We are stronger when we have friends to support us.
#ActivateHappy
Since we’ve been talking about gratitude with our #gratefulchallenge lately I thought we should revisit #ActivateHappy.
We created this hashtag to communicate the simple truth that we are happier when we move and get exercise. Science backs up what we’ve known all along. Just watch kids, they joyfully run around with no other motivation than to run around. Yet somehow, for many reasons, we need to re-learn this lesson.
Exercise does indeed make us happy along with being grateful but #ActivateHappy also tells us two more things.
We have the power to change. In fact, we are in charge of how we react to the world around us; our moods. We are not stuck with who we are, we can grow and get stronger. We can be happier and our circumstances do not matter.
We have the responsibility to change. Nothing changes if nothing changes. No one else can exercise for you, recover for you or be happy for you. We each have to work it out.
So…Activate your happy today by getting some exercise.
Gratefulness leads to happiness
So… How has the #GratefulChallenge been going?
As you recall, last week I challenged you to come up with three different things that you were grateful for each day. All you had to do was simply right them down but you would get bonus points (in terms of more happiness) if you shared these with other people.
Did you follow through? I've been doing this every day and I have to say that it has been effective. It's not that I was happy every moment last week but I definitely noticed a change in my mood and my motivation. This should not be a surprise because several research studies have shown that gratefulness is the key to happiness. It doesn't matter what you are grateful for it is simply the process of "being" grateful that does the trick.
Another wonderful side effect of gratefulness is that it increases your motivation to exercise which in turn makes you happy by releasing endorphins and dopamine.
It's never too late to start this habit. It takes time, intentionality, and effort but it is a wonderful payoff. Stop and think about all the time you spend working for (money, vacations, health, relationships, things, etc.) hoping that they will make you happy. Yet, true contentment seems to be hard to come by. Gratitude doesn't cost you anything it is an amazing investment in your well-being. Be grateful, BWell!
