How to Avoid 9 Happiness Mistakes
A recent Huffington Post article emphasizes that, while incorporating “happiness” habits may be a manageable way to integrate joy into our lives every day, we should be mindful of nine potential mistakes we might be making that are detrimental to our overall happiness.
Summary below:
You’re placing too much emphasis on fulfillment.
Concentrating too much on achieving happiness may actually be making you more unhappy. The study found that those who put a higher pressure on themselves to be happy felt more lonely on a daily basis than those who did not.
You’re keeping it all in.
Crying is the body’s emotional response to outside triggers, good or bad. By suppressing it, you may be jeopardizing your mental and physical health, both of which are crucial to happiness.
You’re sharing too much.
The line between disclosing things with your partner compared to what you share with the rest of the world is becoming more blurred, and sharing too much information can make the details of your life less special to the relationship.
You’re on Facebook (and your smartphone) all the time.
Research found that the more time participants spent on Facebook, the worse they felt. The users who spent the most time browsing their news feeds also had lower levels of life satisfaction over the course of the study.
You’re trying to ‘have it all.’
Research published in 2011 showed that working women who try to be “supermoms” are at a greater risk for depression due to the mounting pressure they put on themselves. Those who had a more realistic vision of work and home balance were significantly happier.
You’re not reflecting on the past.
In a 2012 study on nostalgia and emotion, participants reported a higher sense of physiological comfort when they wistfully looked back on the past. This affection for heartwarming memories helps people relate their past experiences to the present in order to create a greater sense of meaning.
You’re not moving.
Walking can help you become more mindful, increase your creativity and expose you to some essential vitamins. Just by moving your feet, you’ll release endorphins and experience instant happiness.
You’re resisting change.
Just because you’re satisfied with how life is right now, doesn’t mean you should be resistant to change. Whether it’s fear of the unknown or fear of losing what you currently have, the pressure to hold on to the present can ultimately harm your future life satisfaction.
You’re not being mindful.
The practice of meditation can physically re-wire the brain, resulting in higher emotional intelligence and creating the ability for you to retain information faster. Practicing mindfulness meditation allows your body to relax, cultivates an attitude of gratitude and lowers your stress levels — all vital in maintaining overall happiness.