deepen and start with the basics of yoga take a look at our ebook yoga for everyone
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