Embrace the notion that you are in control of your feelings and therefore 'choose' happiness over sadness. Failing that keep a business card in your wallet with a few happy memories noted on it or a couple of good points about yourself. Or, very boring and maybe more depressing if unsuccessful, think of those worse off than you are :-)
teiana - Wed, 22/07/2009 - 11:56
ice lollies.
Seriously. Eat them or rub them on your skin! Or just ice cubes... :-)
Can't entirely explain it but i have a theory - i reckon our bodies are briefly stressed by the sudden cold sending us endorphins to deal with it... of course we're not really freezing to death, and so afterwards, we feel better :-)
ss2729
- Tue, 17/11/2009 - 14:14
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
drawl
- Mon, 21/09/2009 - 15:03
Never let anyone tell you what or who makes you happy (find out for yourself), and don't be afraid of not following the crowd.
karenjc70
- Tue, 22/09/2009 - 22:39
I was grumpy at work today (hopefully no one noticed) for some inexplicable reason, came home to a miserable teenage daughter (upset at someone on the internet again) and I'm on an early shift tomorrow. However, I'm home, I'm just about to get into a comfortable warm bed, I'm off for 3 days after tomorrow, I have a job to go to and a respectable (although not fantastic) income, and I also have a great family and wonderful friends.
I find that concentrating on what makes me happy brings me out of a miserable mood. That, and not spending too much time on my own when I'm grumpy! Being around other people helps me to get some perspective!
teiana - Thu, 24/09/2009 - 00:22
sending your TMA in! before the deadline too! that makes me happy.. :-)
drawl
- Tue, 06/10/2009 - 15:14
In the the same vein as you karenjc70 I also find that literally talking myself out of my misery helps. I then concentrate only on life's pleasantries. When I get myself in a good mood it would take an earthquake to change it.
karenjc70
- Tue, 06/10/2009 - 18:54
It's not always easy to get myself in a good mood. I've had a bit of a head cold the past few days and have been feeling very sorry for myself. Half an hour of Jeremy Kyle on Monday (sick day, 1st one in over a year) and I felt that my life was actually okay! I was back in work today and very glad to be working somewhere I like. It's all about perspective, isn't it Drawl!
whh33headdon - Thu, 26/11/2009 - 16:42
A receipe for marital happiness; my wife and I have agreed that I will take all the important decisions, but that she will decidewhich ones are important; 54 years of mariiage, believe me!
What's the use of happiness, anyway, it can't buy you wealth! Ha, ha, ha.
Prufrock
maviscruet
- Thu, 14/01/2010 - 21:55
Hi, everyone,
Just joined the Platform. So, tips for finding happiness. I know only one: To Thine Own Self Be True. Not necessarily a quick fix, though.
sweetiepie-2121
- Tue, 26/01/2010 - 17:23
Hi Tracy,.
After finding happiness with in yourself everyb thing else will fall in to place.
xx.
js23497
- Wed, 03/02/2010 - 21:19
Chuck on your favourite song and dance around the living room until it has finished and then flop on the couch and laugh at your dancing and singing.
Ring your friends and go for an impromptu day out
Snuggle up in bed with a good book and get lost in the story, when you come out the other side you will probably have forgotten why you were so down.
Jo :)
EvilScot
- Thu, 18/02/2010 - 14:00
Seconded on the singing and dancing.(So long as no body can see or hear)
Finding the absurdities in life and laughing at them. (I read to much Pratchett, Holt & Fforde).
jmaclean
- Wed, 17/02/2010 - 22:41
I would have to say that my tip is give yourself permission to take time to cherish things - sounds simple, but how often, in our busy lives do we actually take time to cherish things - even just everyday things. Actually, especially just everyday things that on the scheme of things may seem quite ordinary, but its the multitude of these things that we cherish that top up our feeling of happiness. Try it, once you get a bit of a check list going its surprising how much your focus changes to what you have been able to take time to cherish rather than what has brought you down in a day.
Simple it is not, but worthwhile, yes.
JM
BumbleBee
- Thu, 18/02/2010 - 09:22
Small unexpected acts of kindness for others can pick you up - giving a complete stranger a big beaming smile (it's contagious) - can make someone's day. At a toll pay for the car behind. Help someone with their shopping, tell someone their clothes look lovely, their perfume is nice...etc etc.....knowing you've brightened another's day can help.
