Many of us feel unhappy at times, struggling with mental and emotional states of discomfort, yet we can often find it difficult to understand why, or how to break out of a negative cycle of thought. A lot of this struggle lies in our perceptions of ourselves and the environment around us, and our ability to navigate these perceptions effectively.
All of us possess the capacity to train our brains to think differently, to prioritize only the most useful perceptions and ignore hostile external input, although it can take practice to develop this habit. The trick is to build up practices that allow us to condition our thoughts until they become instinctive, forming habits that bring us closer to contentment and wellbeing.
One way to do this is to learn the basics of mindfulness – being aware of our thoughts and feelings as they enter our mind and train ourselves to be selective about which we focus on. Beating yourself up for feeling negative emotions can cause a downward spiral of further unhappiness, but recognizing them as passing states can interrupt this progression and bring clarity.
Another method is purposely seeking positive experiences on a daily basis. Alerting yourself to little pleasures such as music, art, sunshine and simple moments of peace can train your brain to recognize more joy in everyday life. They don't have to be major experiences, just small events that bring happiness that you can acknowledge and cherish.
Exercise also has a powerful effect on both our physical and mental health. Even if you are not usually an active person, taking time each day to move your body and give it the oxygen and energy it needs can have transformative effects. This doesn't have to be extreme physical activity, just even the simplest of stretches or a few minutes of high-energy dancing can rake massive benefits and get you feeling good immediately.
Mindful communication – in all areas of life – is also essential, as our interaction with others can heavily influence our moods and general feeling of satisfaction. Being aware of how you communicate with those around you – speaking clearly and showing respect to family, friends and colleagues alike – can help to create a healthy environment and evoke emotions of goodwill. emphasizing positive adjectives, rather than focusing on negatives, when speaking can project a newfound appreciation of yourself and those around you.
You can train your brain to stay in the present moment. This can be done by practicing something like yoga, where each day brings more attention to the present moment, so that our minds can become centered, and more resistant disturbances of public opinion and other types of mental noise.
By consciously making an effort to practice these strategies and forming them into everyday habits, we can train our brains to be calmer, and delve deeper into experiencing regular episodes of happiness, joy and contentment.
By taking small, achievable steps to undergo different forms of training, we can increase our resilience towards life's hardships, stay grounded in reality, and experience a greater degree of happiness in our lives.
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