Apparently disposition is 50% hereditary, 10% is based on life circumstances
and a
whopping 40% is based on intentional daily activities - conscious attention to make ourselves happy.so, if that is the case, what are the kinds of things that can help boost the 40% we have in our control?
Well, I recently learned that one author - don't know the name - suggests the following
twelve things we can actually do on a daily basis to consciously make and create happiness in our lives:
1)
Expressing gratitude - contemplating blessings - appreciating people and things in our lives;
2)
Cultivating optimism - imagining a bright future - manifesting happiness and what we want in our lives - opening our minds to the best possibilities happening - looking at the bright side and remaining positive;
3)
Avoiding over-thinking;
4) Avoiding social comparisons - instead
encouraging commonalities;
5)
Practicing acts of kindness - doing things for others;
6)
Nurturing relationships - choosing them actively and being present in a nurturing and social support network;
7)
Developing coping strategies to overcome stress and increase energy and attention;
8)
Learning to forgive - we store negative energy in our bodies - so forgiving someone (our ourselves)is healing - storing or holding resentments is not. We need to find a way to express pain or resentments and let it go;
9)
doing activities that truly engage us - something that makes time just fly away while we are doing it - like writing, drawing, running, dancing, anything that helps us get out of our thinking selves and let go into the present;
10)
Savouring life's joys - paying attention to the delight in life - receiving messages and taking moments to absorb moments and emotions as they occur - beauty in little things - notice little gifts life presents us if we are able to see them;
11)
Committing to our goals - as small and insignificant as we need them to be - as grand and life transforming - just commit to try our best;
12)
Practicing some form of spirituality - finding some form that is good for us - some belief or faith that is life affirming;
13)
Taking care of our bodies - breathing, moving, exercising, eating healthy - learning what our bodies need to decompress and feel alive.