3 Therapist-Approved Tricks to Feel Happier Right Now
When we deem life as stressful, overwhelming, and hard, it can be challenging to feel happy or content with those types of thoughts and beliefs.
Days can become filled with feelings of frustration, sadness, anger, and disappointment. Over time, that can lead to a low frustration tolerance, grumpiness, impatience, intolerance, and a general sense of unhappiness and discontent.
This state of mind can then cause us to act out with self-destructive behaviors and keep us from being our best selves. If stress and worry have been affecting your happiness, therapy for anxiety in Orange County can help you understand your thoughts, feelings, and patterns with more support.
Here are three tricks to be happy now that may help.
Remember that happiness is a choice
Happiness is a choice.
People sometimes state frustration at me for making this statement, as if it is taken as an insult or blame. As if someone would choose not to be happy if they could.
Of course, that is not my intention at all.
When I make the statement that a feeling is a choice, especially happiness, I am referring to the crux of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is, to keep it very simple, change the way you think, and you will change the way you feel.
Not easy, but very simple once we train our brains to recognize the power of our thoughts.
Breathe
We hold our breath very often because we are focused on our thoughts, a situation, worry, or frustration.
Breathe in through your nose for four counts to fill your lungs completely.
Pause.
Release.
With that breath, picture a release of all negative thoughts and feelings for that moment. Feel the body relax. Feel rejuvenated, reenergized, and renewed.
Repeat four or five times. The mind is focused on your breathing, which gives you a break from whatever thought or situation may have been distracting you or causing a negative emotion.
The body will be more relaxed and happy, if only for a few minutes.
This technique can be practiced anytime, anywhere throughout the day.
Practice mindfulness
Reorient yourself to the present, right here, right now. The present is where we are going to be our very best. Present, peaceful, powerful, and ultimately happy.
The wandering mind can lead to unhappy people.
If just for this moment, remind yourself: it is Monday afternoon, it is 12:51, and all is well. You can also state a mantra such as “I am content” or “I am happy.”
Mindfulness is another skill that can be used anytime, anywhere, throughout the day. The National Institute of Mental Health also shares relaxation and mindfulness practices as strategies that can support stress management.
Think happy thoughts
Think of the happiest moment of your life, a success accomplished, a goal attained, a memory, or simply your favorite person or thing.
You will notice a happy feeling and a smile on your face. It is hard to deny a feeling associated with a thought.
Choose your thoughts wisely. Your mood can change instantly.
Our thoughts are one of the few things we truly can control. Our thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviors are our choice.
Do yourself a favor and choose wisely today.
“For every minute we are angry or unhappy, we lose 60 seconds of happiness.”
Get support when stress feels hard to manage
I offer these three tricks to be happy now, along with many other tools for managing stress, shifting negative thoughts, and feeling more like yourself again.
If you or a family member wants more information, please contact Dr. Susan Pazak for a consultation.
