10 'MANTRAS' TO BE HAPPY

“Happy people plan actions, they don’t plan results.”

From the very beginning of existence, Human has always wanted to be happy. All our desperation are only to achieve happiness. Though the true meaning of happiness lies much beyond word can express. By the time we just start to understand the essence of happiness, we see that we have reached forty.

Being 40 for some is sort of a beginning of the end---an age when you are already done with many achievements, completed many duties, have already seen your kids grow up and now you are setting into a less adventurous life. These feelings along with anxiety, depression, and stress directly affect the overall pursuit of being happy and may cause a steady decline in our overall happiness.

Here, I want to write about 10 ways that can elevate your self-esteem and confidence thus making you happy. It is now an established fact that our brains can be trained to be happy. If we are happy as women we are, then only you can make our families happy.

If you can practice these ways or at least some of them you will feel more contented and blissful:

1.  HAVE GRATITUDE:

A life well-lived is one of gratitude and thankfulness. Have a belief in god. Try to appreciate every little thing the Mother Nature has created for us. Thank God for the life he has given, for everybody who goes to sleep every night does not wake up in the morning to see the wonderful world. Take out some time daily to think through five to ten things you are grateful about. If you practice it daily, it will naturally train your brain to be more grateful and you will feel happier after each session.

2.  BE ACTIVE:

The more inactive you are, the more depressed you could be. Being active is a blessing. A healthy mind stays in an active body. Moreover, by remaining active you can keep many chronic problems like diabetes, heart diseases, stroke hypertension a bay. You can keep it very simple. Just incorporate some physical activities in your daily schedule. It can be a brisk walk for half an hour or a small session of yoga. Visiting the gym and doing cardio as well as weight training exercises can even be a better option. After you reach 40 your hormones no longer behave the same way. This leads to the broadening of the waistline and unnecessary weight gain. You can avoid this by remaining active.

3.  EAT RIGHT:

Nutrient-rich balanced diet is the foundation of a healthy life. Though the calorie requirement for women is lesser than that of a man but need more vitamins and mineral especially due to regular menstrual bleed and childbearing. Our diet should contain a balanced amount of carbohydrate, protein and vital minerals like calcium. Never miss breakfast as it is the most vital meal to give your metabolism a kick-start. Measure the portion size of each meal to avoid over-eating as thus weight gain. Eat fruits and vegetables in every meal as it would provide the required vitamins and fiber. Avoid eating junk food too often.

4.  BE ASSERTIVE:

Various stereotypes in society let women to be always judged for their actions. Be it at home or office we are expected to follow certain invisible guidelines. Women often have a very limited range of acceptable behaviour. This sometimes resists us from expressing our true selves and in turn results in anxiety, stress and misery. In order to avoid this try the fine art of female assertiveness. Express your thoughts, feelings, and needs in a direct, clear, honest, and respectful way to others. Being assertive requires women to think assertively, feel confident, and behave positively. We can begin to achieve these goals by developing a deeper self-awareness of our strengths and weaknesses and increasing our self-confidence.

5.  PRIORITIZE YOURSELF:

The world will understand your importance only if you self-realize it. Most of the time we are so engrossed in our daily life that we forget our own significance. You have to realize that your needs are important and if you yourself do not make them a priority, no one else will do it for you. Just take out some time and jot down the things which really matter to you and pursue them. Do not have any guilt for occasionally treating yourself. You need not justify yourself for enjoying something or indulging in something that brings you happiness. Always try to remain surrounded by positive people. Negative people impart negative thought which is detrimental for your self -esteem.

6.  DRESS WELL:

Though age is just a number but you should always remember that like old wine your style should get better with time. The way you dress and present yourself before the world drags attention and appreciation which in turn will increase your confidence.

At this age, you already have your sense of style yet you have to keep in mind that you should dress appropriately for the occasion. The colour, make and type of fabric you wear should bring out the elegance in you. Try to choose neutral colours as they go well with all types of complexion. However sometimes during the festivals, bright colours can we worn. Your jewellery should add on to your fashion and not just overload it. Never compromise on the qualities of your shoes and undergarments.

7.  RECAPITULATE GOOD MEMORIES:

Our lives are full of beautiful moments. Once lived we can only touch those moments in our

memories. Your first day at college, the first crush of your life, holding your baby for the first time,

seeing the snow-peaked Kanchenjunga in the evening twilight all these are memories which we

cherish. Revisiting these moments of love and walking down memory lane, will let you forget

everything else except for that particular incident, and you feel happy. When you are feeling down

just practice reminiscing. Not only is it fun – you'll probably get a good laugh (or cry) from these

moments – they can also provide valuable lessons moving forward.

8.  SOCIALIZE:

When you are over 40 meeting new people and making new friends becomes a little bit difficult especially with a busy, packed life. Your job, your family and of course your kids demand most of your time. Yet we all need friends. So make a schedule to meet old friends. Also do not hesitate to reach out first and ask for new friendships. Make yourself a part of different groups and participate in group activities. Visit social media sites and keep yourself updated with all that is happening around you.

9.  BE HUMBLE:

It is pretty difficult to be humble in today’s competitive world. Yet humility is a virtue that provides peace of mind, self-awareness, and long-lasting relationship. It also lay down the path towards getting better respect. A few conscious steps can make you more humble. Just accept that you cannot be the best in everything or for that matter anything. Recognize your limitations and work on it. Appreciate the talents and qualities of others. Do not be judgmental. And above all stop comparing yourself with others. God has made every Individual unique. Appreciate every human as they are. Be helpful to others.

 10. SLEEP WELL:

Sleep helps our body to repair and recover from the day’s exertion and helps us focus and be more productive. Recent studies show that sleep is directly related to our overall happiness. Sleep-deprived individuals are more prone to depression and stress. Moreover, less sleep increases the risk of many life-threatening diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension and even weight gain. A good night's sleep will probably affect how you feel when you wake up, which can make a difference to your whole day. So Sleep for at least 7-8 hours. Use a comfortable mattress. Stop using any electronic device at least 45 minutes before you go to bed. You may listen to light music. Avoid consuming caffeine in the evening if you suffer from sleep disturbance.

                                                             

These are a few points which I felt can help you to lead a happy life. If you have any queries in this regard please comment. I will be very happy if you can add your own experiences in comments

Next week I shall tell you how to stay fit......and stay attractive.