1. They express gratitude. When people were told to write and then personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had been especially kind to them, but whom they had never thanked properly, they experienced a huge increase in happiness, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania. Even more, that happiness boost lasted an entire month.
2. They smile more. Smiling does more than make us look happy—it makes us feel happy, too. Studies have found that smiling has provides a variety of psychological and physical benefits including: lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and helping you make more friends. Researchers believe that this is because smiling reduces stress hormones and makes you appear more approachable.
3. They forgive. Although it may be easier said than done, learning to forgive instead of holding a grudge leads to a more positive lifestyle, says David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism. “Make peace with your past so that it won’t spoil the present. Once you accomplish this, you will close those chapters and live a more positive and happy life.”
4. They write down good things which come into their lives. Those who pay attention to the positive and write down the good which comes their way tend to be happier notes psychologist Amy Przeworski, PhD. Even if it wasn’t a particularly great day, try to find something positive to say about it, she advises. “Most situations can be seen in both a positive and negative light. You just have to find the positive one and keep reminding yourself of it in order to eventually believe it.” Taking time to write down positive experiences is a way of training the brain to be more optimistic in general. And, the benefits of being a positive person extend far beyond the writing exercise. A study of Catholic nuns who journaled regularly found that those who focused on more uplifting content ended up living longer.
5. They spend time around positive people.
One study reported that forty-eight percent of the women surveyed strongly agreed that they are happier when around optimistic people. Good moods are contagious, as are bad ones.
Associating with positive people breeds more positivity in your own life. It’s an upward spiral rather than a downward one when spending too much time with negative individuals.
(feel free to re-post and/or link to your social media)
2. They smile more. Smiling does more than make us look happy—it makes us feel happy, too. Studies have found that smiling has provides a variety of psychological and physical benefits including: lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and helping you make more friends. Researchers believe that this is because smiling reduces stress hormones and makes you appear more approachable.
3. They forgive. Although it may be easier said than done, learning to forgive instead of holding a grudge leads to a more positive lifestyle, says David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism. “Make peace with your past so that it won’t spoil the present. Once you accomplish this, you will close those chapters and live a more positive and happy life.”
4. They write down good things which come into their lives. Those who pay attention to the positive and write down the good which comes their way tend to be happier notes psychologist Amy Przeworski, PhD. Even if it wasn’t a particularly great day, try to find something positive to say about it, she advises. “Most situations can be seen in both a positive and negative light. You just have to find the positive one and keep reminding yourself of it in order to eventually believe it.” Taking time to write down positive experiences is a way of training the brain to be more optimistic in general. And, the benefits of being a positive person extend far beyond the writing exercise. A study of Catholic nuns who journaled regularly found that those who focused on more uplifting content ended up living longer.
5. They spend time around positive people.
One study reported that forty-eight percent of the women surveyed strongly agreed that they are happier when around optimistic people. Good moods are contagious, as are bad ones.
Associating with positive people breeds more positivity in your own life. It’s an upward spiral rather than a downward one when spending too much time with negative individuals.
(feel free to re-post and/or link to your social media)
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