Jane Matthews - Thu, 18/02/2010 - 11:02
There's a couple of articles by OU academics on Platform on this theme if you want to check them out:
One of the best books I've come across on this topic is Marci Schimoff's Happy for No Reason. Her website doesn't seem to have any of the usual free resources, but there's a lively discussion forum by the looks of it here.
Meantime, keep the thoughts and tips coming!
Jane, Platform team
__________________
Jane Matthews
Platform home team
sweetiepie2121
- Wed, 24/02/2010 - 17:00
Well the only way is to find happyness in yourself then the rest will follow.
gfworth
- Fri, 19/03/2010 - 18:01
I enjoy good health, live in a comfortable home in a nice part of the country. If I feel a little low I just think of people less fortunate.
teiana - Sun, 21/03/2010 - 06:55
gfworth said
<cite>"I enjoy good health, live in a comfortable home in a nice part of the country. If I feel a little low I just think of people less fortunate." </cite>
so what makes you happy is a feeling of superiority and knowing that there are other people who are miserable?
Grautr
- Wed, 05/05/2010 - 19:49
Glasshopper,
Dont read too many environmental science statistics without a healthy dose of prozac to back it up...
drummondhill
- Thu, 24/06/2010 - 20:33
Just try to be content to simply be. This sounds odd. but we are all conditioned to expect too much from life and this just makes things too difficult to live up to . Just see what happens every day and adapt! Oh, and heres hoping the weather stays good
anoo_133
- Wed, 30/06/2010 - 20:20
When am I happiest? When i'm completely involved in doing something i enjoy - music, laughing, eating and the buzz after exercise.
I saw the Devil's Dictionary definition of happiness: the contemplation of another's misery/misfortune.....
Steven Ray - Fri, 25/03/2011 - 22:16
Teesside Tintin on Youtube.
Laughter is the best cure for misery. ^_^
Helen Phillips - Thu, 08/03/2012 - 19:46
In my experience, I only get gloomy when I am thinking about myself.......so I dont
Dina Franchi - Thu, 25/10/2012 - 10:55
Well, I believe that happiness is subjective and depends on a number of factors -for instance your religious beliefs as well as your upbringing can influence your "idea" of what should make you happy. For a very long time, whenever I felt a void - I would go shopping and I thought that by rewarding myself with material goods would make me "happy" - it obviously did - but only for a few hours... I always like to call it RETAIL THERAPY!
However, I recently discovered that happiness can only come from within. That obviously will differ from person to person, but if we can all find an inner peace within ourselves than i think that this will act as a shield from all of the unpleasant things that happen around us.
I am happy that I finally started this journey with the OU!
Kennedy 70 - Tue, 19/03/2013 - 14:09
Rentals: Take care of your good ones and belive in God and always Thank To Him. He'll make your life free from tensions!
Stay away from St James Park, Newcastle!
never ever watch Eastenders.
Embrace the notion that you are in control of your feelings and therefore 'choose' happiness over sadness. Failing that keep a business card in your wallet with a few happy memories noted on it or a couple of good points about yourself. Or, very boring and maybe more depressing if unsuccessful, think of those worse off than you are :-)
ice lollies.
Seriously. Eat them or rub them on your skin! Or just ice cubes... :-)
Can't entirely explain it but i have a theory - i reckon our bodies are briefly stressed by the sudden cold sending us endorphins to deal with it... of course we're not really freezing to death, and so afterwards, we feel better :-)
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Never let anyone tell you what or who makes you happy (find out for yourself), and don't be afraid of not following the crowd.
I was grumpy at work today (hopefully no one noticed) for some inexplicable reason, came home to a miserable teenage daughter (upset at someone on the internet again) and I'm on an early shift tomorrow. However, I'm home, I'm just about to get into a comfortable warm bed, I'm off for 3 days after tomorrow, I have a job to go to and a respectable (although not fantastic) income, and I also have a great family and wonderful friends.
I find that concentrating on what makes me happy brings me out of a miserable mood. That, and not spending too much time on my own when I'm grumpy! Being around other people helps me to get some perspective!
sending your TMA in! before the deadline too! that makes me happy.. :-)
In the the same vein as you karenjc70 I also find that literally talking myself out of my misery helps. I then concentrate only on life's pleasantries. When I get myself in a good mood it would take an earthquake to change it.
