Happiness Hangover: how to remain happy
This is the only type of hangover you should ever experience. It’s positive and you, as well as those around you, can benefit from it. It’s a happiness hangover.
A happiness hangover is when joy and happiness remains with you even through the most difficult of times. It may be the perfect cure for the recession depression that many people are experiencing.
So how does one experience a happiness hangover?
It’ll take a lot of persistence, but it should also be a lot of fun.
The first way to bring yourself joy is to bring back old memories. We all know this. But take it a step further.
Grab yourself a piece of paper and write down short sentences describing fun events that you’ve experienced. Also consider writing down:
- The funny nicknames that you or your friends have
- Embarrassing moments that now make you laugh
- Even episodes of your favorite comedy or sitcom
Keep the paper close by so that whenever you get annoyed or in a negative mood, you can quickly glance over what you wrote. And hopefully something will make you smile and laugh or just break the negativity, even you can’t manage to laugh.
When looking back, you don’t have to concentrate solely on 10 or 20 years ago. May be something happy happened a few weeks or days ago. These events might actually make you laugh even more since they’re so fresh.
After reflecting, it’s time to fast-forward.
Think about the future and similar events that you will experience which will create more good times and new memories. Perhaps it’s another day trip you’d like to take or a new concert you want to see, or a new restaurant to try.
If you really want to get the wheels in motion, start planning those future outings. Pick a date, a destination, book a hotel room if it’s a trip, and do some research on things to do.
Don’t wait to be happy
Too many people think that they’ve got to wait until they have a big house, lots of money, and the things that they want to be happy. This misconception is only growing stronger in this economy.
You can’t expect a new location or more money to keep you happy for long. It might make you happy in the beginning, but that feeling will eventually wear off. Then you’re left as the person you were without money or from the old location.
Have fun with your situation
This can be one of the most powerful ways to get you through tough times.
You’ve got to be able to laugh at the situation you’re in; otherwise you’ll go insane and never triumph over it.
This, for my family and myself, was what got us through. We lived in a one bedroom apartment for more than 10 years. It was all that we could afford and it was frustrating at times. Yet we also laughed at it and because of this we have many great memories.
Remember that opportunities are lost…
…when you aren’t positive and happy.
This quote by Herman Cain sums it up perfectly:
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”
You need to be in the right frame of mind to grab opportunities by their horns.
Do you have any ways to keep yourself happy and to keep memories alive? If so, please share in the comment section below.
Related articles:
- 7 habits of really happy people
- Escaping Cape Fear: 9 Ways To Not Let Fear Stop You
Photo by dotbenjamin
3 Responses to “Happiness Hangover: how to remain happy”
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“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.”
I love it Andrew.
Well for me, developing a system for staying or keeping happiness remains a life long quest. I haven’t really mastered the pursuit. But one thing that always keeps me happy is keeping valuable friends close by me, keeping something great to read in my back pack, and believing that no matter what I’m going through – my happiness depends on the attitude I create around it.
LaRon | @laroncarter
That’s one of my most favorite quotes! It’s by Herman Cain.
It takes a long time to master the pursuit of happiness. Maybe it can never be “mastered.”
This is so true LaRon:
“believing that no matter what I’m going through – my happiness depends on the attitude I create around it.”
Couldn’t have said it better.
-Andrew
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