happiness

Positive Action

/ Steve Lakey / 1 Comment

woman-and-bicycle

Photo: Woman-on-Bicycle by George Hodan

Studies have shown that we each have an individual happiness level. Remarkably, even after life-changing events, the vast majority of us tend to return to that same level within twelve months. No matter what we’ve been through. Whether it is winning the lottery or experiencing one of life’s traumas.

How many people dream of winning the lottery, in order to feel happy? But it’s not having money that makes you happy. It’s your attitude towards the money – or anything else for that matter. As author Anaïs Nin wrote, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”

You set your own happiness level, either consciously, or subconsciously by default. Our brain is structured to think in certain ways. Until recently, scientists thought that once you reached adulthood your brain programming was permanently set. But research has shown that it is possible to literally reconfigure your brain’s wiring by changing your thinking.

Habitual thoughts strengthen associated neural pathways. If you think positive thoughts about yourself, those pathways will grow stronger, while the pathways associated with negative self-image will weaken. And vice versa. So, if you generally see things negatively, your brain is essentially hard-wired to make those types of thoughts ‘stick’.

If you want to change your thinking, how do you raise your happiness level? It’s not enough just to want to be happy. You need to take habitual action. This may seem like hard work – but this is about feeling good. It should be fun, or it won’t succeed. As with many forms of taking action, often it’s the starting that is the hard part. But once you’re in the flow, it feels great.

But in the same way you wouldn’t go the gym once, and expect to have a chiselled physique, it takes regular workouts – or habitual thinking.

Over time, the positive self-image will replace the negative one. This is true for positive and negative thoughts. You are changing how you “see” yourself or the world in general. Using your senses and emotions, you can “feel” your desired experience. The more this is repeated, and the stronger you link your emotions to it, the greater impact it will have.

Sing to your favourite tunes, go jogging, have a lie-in, watch a movie or read a book. Again, how you improve your mood is your own choice.

Why not give it a try? All you have to lose is your negativity.

Positive Thinking

/ Steve Lakey / 2 Comments

Bright Idea

Photo: Bright Idea by zaldy icaonapo

Positive Thinking is mentally focusing on the best possible outcome from any situation. In whatever form it may appear, all our positive thinking comes down to one thing. Wanting to find happiness.

Creative Visualisation is the technique of mentally picturing an outcome. Using this technique, athletes run the race in their mind, before they leave the starting blocks. Studies by Russian scientists indicated that those who spent 25% of their time training physically and 75% of their time engaged in mental training had more success than those who spent 100% of their time in purely physical training. Visualisation is now considered an essential part of top-level preparation in the world of sport and beyond.

What successful outcomes can be created? Success is subjective, so you get to choose. You decide what success means for you. You are the one creating your own reality with your thoughts and actions. It may be making your first million or taking your last cigarette – whatever matters the most to you. It certainly helps if the desired outcome is closer to your current level of thinking – as there will be less resistance to overcome – but that shouldn’t rule out thinking big… The stronger the emotions linked to the outcome, the more powerful the results.

How does this work? Over time, thoughts become beliefs, and beliefs become actions. Basically, our beliefs are thoughts that we have repeated until they become our truths. Psychologists have found that we tend to act in ways that support our attitudes. If someone assumes they are “stupid”, then they subconsciously behave in a way that confirms that belief.

Our mind also filters our experiences to fit our internal self-image. If you have a positive mind-set, then you tend to accept positive situations and not dismiss them as “flukes”. You will also see negative experiences as temporary obstacles, rather than as evidence of a flawed character.

You don’t have to ignore challenges to overcome them. In fact it can be harmful and counter-productive to do so. But you can re-frame them. The inventor Thomas Edison said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” He chose to see what others would call a set-back, as part of the pathway to his success.

So, should you be wearing a smiley face and chanting “Om”? If all you’re doing is suppressing natural emotions; this is not a healthy place to be. It may be appropriate and necessary to work through negative feelings. But positive thinking gives you an alternative. Think of it as having a new toolkit in the garage.

So, is the glass half full or half empty? You get to choose!