Self Help Daily

Inspirational and Self Help Blog with a Save the World Complex...

You are here: Home / Archives for How to Be Happy

How to Be Happy

Infographic: How Dogs Improve Your Health!

by Leave a Comment

I am a bona fide animal-lover if there ever was one. I’m pretty sure you could tell from all the pictures of animals on Self Help Daily or in my Twitter timeline, but I thought I’d write it out loud just in case.

Left to my own devices, I’d have at least two of every animal known to man, but my cats (and husband, for that matter) don’t share my off-the-hook enthusiasm. What’s more, we are, primarily, a cat family. We are blessed to live out of the city, so we’re able to take in cats who need a forever home, a forever family, and all the love they can stand.

How much are we committed to these cats? Well, for one thing, forfeited our entire carport to house a couple of (heated in the winter, of course) cat houses, cat food stations, chairs, and toys… lots of cat toys. Their set-up is ridiculously sweet. At any rate, this is the only reason I don’t have a dog, or two, or twenty. Dogs are amazing, loyal, beautiful, sweet, intelligent…. but woefully an enemy of our cat family.

Dogs aren’t just wonderful and loving family members, they’re actually very healthy for you. Just one of the ways I’ve found this to be true has been with dogs I’ve had and loved in the past (before the cats took over our hearts and yard!). Over the years, I have, without question, walked more frequently (and for longer periods of time) when I’ve had a canine companion. They love it so much, you just don’t want to stop their fun!

The great infographic below tells more ways dogs are actually very healthy for you. As for my opinion on the matter – I think that dogs (like cats) add to your joy and happiness – and that, fellow-animal lovers, is a key component of having a healthy and worthwhile life.

If you are able, I wholeheartedly suggest heading to your local shelter and allowing a RESCUE to take place. Just be warned, it won’t be the dog (or cat) that’s rescued!

How Dogs Improve Your Health Infographic

Infographic Credit: A Place for Animals!


This Is How to Keep Your Journal to Become Happier

by Leave a Comment

This Is How to Keep Your Journal to Become Happier

Happiness. Gratitude. Mindfulness. Don’t we all live for that?

There’s nothing wrong with that attitude. In fact, we all deserve to be happy and we should strive towards that goal for as long as we’re living. The problem is: it’s almost impossible to be happy all the time. Most of us are far from Buddha’s smile. But, there’s a good thing about it: the journey.

The journey towards happiness is bumpy. If we want to experience pure freedom and joy, we have to dig deep into our soul and mind, and get all the trash out of there. We have to develop an immunity against stressful situations, which we’ll keep experiencing.

Today, we’ll explore a method that makes us more conscious about the happy and less happy moments we go through: journaling.

Journey. Journaling. The similarity between the words is not a coincidence. By keeping a journal, we become aware of all emotions, fears, expectations, obstacles, and joys in our journey. We are witnessing our own way towards happiness.

Now, the question is: how do you keep that journal?

Tips: How to Keep a Journal of Happiness

  1. Understand the Reason

Why do you need journaling and how will it make you a happier person? You need that answer before you commit yourself to this practice.

Mindy Bennett, a writing tutor at EduGeeksClub.com, explains why journaling makes sense: “I had a job I loved, a great partner, and tons of friends to give me support whenever I needed it. Still, I wasn’t happy. Something was missing and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I tried contemplating over my life, but that didn’t work… my thoughts were too chaotic,” – she says.

“Then, I thought: why don’t I just write? It’s what I do for living, anyway. Journaling was the most overwhelming writing challenge I’ve ever faced. I had to express my fears and deepest emotions on paper. At the same time, this was a beautiful experience. When I write about what makes me happy or miserable, I reach a stream of consciousness that keeps me going. This practice helps me understand myself.”

A stream of consciousness. A practice that helps you understand yourself. That’s what journaling is all about.

  1. Find that Motivational Booster

First, you make a commitment:

“I’ll write in my happiness journal every single day.”

Repeat that to yourself. You’ll feel inspired for an entry during the beginnings. However, you may notice that your inspiration fades away within a few days. You’ll skip one day, making the good old excuse: I’ll just write something tomorrow. That’s called procrastination, and it’s not a good habit to have on the journey towards self-realization.

