That picture says it all. We put our noses to the grindstone, focus on the task at hand and postpone the pleasures. But at what cost? Body pains, headaches, and snappy dispositions affect our ability to contribute to work and engage with those who love us and may lead to despair and discontent. What kind of life is that?

“Happy people reported that pain was less likely to get in the way of their daily lives, and they were less likely to feel distressed when we also looked at the impact of happiness on pain intensity.”

(The Role of Happiness in People Living with Chronic Pain, at https://agerrtc.washington.edu/ )

 

What can you do to improve your outlook on life?

It’s not as hard as you may think. Here are three easy steps to incorporate into your daily life to increase your happiness, thereby reducing your pain.

 

1-Notice how things are in your life and be OK with how they are.

That statement doesn’t mean you are resigned to the fact that they will always be the same. It just means to let go of the struggle against what is. Dr. Srikumar Rao

https://www.linkedin.com/in/srikumarsrao/ , author, speaker, and expert on management, shared a great analogy. He asked us to remember when we were content, satisfied, or even outright happy. It may have been a time in nature or when you were playing with your kids or grandkids or participating in a sport.

So, remember when you saw a rainbow? Feel that feeling and notice, notice. You accepted it for what it was. You didn’t say, but if it were 2 feet to the left, it would be so much more beautiful!

Think about how you respond to positive events or comments. Do you dismiss them or allow them to be what they are? Good or bad.

 

2- Intention is the shortest distance between two points. Dr. John Upledger, the founder of Uplegder Institute, where I learned CranioSacral Therapy and much more, was famous for his focus on the power of intention. And that is why your next step in supporting you to be happy is Segment Intending, a skill promoted by Abraham Hicks. Segment Intending is the practice of looking at your day and breaking it into tasks, then adding the simple phrase, “Wouldn’t it be nice if….”  A step that I’ve found helpful is the following. When your doubts and disagreements come to mind, you can reply, “I know it’s never happened before, and it may never happen again, but I’m open to the possibility that this is what I want can happen.”

 

3- Look to your past for signs of progress. How often have you looked at where you are in life and been disappointed that you haven’t accomplished something? It may be that promotion, finishing an educational goal, or living the life you imagined.

That can be as frustrating as living up to the expectations of a ghost. There is nothing concrete to measure against. It’s an impossible task. So, what if you look at where you were five years ago and notice all you have accomplished? Write them all down. No matter how insignificant they may seem, you wouldn’t remember them if they weren’t important to you on some level. Now, notice how you feel.

I don’t want you to disregard where you want to go, just that you have accomplished much more than you realize. This exercise is a phenomenal way to keep you positive and moving forward.

 

And, if you want suggestions for things to do that bring more joy into your life, listen in to

Jake Pearson’s What Makes You Happy Podcast or follow him here. Jake interviews folks asking, “what makes you happy.” If you need ideas for fun things to do, listen in for what others do. I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jake and hope to share the replay with you by October 2022.

Remember: Don’t beat yourself up. You cannot get this wrong. You can only get it better. Becoming aware is your first step. Congratulations!