by Energy Health Coach Ruth Ronan
That sounds like a rhetorical question, right? There are so many reasons why we should strive for happiness. So why is being happy important? I will tell you why in this article.
We all know people who seem jovial all the time. What is their secret? Actually, it isn’t a secret, it’s a choice. You have to make a conscious choice to be happy.
If you feel like a victim of your circumstances or that things always happen to you that you can’t control then it might be difficult to achieve happiness. Having a victim mentality serves no purpose. It creates a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.
But when you realize that you have the complete ability to change how you react to the situations that come at you, that is when you have power. And you are in control of your life.
Get Rid Of Dead Weight
You must let go of the things that are weighing you down or holding you back. Even if these things are people! Holding on to a friendship that you know isn’t healthy just because you’ve been friends for so long is ridiculous.
All the relationships in your life should be healthy and make you feel supported and happy. So if you have a friend who always doubts you or criticizes you and says it’s because they’re trying to help, well they’re not. It’s usually to make themselves feel better. Believe it or not, you usually find out who your true friends are when you start to have success.
If they try to downplay or sabotage your efforts, then cut them out of your life. One of the keys to happiness is eliminating the things that make you unhappy. This goes for family too. Just because they’re blood doesn’t mean you’re obligated to have a relationship with them if it’s toxic in anyway. I know this sounds harsh but it’s true.
You deserve to have supportive and loving people in your life. And you know you should hold the people that are close to you to this standard. Family guilt can be very strong but you have to be stronger. Guilt is a wasted emotion and is often used to manipulate people. You must not succumb to it!
So Why Do You Need to be Happy?
Because it takes more energy to be miserable. Do you know people who are constantly complaining about their boss or their relationships or the political climate? How much time do you want to be around them? Probably not that much.
However, we are just drawn to people that seem to be cheerful. Why is that? Because like attracts like. We’ve all heard the phrase “misery loves company.” People that are unhappy tend to love to commiserate with others.
If you don’t want to be miserable then you need to avoid those negative types of people. Of course, I’m not talking about neglecting to console those who are truly hurting.
I’m talking about the ones who seem to have a negative view of life in general. When you’re in a bad mood or have negative thoughts, you actually put negative vibrations out to the world.
In doing so, negative things will come back to you. This is in accordance with the Law of Attraction. Therefore, if you want to attract positive things in your life, then you must radiate positive energy.
You’ve probably heard of someone saying “they got a bad vibe about somebody.” This is because we are all emitting energy or vibrations through our thoughts. It’s actually scientifically proven. So you must be conscious of what you’re putting out there and make sure it’s only something that you want back in return.
You Live Longer
One of the biggest keys to longevity is happiness and fulfillment. People who are positive tend to take better care of themselves. This, in turn, makes you feel good which boosts your immunity.
Studies have shown that positive people are 50% more likely to eat right and exercise than unhappy people. Happiness is also associated with better sleeping, lower blood pressure, and increased productivity.
This is not to say that these people don’t have stress in their lives or never encounter adversity. They just know how to deal with it in a healthier way.
Unhappy People Tend To Be Overweight
Of course, not in all cases but studies have proven that positive people tend to weigh less than their counterparts. When you have a good self-image then you usually take better care of yourself.
However, if all you think about is gloom and doom, then it’s easier to make unfit choices with food and is usually harder to be motivated to exercise. This then creates a domino effect, and you start to feel like it’s hopeless. Which in turn makes you want to eat more unhealthy food.
Helps Relieve Stress
In this crazy world, it’s hard not to get stressed out. The problem with stress is that over time it is extremely detrimental to our health. We often overlook its dangers of it and chalk it up to life.
Stress releases a powerful hormone called cortisol which is our “stress” hormone. This prepares our bodies for action by flooding the bloodstream with glucose to give us the energy we need to react.
But if you’re just getting stressed out from your job or co-workers and not because a bear is chasing you, then the glucose isn’t used. This leads to excess levels of glucose which increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and strokes.
What To Do
A good way to combat this is to be happy. I know it’s easier said than done, but it can be done. If your boss yells at you, try not to take it personally. They probably had someone higher up doing the same thing to them.
Try taking slow deep breaths and when they leave, just smile. I know it sounds a little ridiculous, but smiling actually releases your “feel good” hormones and instantly improves your mood. Besides, your co-workers will wonder what you’re up to!
Like I said earlier, it is not that positive people are immune to bad things, they just know how to react. Remember, no one can make you feel anything. You let people make you feel bad or frustrated or upset. I know it’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth.
When you realize that you are in full control of your emotions and how you feel and how you react to them, it’s very powerful. This is why I say it’s a choice. You can let the person who cut you off in traffic this morning ruin your entire day, or you can take a few deep breaths and let it go.
So How Do We Achieve Happiness?
One of the biggest things we should do is to be grateful. A lot of times we are so distracted that we don’t see the beauty that surrounds us.
An easy way to get started is with a gratitude journal. Before you go to bed, write down what you are grateful for that day. It can be as simple as the sun shining on your face or the wind blowing through your hair.
Also, say thank you to the people who bring joy to your life. If you haven’t talked to a friend in a while, then call them. Or you can just text them and say how much you appreciate their friendship.
Not only will it make you feel better, but it will also brighten your day. Having gratitude puts you in a higher vibration which allows you to attract only positive things. When you wake up in the morning, try to do three minutes of gratitude. This will definitely set you up for a good day.
Start An Exercise Program
Working out releases your “happy hormones” just like smiling does. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym or run marathons. Even 20 minutes a day will make a difference.
If you can, take a walk on your lunch break or enlist some friends and sign up for a charity 5k. Most of these races are pretty laid-back and have a fun atmosphere. The added bonus of being there is helping out a good cause.
Usually making these changes will motivate you to eat healthier. The combination of exercising and eating healthier will in turn make you feel better about yourself and happier in general.
Laugh More
Have you ever come up upon a conversation where somebody was laughing hysterically? You almost can’t help but laugh along, even though you have no idea what they’re talking about.
Laughter is contagious and makes you feel good. So anytime you get the chance, try to make yourself laugh. Watch funny videos or TV shows or whatever you need to lighten your mood. This will go a long way to being a happy person.
Final Thoughts
Happiness comes from within. Things don’t make you happy, you make yourself happy. There’s no other person out there that can do this for you.
One of the biggest problems with relationships is that one or both of the people involved are looking for the other person to fulfill them.
You are the only one that is in charge of your happiness. Make a conscious choice every day to be happy and good things will come your way.