When ‘Thinking Happy’ Just Isn’t Enough

Feeling happy is not automatic for a lot of people. Many people live their lives thinking something is wrong with them if they don’t feel happy most of the time. However, happiness is a choice, (psychiatric conditions aside) and making the decision to find reasons to be happy and consciously switch what you focus on can make a huge difference.

If you have ever found yourself consumed with a difficult emotion, or dealing with a challenging situation in your life, you can begin to identify with these feelings instead of understanding that they are just a part of what you’re experiencing rather than who you are. In other words, you have feelings, but you are not your feelings.

“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” – Dale Carnegie

Sometimes you may feel so weighed down that you can’t see a way through. We all have strong, complex emotions from time to time and we all can feel stuck in those low moments, not sure what to do or where to go next. However, it’s extremely important to just give yourself permission to be exactly where you are at this moment, right now. Rather than resisting your emotions, acknowledge them so you can process them and let go of the intensity, so that you can begin to move out of that negative mindset into a neutral one, and then into a more positive one.

Feeling sad or depressed can be overwhelming, and sometimes, simply thinking happy thoughts just isn’t enough to bring relief. Here are some practical strategies to help:

1. Stay Active: Daily physical activity, even a short walk, can boost your mood and reduce feelings of depression. Put on some upbeat music and dance to a song or two.
2. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: Mindfulness practices can help center your thoughts and reduce anxiety. Listen to calming music to help you relax. Try visualizing the positive changes you want to create in your life. Self-hypnosis and EFT (tapping on acupressure points) are also very helpful in just about any area you wish to improve.
3. Positive Affirmations: Recite positive affirmations daily to nurture an optimistic mindset. Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself to counter negative thoughts and beliefs. They can target anything you want to improve in your life, from self-confidence and motivation to stress reduction and achieving goals.
   * While repeating affirmations is very powerful, listening to affirmations on audio (you can create your own) means you can absorb their power throughout your day—listen while traveling, doing chores, or even as you sleep.
4. Practice Kindness: Do something nice for someone every day. Acts of kindness, whether big or small, can improve your mood and create positive connections with others.
5. Maintain a Routine: Structure can provide a sense of normalcy and control in your daily life. Eat healthy mood-boosting foods like fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 rich foods and drink plenty of purified water. Also, get into the sunlight and start producing vitamin D, which helps with mood. Go to sleep and wake up around the same time every day.
6. Find Hobbies: Finding activities that you enjoy can offer distraction and pleasure. Look for reasons to laugh; watch a comedy show or spend time with people who make you laugh.
7. Gratitude Journaling: Writing down things you’re grateful for can shift your focus to the more positive aspects of life. If you’re not into writing, try video journaling. If that’s still not your thing, try drawing or creating other works of art that incorporate gratitude.
8. Set Small, Achievable Goals: When you’re struggling with feeling inadequate or like you’re not making progress, completing small tasks can create a sense of achievement and boost your confidence.
9. Limit Social Media: Social media can sometimes make feelings of inadequacy and sadness even worse. Take regular breaks from your electronic devices and just ‘unplug’ for a while.
10. Connection: Reach out to friends or family members. Social support can be incredibly uplifting. Talking to a therapist or counselor can provide the support and tools needed to manage depression.

By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you can foster a happier outlook and improve overall mental well-being. #SelfCareStrategies

“You don’t have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you.” – Dan Millman