You need something that will motivate you to keep journaling on the long run. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Get a beautiful notebook and a fancy pen. It sounds silly, but you’ll be surprised how these little things can motivate you to write more.
  • If you don’t like writing by hand, you can start your Penzu It’s an online service that lets you keep your thoughts private. It lets you create a pretty awesome online journal that you can enhance with photos and images you find online. You can access it from anywhere and you can rest assured it will be 100% private.

You’ll be able to search through your journal, so you’ll easily find the exact entry you have on mind. As for the inspiration, Penzu will send custom email reminders to keep you going.

  • If you’re ready to share your journey with the world, create a Tumblr You’ll turn the journal into a blog, and the feedback will inspire you to keep going. When you gain enough followers, you’ll feel the responsibility to update the journal on a daily basis.
  1. You Need Only 10 Minutes a Day

Is your mind playing tricks on you, trying to convince you that there’s no time for journaling? Look; if you can’t find 10 minutes a day for an activity that leads you to a happier life, then there’s something really wrong with your schedule.

10 minutes is all it takes. Sit down. Clear your mind. Think: are you at a good place now? Why? Why not? Describe how you feel in this very moment and what would make you happier. Don’t edit anything. Don’t hold anything back. Just pour your feelings out. When you’re done, go to bed. You’ll do the same thing tomorrow.

From time to time, you can go through the entries and you’ll see your progress. With practice, this activity will become easier. You will stop censoring your thoughts and you’ll be completely honest with yourself. When you recognize your flaws and the obstacles that prevent you from being happy, it will be easier for you to take the right action.

  1. Practice Gratitude

When you start writing about your feelings, it’s easy to focus on the negative. You’ll complain. That’s okay. Don’t hold your bitterness back. The paper (or computer screen) can handle it.

However, you should never put your entire focus on negative thoughts. Recognize the obstacles, but give credit to the good things, too. Turn this into a routine: at the end of each daily entry, write what you’re grateful about. Even if it’s the same small thing every day, keep writing it down. With time and practice, you’ll train your mind how to be more optimistic.

  1. Be Specific!

Getting into details is not a comfortable thing to do. You’re hiding some thoughts and emotions from yourself. When you write “I was happy today,” ask yourself: why? What exactly made you happy? How did that thing make you happy? Why weren’t you happy about it yesterday? How can you keep that thing going?

  • I am happy for my partner.
  • I’m not happy with the way he treated me today.

These statements are too vague. When you write something like that, you’re not digging deep enough. How exactly did your partner make you happy or miserable? Be 100% honest with yourself. Remember: no one will read your journal. It’s all about revealing the truth to yourself and finding the path toward happiness.

Are you ready to do it? Why wait? Today looks like an awesome day for journaling!

Author Bio

Antonio is a hopeless optimist who enjoys basking in the world’s brightest colors. He loves biking to distant places and occasionally he gets lost. When not doing that he’s blogging and teaching ESL. He will be happy to meet you on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

How to Change Your Travel Habits for a Happier Life

by Leave a Comment

Autumn Road in Kentucky

Too often do you see people easily overlook the impacts traveling can have on your overall, general wellbeing. If you are spending significant parts of your day being held up in hectic traffic, then your mind will feel hectic too. It is hard to transition a stressful journey into a calm day, especially if you know the commute home will be just as bad.

Therefore, it is important to think about how you travel, and whether it is causing any negative effects towards your health. If driving to work is setting you up for a stressful day, then it could be time to look for alternative methods of traveling.

By building exercise into your travel routine, you will be reaping in double the benefits. For a start, walking or cycling to your destination will give you time to clear your head, and over time it will boost your fitness. If you haven’t cycled for years, then this is the perfect time to start again, as there are facilities and cycle lanes set up on most roads to make your journey safe. You could be surprised at how quickly you can get to your destination when you’re not sitting in traffic.

Another plus is, if you exercise more, you will also have a boost of happiness through the release of endorphins, making it a win-win option. Furthermore, you could save huge amounts of money by opting for this method of transport.

Alternatively, maybe catching public transport is the root of your problem due to the constant worry of being late and unreliable connections. Maybe you are sick of the discomfort from over-crowded buses or trains. This kind of regular discomfort can cause anxiousness, panic attacks and slowly build towards mental health issues. If you are in this situation, then it might be better for you to work out whether it is better for you to drive to work, or ask your employer if you could work different hours to avoid the heavy traffic and avoid busy times on public transport.

