I came across this article in the Southwest Airlines Magazine February Issue during my travels about a path to being happy. I haven’t written recently as I have been concentrating on learning my new position with EFI as a Sales Development Manager. However, I continue to read for personal development and one of my major topics is around happiness. This topic is both personal and professional. Harvard Business Review has reported that happy people are 31% more productive, have 37% higher sales, and are three times more creative than their counterparts. There is a wave of research around what is being referred to in some circles as positive psychology.
The article creates a path to happiness. I have found that there are reoccurring themes in each of my reads. I will only speak to what this article suggests today and allow you to determine which steps are similar. I have written about The Happiness Advantage, but still have to write about Happier, Flow, and The Happiness Equation.
The first step in the path is to drink a couple of glasses of water in the morning. They mention an article that links bad moods to dehydration. The next step in the path speaks to creating experiences versus buying something material. Book a trip and the anticipation of the upcoming event alone will lift your mood. Another step is to just go outside and it will energize you; if you can’t it mentions changing your wallpaper can create some energy, however I don’t think it will be equal. One more step is to think of something that can make you smile. In the face of stress, it mentions that the thought of a memory that can create a smile will lift your mood. Do nothing is yet another step. In The Happiness Equation, this is referred to as creating space and the article mentions The Happiness Track. Moments of idleness or space can generate breakthroughs. The Happiness Track is also mentioned in the next step of the path as it relates to creating real relationships versus virtual networking. Relationships with others end of making us more successful and can be our greatest source of happiness. Hit the gym is one of the more obvious steps in the path. A Live Strong article writes about how exercise generates endorphins and seratonin that can relieve stress and make you happier. Do something selfless is a step that is mentioned in several of my reads. Pick something that you genuinely want to give back to and it can lead to enjoyment, satisfaction and translate to a happier, longer life. Finally, it talks to creating an upbeat playlist. This can go hand-in-hand with the exercise step. I have incorporated this and use my list while at the gym, on an airplane, driving long destinations, or at home with a bluetooth speaker. This works!
I would suggest you taking on one new step a week and evaluating the impact it may have on your happiness. Personally, I have experienced that several of these effect my levels of happiness.
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