14 Jul Doing Well is Being Well

Yolande A. discusses various reasons about why doing well is being well in life.

Making simple, conscious decisions about your everyday life can influence your physical and mental well-being. This is not really difficult, especially if you have an idea of the areas you want to improve. Take some time today to consider these areas. You may want to be healthier, more generous, less stressed, or just more optimistic. Consider your strengths and how they can help you on your path, as well as your weaknesses and ways you can work around them. Here are a few steps you could try for a better you;

Be happy to be alive. People often get so caught up in their day-to-day activities that they lose perspective on what life is all about. Author Sam Lefkowitz remarked, “when people ask me if my glass is half full or half empty, my only response is that I’m thankful I have a glass!”. Your life may not be exactly what you want it to be, but you have life. Something to always remember and be thankful for!

Say “yes” more often. “I would love to but….” Here comes the negative reason why you can’t! It can be a really positive experience to just say ‘Yes’. Try to find ways that will allow you the opportunity to say “yes” more often. You don’t need others to persuade you, take control and decide for yourself!

Concentrate on what you have rather than what you don’t have. Attitude is what makes the difference between being happy and being miserable. If you believe you have a good life or you believe you have enough money – regardless of your circumstances- you will have a good life and you will feel abundance. People who focus on what they don’t have are missing out on many great things they already do have.

Cultivate new, positive and empowering habits. It is said that negative habits are easy to form but hard to live with, while on the other hand, positive and empowering habits are harder to form but a lot easier to live with. Just think about how easy it is to form the negative habit of procrastination for example.

Make time for family and friends. All the money and power you can imagine are not likely to be as satisfying as a good conversation, trust, dependability and laughter. Today take a moment to think about the special people in your life and ways you can keep those relationships strong. As the saying goes, nobody on his deathbed ever wished they had spent more time at work. First things first: if your life is in order, you can achieve whatever you want. Instead of dreaming of vast wealth, we should dream of close friends, healthy bodies and meaningful work.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Financially, physically or socially, comparing yourself to others is a trap. Avoid this trap at all cost. You will always have friends who have more money than you do, who can run faster than you can, who are more successful in their careers. Focus on your own life, on your own goals. Celebrate your own achievements.

Get regular exercise. There’s a strong tie between physical health and happiness. Anyone who has experienced a prolonged injury or illness knows just how emotionally devastating it can be. Eat right, exercise regularly and take care of our body.

Obtain adequate sleep. Good sleep is essential to good health. When you’re not well-rested, your body and your mind do not operate at peak capacity and your mood suffers.

Embrace routine. Research shows that although we believe we want variety and choice, we’re actually happier with limited options. It’s not that we want no choice at all, just that we don’t want to be overwhelmed. Routines are comfortable and familiar. Used wisely, they make us happy.

Practice moderation. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. It’s acceptable to indulge yourself on occasions — just don’t let it get out of control. Addictions and compulsions can ruin lives.

Learning to Forgive
Forgiveness is beneficial not only mentally but physically as well. People who forgive tend to be less angry, depressed, stressed out and anxious, and have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who hold grudges. If you tend to find it hard to let go of a grievance, consider that forgiveness does not mean you have to forget an incident, but rather that you can place a limit on how it affects you.

Be grateful. It’s no accident that so many self-help books encourage readers to practice gratitude. People who regularly take time to be thankful for the things they have will appreciate them more. They are less likely to take them for granted, and less likely to become jealous of others.

Help others. Over and over again, studies have shown that altruism is one of the best ways to boost the feeling of wellbeing. Sure, volunteering at the local homeless shelter helps, but so does just being nice in daily life like smiling to a stranger or giving them assistance.

Bonding with Pets for Health. If you’re a pet owner, you won’t find it surprising that pets can instil a sense of well-being in people. Studies have shown that pet owners have lower blood pressure, are less likely to be depressed and have higher self-esteem than non-pet owners.

Plants make you happier, healthier and smarter! Having plants to love and nurture gives us something to take care of, which can enrich our lives. Many people, especially those without children or pets or who live alone, find comfort in the care of both indoor and outdoor plants and in seeing them flourish and produce. To provide a happy environment for plants and flowers helps people feel fulfilled and needed — simple pleasures we all want and need.

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