“That’s life!” says my grandma whilst she is watching sad or upsetting movies. “That’s life!!” she says
when she is watching TV programs where everyone is shouting at each other whilst trying to work out
who is the father of the newborn baby.

Yes, this might be ‘Life’ for many people, but your life doesn’t
have to involve as much drama as you see in those movies and TV programs. Generally the way that
most things happen in your day to day life is of your own making.

Life can be like this, you might feel happy one day and then upset the next day, and this is totally
normal. If you like to read books about self-improvement (as I do) then you might try to make most of
your days positive and happy no matter what happens. But even if you do this, nobody can guarantee
you each day to be a happy day.

However, in this article I suggest you to have a look at the following facts about happiness. Try to remember them and follow the advice that goes with each fact
and your life can become happier and more joyful!

1. Researchers have found that when you hug a person you love, whether it is a member of your
family, your dearest partner or a close friend, your brain tells your body to produce hormones of
positive emotions (e.g. oxytocin). So, go on, hug them, what are you waiting for?

2. Your overall feeling of happiness can increase by as much as 20% if you devote 20 min (2-3
times a week) to a sport activity, dance or even if you listen to pleasant music (whatever that
might be for you!)

3. When you play with your pet you feel better, not only do you feel happier whilst doing so, but
your blood pressure goes down and your immune system becomes stronger. Did you want to
get a cat or dog for ages? Well maybe now is the time!

4. Researchers have also found that if you have a person that you love deeply in your life (e.g.
partner, husband/wife), then you would feel happier than those who are single. This applies
even to those who argue with each other from time to time.

5. People who can live ‘in present’ (or ‘in the now’ as they New Age gurus say), feel overall much
happier than those who worry about their future or haunted by the troubled past. Learn how to
live “in the now”. There are many good books on the subject, for example, ‘The Power of Now’
by Ekchart Tolle.

What is happiness? Psychologists also add that when you help others, you feel happier. When you feel
that others are in need of your help and service, you then better understand the meaning of your own
life, and you get energized with positive emotions.

So follow the advice above: make time for exercise
(or dance), listen to good music as often as you can, play with your pets, hug your loved ones whenever
you can, volunteer to help your neighbor or the charity you like, and live “in the present”, and your life
with simply flourish!

Reference: Lisa (Russian Magazine), Feb, 2012.

Author's Bio: 

Elmira Strange, MPhil, has been studying human behaviour and Psychology for over 10 years with an expertise in Stress Management.

If you want to know how to feel a bit more positive or happier, you can read her other article 'How to be happy in this unhappy world' (http://www.stress-explained.com/how-tobe-happy.html).

Or if you think that you feel unhappy simply because you are stressed, then have a look at this article 'What to do when you are stressed' (http://www.stress-explained.com/what-todo-when-stressed.html).