Each of us seeks, in our own way and at our own times, happiness. Indeed, we can say that the search for happiness is what moves our steps, what guides our choices and which, in some way, marks our destiny.
Will marrying that person make me happier? Will moving to another city improve the quality of my life? Is accepting that job offer really the answer to my desire for happiness?
These are just some of the questions that each of us has faced at some point in our lives, or will face in the future.
But, beyond what may be momentary decisions, there are also “habits of happiness” which, if continued over a long period, can help us live a happier life and, consequently, a more peaceful old age.
We have identified five – two necessary for improving physical well-being and two that aim to improve us from a psychological point of view: here they are.
Feel the taste of life
Everyone says that food is a source of happiness, but our advice wants to be a little deeper than that: we are not referring to greedy foods, alcohol or excesses of sweets and fats.
We are talking about a healthy diet, rich in fiber and vitamins, made up of whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, free of super fat and highly processed foods: this diet, which might seem boring and unrewarding for the palate, actually holds the secret to a happy life.
Frequently eating sugary, fatty and processed foods, in addition to being bad for your health, generates an addiction mechanism similar to that triggered by drugs or alcohol.
Almost without realizing it, we slip into a harmful circuit whereby we increasingly feel the urge to eat fatty or high-calorie food, which we indulge in without thinking too much, thus fueling the cycle.
But the dopamine rush generated by these foods lasts less and less, quickly replaced by a feeling of sadness and melancholy, and we have to resort to eating other sweets or caloric products to feel satisfied again.
Little by little, we no longer notice the taste of food, which becomes just an outlet for our frustrations or the stress accumulated during the day.
Returning to a healthy and genuine diet, detoxifying from junk food and the stimulus of nervous hunger, is a long process that takes time but which will lead us to an increasingly peaceful and happy relationship with what we have on our plate.
Training for happiness
We also often talk about sport in our articles, but in this roundup of “tips for happiness” we want to offer you a different interpretation of sporting activity.
Moving is good for our body at all ages: it wards off the risk of illness and early death, gives us a toned physical appearance, makes us more energetic and capable of carrying out many activities.
But not only that: practicing sport releases a beneficial dose of high-quality dopamine into our body and also makes us feel better from a psychological point of view – which is why, after every workout, we feel strangely happy.
It is up to us to choose which activity to introduce into our days to improve our well-being: it could be a walk in nature, a few dance lessons, a workout in the gym with weights and machines: the benefits are guaranteed.
Slow down to savor
We live our days animated by haste, by the crazy eagerness to carry out the infinite series of tasks written on our to do list. We are so projected towards the future, towards the next action to take, that we are no longer able to enjoy the present, to consciously live the moment we find ourselves in now.
This, obviously, greatly affects our perception of happiness. We are on holiday but we are already thinking about when we will have to go back to work, we are having dinner with the family but our mind is projected elsewhere, we are not enjoying the weekend or the walk because we are already thinking about what is to come After.
We label the moments we experience every day as banal and meaningless, always looking for something extraordinary that will happen in a distant future and that will finally guarantee us the happiness we deserve.
What if happiness was today instead? What if this little moment we are experiencing now could be transformed into a microscopic source of happiness to be added to a thousand other microscopic sources?
Our advice is to stop for a moment to reflect and contemplate the beauty of the present moment with awareness: happiness is made up of simple moments, of simple things, and it already exists in our lives now – it’s just that we are too distracted to notice it.
A colorful flower blooming on the edge of the pavement, a child who smiles at us as he passes by, a spectacular sunset that we can admire from the balcony of our house, a message of affection received from a friend: happiness is everywhere – it is up to us to learn to discover it every day.
Respond to not react
Too often we live our days “on autopilot”, that is, in a mechanical way, always the same: for this reason we tend to react on impulse and often respond in an aggressive and grumpy manner to those around us.
When faced with a problem or difficulty, instead of reacting instinctively, let’s stop for a moment to reflect: this moment of pause could first lead to a conscious response, rather than an unconscious reaction with often disastrous consequences.
If we learn to respond rather than react, we will be able to cultivate healthier and more balanced interpersonal relationships, and we will not always be at the mercy of our emotions.
Cultivate relationships that are good for us
Happiness, as much as it may seem like an individual journey, is rarely a solitary experience. The relationships we build with others – family, friends, partners, people we meet along the way – play a fundamental role in our well-being.
It’s not about having an intense social life or being constantly surrounded by people: the quality of bonds often matters more than their number. Having someone to share a joy, talk about a difficulty or simply spend time without having to wear a mask can become a real source of serenity.
On the contrary, relationships based on constant conflict, judgment or lack of listening can become a daily source of stress and drain precious energy.
Cultivating a happy relationship with others requires time and attention: it means learning to really listen, show gratitude, ask for help when needed and dedicate space to the people who make us feel good.
Because happiness often comes not only from what we achieve, but also from the people we choose to share the journey with.
