Happiness Awards for Each Day - the Happiness Institute
For example, if you chose an appreciation of beauty as your theme you might keep a close eye out for any examples of beauty throughout the day. Every time you see a flower, or a smiling face, or a painting or photograph on someone's wall you can use this as a reminder that happiness can be found any where and every where.
Alternatively, if you chose curiosity as your theme you could, at regular intervals, select objects you observe or issues you stumble across and make a note to find out more about them, explore how they work, who discovered them or to what purpose are they frequently put.
Other themes might be relationships, love, friendship, hope for the future, healthy living, optimism, and food (but don't forget, of course, that this list could be almost endless so the options are effectively infinite). Accordingly, you could be on the alert for evidence of supportiveness, compassion, kindness and empathy, acts of inspiration, opportunities for incidental activity etcetera.
To be perfectly frank, it doesn't really matter what the theme of the day is but what does matter is actively and overtly looking out for positive and motivating ideas and actions and then more so, providing yourself and others with some sort of happiness award in recognition. This award could be as simple as a metaphorical “pat on the back” or an internal “good on me”; or it could be something more substantial and, possibly, even more tangible such as sending someone a thank you card or making a phone call to express appreciation and gratitude.
Imagine if we all did something like this every day. Imagine if we did something like this with our children and partners (i.e. actively look for something positive in them). Imagine if we applied this within our schools; and our workplaces; and even within our large institutions such as government and hospitals.
I'm not suggesting we ignore the very real problems and challenges that exist; but what I am suggesting, and what we know from the positive psychology research is effective and would boost our personal and communal happiness levels, is also spending at least some of our energy and time focusing on and rewarding what's going right and what we're doing well (rather than constantly just focusing on what's going wrong). A family and a school and a business and a world in which we provided more reward for things such as hope and beauty, positivity and generosity, would surely be a better family, school, business and world.
www.makingchanges.com.au is the online division of Dr. Timothy Sharp & Associates, one of Sydney's leading clinical psychology practices. We have caring and expert professionals in several locations around Sydney and you can receive a significant Medicare rebate for their services. So if you're feeling depressed, anxious or stressed; if your relationship is in trouble or you're not as healthy as you'd like to be, then call or email us for more information or to make an appointment.
We also offer a range of self-help products (including books, manuals and CDs) as well as free resources such as information sheets and tips for coping with life's challenges. You'll find these on our website but you might also like to visit www.depressionmanuals.com.We're here to help you live a better life so if there's anything we can do, please feel free to contact us.
Keep well and keep smiling,
Dr. Timothy Sharp
Looking for true career fulfilment and happiness with a well balanced approach to work and play? Our business coaches operate their own coaching practice under The Happiness Institute business services franchise banner. They are solution focused people who value relationships, who provide outstanding customer service, who love creating change and helping people and organsiations to flourish.
30.07.2008
The Happiness Institute News
Happiness is facing your fears
13/01/2012 - According to The Happiness Institute, one of the more tangible ...
Happiness is living mindfully
12/01/2012 - Relaxation, when practised and use appropriately, is a simple ...
Happiness is moving towards the positive
11/01/2012 - The Happiness Institute discusses on how moving towards the ...
The difference between acknowledging strengths and being arrogant
10/01/2012 - When it comes to positive psychology, The Happiness Institute ...
5 reasons talking to others is good for your happiness
9/01/2012 - As recent project partners with the TV project Excess Baggage, ...
5 Friday Happiness tips from the Happiness Institute
2/12/2011 - Friday is a good reason for many individuals to smile and enjoy ...
Contact The Happiness Institute
Suite 101
74 Pitt Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
Tel: 1300 908 917
Fax: (02) 92 312 533
