How to improve happiness? Harvard professor shares 10 practical tips
Happiness is the eternal pursuit of human beings, but how to improve happiness? In his ‘Harvard Happiness Course’, Harvard professor Tal Ben-Shahar shared 10 very useful ideas to help us find the secret to happiness.
- Accept your own imperfections. We are all human beings, not gods. We have flaws and we make mistakes. This is normal and there is no need to blame yourself or be too harsh on yourself. Within reasonable and legal limits, be tolerant of yourself and give yourself some space and opportunities to grow and progress.
- Simplify your life. There are many good things in life, but that doesn’t mean we have to have them all. Too many choices can confuse and stress us and distract us from our attention and energy. Therefore, we should keep what we really want and throw away what we don’t really want, even if it is very precious. What brings happiness more than material abundance is abundant time, which gives us more opportunities to do things that we like and have meaning.
- Have the courage to try. Many times, we give up trying something we really want to do because we are afraid of failure. However, doing so will only cause us to miss out on a lot of opportunities and fun. Courage is not the absence of fear, but persistence in moving forward despite fear. Only by trying can you know your potential and possibilities.
- Learn from failure. Research shows that failure is truly the mother of success. The most successful people are often the ones who fail the most. They will not be knocked down by failure, but will learn experiences and lessons from failure, adjust their strategies and methods, and challenge themselves again. This is the only way to learn and an effective way to improve self-confidence and ability.
- Develop good interpersonal relationships. The thing that gives people the greatest sense of happiness is good interpersonal relationships. Whether they are family, friends, coworkers, or strangers, building close, trusting, supportive, and respectful relationships with them brings healing love and warmth. We should cherish the people around us and spend more time communicating, sharing, interacting and cooperating with them.
- Show your true self. Many people desire to be recognized and liked, but this does not mean that we should deliberately cater to others or hide ourselves. Many times a person is not liked because he is perfect, but because he is real. When we show up as our true selves, we feel more relaxed and comfortable, and we attract people and things that are more suitable for us. Being liked because of authenticity is lasting, easy and sustainable.
- Ask positive questions. Questions guide our thinking, and thinking affects our emotions and behavior. If we always ask negative questions, such as ‘Why am I so unlucky?’ ‘Why can’t I do it?’ ‘Why is no one paying attention to me?’ etc., we will fall into a negative cycle and feel frustrated and powerless. On the contrary, if we ask some positive questions, such as ‘What can I do?’ ‘What are my strengths?’ ‘Who can I get help from?’ etc., we will stimulate our own positivity and creativity and find Better solutions and opportunities.
- Let go of the pain. It is inevitable to encounter some painful things in life, such as breakup, unemployment, death of a loved one, etc. These things can hurt and traumatize us, but that doesn’t mean we have to live in pain all the time. If we repeatedly chew on our pain, we will make ourselves more and more miserable and affect our physical and mental health. We should learn to let go of the pain, accept the reality, find new goals and meaning, and let ourselves get back on our feet.
- Find your own way to recover and relax. Everyone has their own personality and preferences, so the recovery and relaxation methods that are suitable for each person are also different. Some people like to read or meditate quietly, while others like to party or travel in a lively way. We need to understand what kind of person we are and choose a method that suits us so that we can fully recover and relax after being busy and stressed.
- keep working out. Exercise is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve your well-being. Exercise can promote physical health, enhance immunity, and prevent various diseases. Exercise can also boost mental health, releasing endorphins, improving mood and boosting self-esteem. Exercise can also promote social health, increase interaction with others, and expand social circles. Exercise is a necessity, and exercise is an investment in the present and future.
The above are 10 very useful points in ‘Harvard Happiness Course’. I hope it will be helpful to you.
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