If driving isn’t an option because you haven’t learnt to drive yet, then you should think about learning. You could pass your test on a quick course and prepare for your theory test online here. Being able to drive will give you much more freedom and provide happiness.

However, sometimes public transport is the only effective method of travel within major cities. If you catch a train, then you are able to perform tasks driving a car would not permit. You can grab a seat, take out your laptop and/or tablet, and either relax or prepare for the working day. This is a perfect way to utilize the time otherwise spent driving, cycling or walking, and can help the busy businessperson.

Similarly, you can spend your time on public transport completing simple errands such as grocery shopping or gift buying.

There are lots of ways you can make changes to set you up for a happier life, so make sure you invest in a way of life that can help you lead a blissful, healthier lifestyle you will be thankful for years down the line.

Author Bio:
Lucy has been working in the fashion industry for six years. A dedicated follower of all things fashion and beauty, she is passionate about new industry developments. Lucy is now a full time freelance fashion writer.

How to Simplify Your Life (Infographic)

by Leave a Comment

Complications are not fun. They aren’t peaceful, they aren’t lovely, they aren’t cool…. they aren’t anything but unnecessary, unwelcome headaches.

In that vein, I’d like to propose that we all simplify our lives in 2017. I believe the benefits will be felt in every corner of our lives – including our physical, emotional, and mental health.

The infographic below is a wonderful way to get the ball rolling. The infogrpahic gives us a lot to think about and will help us recognize the areas of our own lives that need a little simplifying.

Courtesy of: NetCredit

Positive Thought: Quote About Enjoying Life

by 1 Comment

Quote About Enjoying Life
I’m normally a really chill kind of gal – which is just my way of saying I’m a clown with a penchant for the silly things in life and a distaste for the mature things in life. Grow up? I want no part of it. Like my dad before me, I obsess over birds, coffee, and good food and shirk away from being overly serious or “down.”

However, a few days last week I was in what could only be called a funk. It was a funk’s funk. Life has been kind of…. well… unpredictable lately and has thrown me a few curve balls.

I’m not a curve ball hitter. I like them up and a little outside but life didn’t ask first – it just threw one past me. Then another. Then another…

Anyway, I failed to roll with the punches and I found myself stomping through the house one day, getting annoyed with my own foul humor and crabby mood. Thanks be to God that I caught myself before I had to subject anyone else to the stomping and scowling. My cats slept threw it, so I didn’t even have to endure their judging glances.

Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things.  – Kenneth Branagh

I came to my senses by asking myself, “What is so terrible that it was worth the cost of peace and happiness?” I stumped me, which is always a freaky kind of feeling.

The humor of the moment (as I searched for an answer that I would accept) lightened the mood and the day.  I walked around the yard with my thoughts and came to the realization that NOTHING that was bothering me was anywhere near worth losing a minute of happiness, let alone an entire day. So, I threw the worries over the fence and came back in the house.

If we were to be totally honest with ourselves, we’d admit that many… maybe even MANY of the things we get worked up over simply are not getting worked up over.  It made me think of the Kenneth Branagh quote Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about thing. 

Beautiful, wise words to live by – everyday. Even, maybe even especially, the rotten ones.

Keep smiling and keep laughing! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Update to the Self Help Resources Page

I recently heard from a veteran ( in the US Marine Corp and US Navy units in the first Gulf War).  Veterans are a group that get my undivided attention and endless respect This Veteran is now one of our Country’s many Disabled Veterans.

He assists Maritime Injury Center in their mission of advocating for mariners and Veterans alike. In this Veteran’s own words, “Now more than ever, I think its important for service members to understand the significance of the Jones Act and how it impacts the captain and crew of merchant ships hauling military cargo in times of engagement. You can find out more about the Jones Act at www.maritimeinjurycenter.com/jones-act/.”

He went on to ask if I would consider adding a link back to MaritimeInjuryCenter.com  on the Self Help and Improvement Resources Page to help advocate for our armed forces, while also educating maritime workers on their rights if they become injured at sea.

Consider it done, sir, and thank you for your service.