#funexperiences

In the Declaration of Independence, it is explicitly said that people should be able to purse happiness. But what does that mean?? I know so many people who I think are just living THE life. Of course, their situations aren't great, but because of how everything is going, they are able to take advantage of where they are in life. However, they aren't. They are constantly depressed and I have NO clue how to help. But after doing some research I found six happiness tips and I thought they were fun.

1. Give yourself permission to be human. 

-When we accept emotions like fear, sadness, or anxiety as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.

2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning.

-Engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. If its not possible, have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provie you with both pleasure and meaning.

3. Happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind.

-Not our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well-being is determined by what we choose to focus on and by out interpretation of external events. 

4. Simplify!

-We are generally too busy, trying to squeeze more and more activities into less and less time. Quantify influences quality, and we compromise our happiness by trying to do too much. 

5. Remember the mind-body connection.

-What we do or don't do with our bodies influences our mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.

6. Express gratitude whenever possible.

-We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile. 

Of course these are nothing new, but they are something fun to keep in mind. It'll be fun to see how much I grow this semester, because I am definitely working on myself and trying to become a more dignified and yet characteristic person. I hate how people only think I have one dimension, and its something that I'm going to work on.

Applying 4 and 5 will definitely be the hardest for me, because I love being busy and I love constantly having things to do. Otherwise, I get bored. I probably won't be working on those two tips this semester, but definitely something over the summer to keep in mind.