I decided to intentionally try to make myself happy. This state of mind had not been my natural mood for some time, so I wanted to do something about it. By Googling, I came across this page:
7 Easy Happiness Boosters According to Harvard Research. I decided to try it.
I’ll need to return to this page each day to see how I’m progressing.
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Be Happy – Try Meditation
First on the list was meditation. I set my timer for ten minutes and found a quiet place where the light of the TV wouldn’t bother me. This place happened to be the bathroom. I closed my eyes and began to concentrate on my breathing. Other thoughts tried to take over, but I managed to push them out of my mind. Ten minutes began to seem like forever. When I stopped, I still had one minute and nineteen seconds left on the timer. But it was a start.
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Be Happy – Find Something to Look Forward To
Second was “Find Something to Look Forward To”. I had been looking forward to getting the house clean, but the process was taking too long. Some instant gratification would be nice. It needed to be something I could do myself. Depending on others to help didn’t always work out. I could walk once a day…instant and something I could do myself. So, I would look forward to walking once a day. I wouldn’t push myself but I would do it.
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Be Happy – Commit Acts of Kindness
Third, “Commit Conscious Acts of Kindness”. This needed some research. I found 100 Acts of Kindness for Kids. That seemed like a good place to start. The page also included this list:
I think this web page was an act of kindness. Thank you, Megan!
Things to get me started:
- Read a book to someone.
- Donate a book to a doctor’s office waiting room.
- Tell someone how much you love them.
- Send a postcard to a friend.
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Be Happy – Use Positive Surroundings
Fourth, “Infuse Positivity into Your Surroundings”. Examples: go outside, watch less negative media.
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Be Happy by Exercising
Fifth, “Exercise”. Today twenty minutes of walking outside fulfilled the fifth, fourth, and second ways to intentionally trying to make myself happy.
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Spend Money on Social Activities or Others
Sixth, “Spend Money (but not on stuff)”.
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Be Happy – Find and Use Signature Strength
Seventh, use a signature strength “in a new way each day for a week.” My signature strength would be my computer knowledge. How could I use it new each day for a week?
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Original Idea of My Signature Strength
I used the web page How to List Computer Skills on a Resume (Computer Skill Examples) to help me gather some ideas for this section. Determine your own signature strength and research it.
My goal is to use each of these in a new way:
- Word Processing and Typing
- Graphic Editing
- Internet Research
- WordPress (CMS) – Content Management System
- Social Media
- Create PDFs
- Create a Presentation
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I feel better having started this process, but a bit of discipline is going to be required on my part. This looks doable!
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New, Researched Signature Strength
But wait! Perhaps I misunderstood the definition of “signature strength”. Yes, I have worked with computers most of my adult life. But what is my best character virtue. I took the survey At the VIA Institute of Character and discovered that my signature strength is most likely curiosity. Side note: VIA means “Values in Action Inventory”.
There was a page on the VIA Institute of Character that explained Curiosity more in depth. That sounds a lot like me. So far my computer skills have helped me quench my curiosity. Maybe it’s time to expand. So how can I use curiosity “in a new way each day for a week”.
- Take pictures when I walk each day.
- learn more about the 24 character strengths.
- Read more about meditating and yoga.
- Research garden plants and order some when I know I can use them.
- Explore the crevices of this house and clean while I’m at it.
- Watch what my grandchildren do and say.
- Work on a garden area and start plants inside.
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So, I worked on using these seven steps to make me happy. See my progress in This is What Happened When I Tried to Make Myself Happy!. I returned and to my progress page and added a video that inspired me and a book suggested by a friend, How Happiness Happens. I will continue to work on being both happy and joyful.
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Citations:
Barker, Eric. “7 Easy Happiness Boosters According to Harvard Research.” Barking Up The Wrong Tree, April 29, 2015. https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/what-7-activities-does-harvard-happiness-expe/.
“Curiosity.” Curiosity | Character Strength | VIA Institute. Accessed February 4, 2020. https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths/curiosity.
Resume.com Team. “How to List Computer Skills on a Resume (With Examples).” Resume.com Career Advice. Resume.com, May 7, 2019. https://www.resume.com/career-advice/resumes/how-to-list-computer-skills-on-a-resume-with-examples/.
Sheakoski Media, LLC., Megan. “100 Acts of Kindness for Kids.” Coffee Cups and Crayons, January 12, 2015. https://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/100-acts-kindness-kids/.
“Take The VIA Survey.” Login | VIA Institute. Accessed February 4, 2020. https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/surveys/takesurvey.
“The 24 Character Strengths.” Find Your 24 Character Strengths | Personal Strengths List | VIA Institute. Accessed February 4, 2020. https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths.
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