It's not always easy to get myself in a good mood. I've had a bit of a head cold the past few days and have been feeling very sorry for myself. Half an hour of Jeremy Kyle on Monday (sick day, 1st one in over a year) and I felt that my life was actually okay! I was back in work today and very glad to be working somewhere I like. It's all about perspective, isn't it Drawl!
A receipe for marital happiness; my wife and I have agreed that I will take all the important decisions, but that she will decide which ones are important; 54 years of mariiage, believe me!
What's the use of happiness, anyway, it can't buy you wealth! Ha, ha, ha.
Prufrock
Hi, everyone,
Just joined the Platform. So, tips for finding happiness. I know only one: To Thine Own Self Be True. Not necessarily a quick fix, though.
Hi Tracy,.
After finding happiness with in yourself everyb thing else will fall in to place.
xx.
Chuck on your favourite song and dance around the living room until it has finished and then flop on the couch and laugh at your dancing and singing.
Ring your friends and go for an impromptu day out
Snuggle up in bed with a good book and get lost in the story, when you come out the other side you will probably have forgotten why you were so down.
Jo :)
Seconded on the singing and dancing.(So long as no body can see or hear)
Finding the absurdities in life and laughing at them. (I read to much Pratchett, Holt & Fforde).
I would have to say that my tip is give yourself permission to take time to cherish things - sounds simple, but how often, in our busy lives do we actually take time to cherish things - even just everyday things. Actually, especially just everyday things that on the scheme of things may seem quite ordinary, but its the multitude of these things that we cherish that top up our feeling of happiness. Try it, once you get a bit of a check list going its surprising how much your focus changes to what you have been able to take time to cherish rather than what has brought you down in a day.
Simple it is not, but worthwhile, yes.
JM
Small unexpected acts of kindness for others can pick you up - giving a complete stranger a big beaming smile (it's contagious) - can make someone's day. At a toll pay for the car behind. Help someone with their shopping, tell someone their clothes look lovely, their perfume is nice...etc etc.....knowing you've brightened another's day can help.
There's a couple of articles by OU academics on Platform on this theme if you want to check them out:
Psychologist Dr Richard Stevens on happiness tools.
Dr Jane Henry's research on what makes people happy
One of the best books I've come across on this topic is Marci Schimoff's Happy for No Reason. Her website doesn't seem to have any of the usual free resources, but there's a lively discussion forum by the looks of it here.
Meantime, keep the thoughts and tips coming!
Jane, Platform team
__________________
Jane Matthews
Platform home team
Well the only way is to find happyness in yourself then the rest will follow.
I enjoy good health, live in a comfortable home in a nice part of the country. If I feel a little low I just think of people less fortunate.
gfworth said
<cite>"I enjoy good health, live in a comfortable home in a nice part of the country. If I feel a little low I just think of people less fortunate." </cite>
so what makes you happy is a feeling of superiority and knowing that there are other people who are miserable?
Glasshopper,
Dont read too many environmental science statistics without a healthy dose of prozac to back it up...
Just try to be content to simply be. This sounds odd. but we are all conditioned to expect too much from life and this just makes things too difficult to live up to . Just see what happens every day and adapt! Oh, and heres hoping the weather stays good
When am I happiest? When i'm completely involved in doing something i enjoy - music, laughing, eating and the buzz after exercise.
I saw the Devil's Dictionary definition of happiness: the contemplation of another's misery/misfortune.....
Teesside Tintin on Youtube.
Laughter is the best cure for misery. ^_^
In my experience, I only get gloomy when I am thinking about myself.......so I dont
Well, I believe that happiness is subjective and depends on a number of factors -for instance your religious beliefs as well as your upbringing can influence your "idea" of what should make you happy. For a very long time, whenever I felt a void - I would go shopping and I thought that by rewarding myself with material goods would make me "happy" - it obviously did - but only for a few hours... I always like to call it RETAIL THERAPY!
However, I recently discovered that happiness can only come from within. That obviously will differ from person to person, but if we can all find an inner peace within ourselves than i think that this will act as a shield from all of the unpleasant things that happen around us.
I am happy that I finally started this journey with the OU!
Rentals: Take care of your good ones and belive in God and always Thank To Him. He'll make your life free from tensions!
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