If happiness is defined as ‘the state of being happy’ – why does it feel it can be an uphill struggle to be content with all areas of your life at once? If you’re looking to get a spring back into your step - Advanced Hypnotherapist and qualified Mindfulness Practitioner Jo Howarth reveals seven ways to harness your inner happiness:
Jo Howarth
Put yourself first
The simple fact is that if you don’t look after yourself, you can’t look after anyone else. You have to start by prioritising your own well-being. It sounds selfish. It feels selfish. But it is totally necessary. You are the only person who is absolutely guaranteed to be with you every single day of your life, from now until the end, so you have to become your own priority. And once you start looking after yourself you will have more energy, headspace and love to share with those around you. It’s a win, win.
Stop making assumptions
Assumptions. We make hundreds every day. Some of them are necessary to move us forward and get things done but a lot of them are unnecessary and potentially damaging. We assume we know what someone else is thinking or feeling, largely in relation to ourselves. We assume we know why someone else is doing whatever they’re doing, largely in relation to ourselves. And we respond accordingly. But our assumptions are not always correct, sometimes the reason behind someone else’s behaviour has nothing to do with us and our response is entirely inappropriate. Making the effort to communicate effectively, to check with the other person what is actually going on, can save a lot of hurt and heartache in the long run.
Spend time with yourself
As I said before, you are the most important person in your own life but how much time do you spend just with yourself? How much time do you spend checking in with your own thoughts, your own feelings and your own life? I am going to challenge you to start spending one minute every day, sitting somewhere comfortable, closing your eyes and just checking in with yourself. It will do you the world of good.
Put it in perspective
We love a drama don’t we? And we blow things out of all proportion because we allow ourselves to get carried away by it all. It makes life more interesting but can also make everything harder too. Next time you feel yourself getting pulled into the drama of something, ask yourself this question, “Will any of this matter in five years’ time?” More often than not you will find the answer to that question is, no. And if the answer is no then why on earth are you allowing yourself to get so wound up about it all now? If it won’t matter in five years, it doesn’t matter now either.
Breathe
A simple one; learn how to breathe properly. Learn how to use your breath to bring you back in line with yourself. Lovely, long, slow, deep breaths in and out on a regular basis will calm you and keep you calm, even in the craziest situations.
Let it go
It’s not just the best song in Frozen; it is also one of the wisest things you can learn how to do. Let. It. Go. Whatever ‘it’ is. Learn how to release the negative emotions around it on a regular basis. Otherwise that negative energy will stay inside you, causing all kinds of physical, mental and emotional trouble. Those long slow breaths will help you release it, as will all kinds of other tools from hypnosis to meditation to yoga. Release…
Appreciate the hell out of it
Appreciation, appreciation, appreciation. There is nothing quite like it for soothing your soul and lifting your spirit. Taking five minutes every day to reflect on all the things you have in your life to appreciate and all the things you can appreciate from that day itself has the power to turn even the day from hell on its head. Do it before you go to sleep and you will get better quality, more restful and rejuvenating sleep into the bargain.
Jo Howarth runs The Happiness Club - https://www.thehappinessclub.co.uk/
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