365

Working in the area of research into positive psychology and wellbeing for over three years now I notice that a couple of trends seem to reemerge in the field of increasing the quality of life...
but I'll start with the negatives first:
No!
You don't have to look for happiness! Most of the help and support inspiring literature out there, designed to give you the 'happy' recipe ends up depriving you of the right to feel miserable. It's NOT about being happy all the time. It's not about looking for happiness all the time. It's about embracing life as it is and not increasing the abyss between how miserable you feel and how utterly unattainable happiness is. So STOP looking for happiness and accept it - you will be miserable quite a bit in the coming 2016. It has never been different and there's no reason why it should be. Discomfort, after all, is hidden behind the engine driving us to move forward with life. Enough discomfort, after all may help move you out of your comfort zone.

Now the good news: there are three main things that have struck me as continuously being linked to you having a better quality of life. Happier or sadder, they may help you feel better.

1. Socialize: it's not easy but try and push yourself out of the staying-at-home-alone rut. Even if you don't have many favourite people around you - and let's face it, not only are high quality people few and far between, but also the ones you find end up moving sooner or later in this dynamic society we now live in - try getting together even with the ones who are not your closest.
If you get invited - go.
If you wonder whether or not to invite guests, as you must clean, cook, wash, worry - do.
Socialising is part of our nature. Sorry. It is what it is. We are social creatures and seems like, for most, doing things is better than not doing things with others.

2. Meditate: Tough! I can't. I simply cannot engage with the minutes of concentration to the breath. The good news, though, is that you could meditate while listening with focused attention to music, you can meditate exploring a painting in every little detail, or you can meditate by mindfully drinking a glass of water...or anything. While eating a raisin...or anything. Just take the time to notice, without judgement, what it is your body is experiencing. Let your racing mind rest...just get off of Facebook for a moment and spend a high-quality ten-twenty-minute moment with yourself.

3. Look for things to notice and appreciate: Well, let's try this one. This is my 365 project, really stolen from alkA. I will try to find ONE thing every single day that I enjoy. I will try, if I have enough energy, to post one picture per day.

Wanna try? Join in! You can post your daily coolness wherever you like and share it with me. Or even see if you can post a comment each day. This way we can keep each-other accountable if we miss.

Let's do it! Have a great 2016 and be just as happy and just as miserable as you feel!