How to Focus on Happy
Happiness is the ultimate quest for all of us. Regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, and upbringing, all of us are searching for ways to make our lives full of joy. Not only do we like being happier, medical studies show that positive people have better immune systems, better relationships, lower rates of depression, and live longer. Focusing on the positive isn’t always easy, but there are some cues we can take that will help us get better at it. Good music, journal writing, meditation, and improving our thoughts, can be a big step in the right direction! Read more below…
Here are five tips to help you focus on happy:
1. Listen to an uplifting song
Research from the University of Missouri found that you can lift your mood by listening to an upbeat song. But it only works if you are consciously aware you’re trying to make yourself happy by listening to the song. Our Color Run team are hard at work pulling together the ultimate happy playlist ready to lift your spirits on race day.
2. Keep a journal
Write down all the things that made you happy during the day. If “dear diary” feels a little overwhelming, just jot ideas down in a list form. Aim to find 5-10 things that made you smile that day. Pretty soon, you’ll find yourself recognizing and focusing on the happy parts of your day.
3. Change your self talk
An article from the Mayo Clinic explains that positive thinking usually starts with self talk. “Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information.” Push away the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
4. Positive affirmations
Go find a mirror and repeat after me “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough…” All joking aside, it totally works! Speaking positive affirmations works to rewire your brain. You can write your own or check out these 35 affirmations.
5. Meditate
Meditation helps you focus on the present, find peace and self acceptance, and sharpens you focus. It’s kind of like exercise for your brain. A daily pattern of meditation is a great tool to keep you focused on happy. If you are new to the meditating game, here are 3 meditation techniques for beginners to get you started.