Monday, January 13, 2014

What makes us happy?

Related to optimism and the need for gratifications in our life (which I will talk about on Wednesday), I found this on one of my executive coach friend's Facebook page about what makes us happy. It's just an article he found elsewhere, but it is a quick and easy read and provides a nice list of simple ways to be happier. See the article here and for those really without the time to check it out, the ten easy ways are these:

1. Exercise more
2. Sleep more
3. Shorten your commute
4. Spend time with friends and family
5. Go outside
6. Help others
7. Practice smiling
8. Plan a trip
9. Meditate
10. Practice gratitude

So ... not so hard. Most of those are easy to do.

I would like to add to the list this item: "Doing something that you love." For me at the moment this includes photography. This is something I have always had some interest in but over the last year or so I have gotten seriously back into it. Lately, in fact, I have started shooting film again, which is really fun as it makes you really think about what you are shooting because each shot costs money. But the quality of film is different from digital too, which I also really appreciate.

Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. Shiori KontaniJanuary 14, 2014 at 5:25 AM

    Hi, Ken! The article was really interesting. Though I do not have enough time to sleep because of assignments or club activity, do not live in the dorm, just live alone in the apartment...., your original item saved me a lot. I also think it is important to do what we love.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KenJanuary 14, 2014 at 3:51 PM

    Hi Shiori,

    Thanks for commenting! I know that I am weak on items 2 sleep, 9 meditate, and 10 practice gratitude.

    Ken

    ReplyDelete
  3. Moe YoshinoJanuary 14, 2014 at 10:03 PM

    Hi, Ken!
    It was really interesting and fun to learn difference between pleasure and gratification in today's class. Thank you. The lists of what makes us happy on your post once reminded me of an importance of essential elements in life. Even though the list is simple enough to follow, we sometimes forget an importance especially when a life gets busy physically and psychologically. I personally liked "Spend time with your friends and family", and "Practice gratitude". Also, I agree that do something you love is indispensable for being happy. Passion is one of the factors of life with full of gratification.

    ReplyDelete
  4. KenJanuary 15, 2014 at 1:26 AM

    Hi Moe,

    Thanks! It makes me happy just to know someone might be reading my posts, but it is extra special to get such an appreciative response.

    Ken

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)