When I asked my Spanish classes to fill out a quick survey on the first day of class, I realized how simple we all are and how simple life is. The last question on the survey was, “what is the most important thing to you?” Many people said “God, family, friends” but there was a large number that said “to be 快乐“. So essentially, everyone had the ‘same’ answer because “God, family, friends” equals 幸福 since we tend to surround ourselves with elements that make us 快乐. Another important thing is that it should not take much to be 快乐. For it is the simple things in life that bring us 快乐..
50 habits for a 快乐 life:
- 慢下来.
- 要注意. Life happens now. This moment is all you’ve got.
- Create a ritual. Have tea every afternoon. Write a gratitude list every morning. 走 around your neighborhood every evening. You can make a ritual out of anything — just perform the activity deliberately and mindfully.
- 锻炼. 每一天. 走. 运行. 跳过. 游泳. 玩 four square. 无论.
- Make friends with Mother Nature. She’s got a lot to teach you.
- Challenge yourself. Growth comes when you push your limits.
- Keep an open mind. Open minds are 快乐 minds.
- Eat with relish. Love your food. Don’t eat on the run or mindlessly.
- 微笑. 很多.
- 笑. 很多. Real, authentic laughter.
- 喝水. As much as you can stomach.
- Soak up the vitamin D. Sunshine cures many ills.
- 害怕. And do it anyway. Fear is the gateway to a stronger you.
- 睡得好. Make a good night’s sleep a daily priority.
- Disconnect from technology. Turn that iPhone off from time to time.
- Touch other people. With their permission, of course. Touch is hugely important for healing and mental health.
- Cut back on caffeine. It’s still a drug, even in delicious liquid form.
- Consume 快乐 media. 跳过 the news — watch positive, life-affirming stuff instead.
- Talk to strangers. You never know who you might meet.
- 是善良的. 扩展 善良 as often as possible. Random acts are good.
- 吃植物. Food that comes out of the earth is better for body, mind and spirit.
- Cultivate compassion. For yourself and all other living things.
- Leave your comfort zone behind. Discomfort is a sign of growth.
- Identify your destructive thoughts. Then, write a positive script to fight back.
- Drink less booze. You’ll feel better.
- 玩. It’s not just for kids — playtime is beneficial for grown-up brains, too.
- Use affirmations. Pick some that resonate with you, and recite them religiously.
- Get minimal. With less junk in your life, there’s more room for what’s important.
- 听. When you talk to people, give them your full attention. Don’t just wait for your turn to speak.
- Make positive friends. It’s hard to be 快乐 if you’re surrounded by negative Nancys.
- 回馈. Countless good causes could use your talents.
- 听 to upbeat tunes. Music has power.
- Embrace a spiritual connection. While this is certainly optional, feeling connected to something greater than yourself can make a world of difference in your life.
- Do something unfamiliar. Explore a sport, activity or subject you’ve never been particularly interested in. You never know what you might discover.
- 可视化. See yourself with all that you desire, and you’re on your way.
- 给拥抱. Hugs are so underrated. Dole ’em out generously.
- Work to live. Not the other way around.
- Look for opportunities. When we get stuck in our regular routines, we’re often blind to new possibilities. Open your eyes, ears and heart.
- Train your brain. Your mind needs to be challenged to maintain its top form. Try crossword puzzles, brain games or memory quizzes.
- Climb a tree. 相信我. Best thing ever.
- Do things you love. If you don’t know what you love, start exploring.
- 养只宠物. Animals can lower your blood pressure, reduce stress and add to your life in innumerable other ways. Plus, who couldn’t use a little unconditional love?
- 旅行. New places and faces expand your 意识.
- 什么都不做. Call it mental health time.
- Meditation comes in countless variations. 选择一个. Even five minutes a day makes a difference.
- 游泳.
- 承担风险.
- Let go gracefully. All things have their time.
- Love yourself. It’s not as easy as it sounds, obviously. But work at it, and the warm fuzzies will come.
- Appreciate everything. You have so many gifts, acknowledging them is the best way to feel fabulous about your life.