The Science of Happiness

According to "How to Be Happy, According to Scientists" written by Alison DeNisco Rayome, the following habits could improve your contentment levels and by extension make you happy or happier.

1. Enhance your social connections. 

2. Engage in random acts of kindness.

3. Express gratitude.

4. Practice mindfulness.

5. Practice self-compassion.

Click here for "How to Be Happy, According to Scientists". 

Delving deeper on happiness, Christopher Boyce opines that happiness is "grounded in connection, purpose and hope, yet has room for sadness and anxiety too".

Click here for "I’ve spent years studying happiness – here’s what actually makes for a happier life".

Photo by Surface on Unsplash

What is clear is that healthy human connections would be a vital ingredient that make us happy.

So, make time to cultivate close relationships. Do not just talk for the sake of talking, but learn to listen with empathy without judging and pay attention to what your counterparty is saying in such a way that they feel that you understand and feel for them; make deep and meaningful conversations.

After all, everyone wants to be heard, understood, accepted and loved. Yea, show some love by being a good listener and kind human being who: does random acts of kindness; say "Thank you"; care for other's people feelings and circumstances in life; treats oneself with kindness instead of self-condemnation; and so forth.

You can certainly make a difference to your own life and the lives of those around you by applying the habits which create happiness.

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing.

Catch Hold of Your Time

We live in the realm of time. When you have time on your side, ride the waves and savour the sheer pleasure of life which is available beyond what you could ever attain even when you have all the time in the world.

If faced with the lack of time, hang in there and know that you will find the time again to do what you enjoy. In this regard, the recent post at Daily Refreshing in January 2023 on creating your Vision List of 300 would certainly help to align your focus on what you desire and attract those dreams and goals into your life.

Photo by Kalen Emsley on Unsplash

Taking an unhurried shower, sipping cappuccino in a cafe, taking a stroll along a boulevard, venturing farther and further afield, or just spending precious moments in the presence of your loved ones, are just a trickle of things you could do with time and immerse yourself in the essence of life -- leisure, rest and recreation; alongside your purpose and calling in this life.

May you truly be able to find the time to do what you enjoy and let the following poem spur you to catch hold of your time and find pockets of solace to be un-driven.

Leisure
by William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass, 
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing.