Most of us probably wish we were happier more of the time. Our lives are demanding, and we are not always good about taking the time to notice and enjoy moments of joy and happiness. That is a shame, because despite life’s challenges, most of us have quite a lot of reasons to feel happy each day.
Sometimes, though, it can be helpful to have some guidance when it comes to finding ways to cultivate happiness in our lives. With that in mind, we have collected a few possible resources that might help you get more intentional about pursuing happiness each day.
But First a Disclaimer
We do, in fact, believe that most everyone can identify things in their lives for which they are grateful and which inspire happy feelings. But we are not suggesting that you can just will yourself toward happiness if you are struggling with a mental health disorder.
That said, looking for joy—or even just pleasant moments—each day can be part of your effort to address the symptoms of a mental health disorder and to work toward better overall mental well-being.
Two Online Resources to Fuel Happiness
We are hopeful that this blog is an online resource that you find helpful and enjoy reading, but we know that there is plenty more online content that addresses issues related to happiness. Here are two of such resources:
Greater Good Magazine offers “science-based insights for a meaningful life.” The publication, a project of the University of California, Berkeley, offers a wide range of content, all of it intended to provide ideas and strategies for finding meaning and happiness in everyday life.
We particularly recommend the site’s “Happiness Break” podcast—featuring episodes that last fewer than 10 minutes—and the wealth of information under the “Keys to Well-Being” tab, which the site describes this way: “These are Greater Good’s ten building blocks of individual and community well-being—the behaviors that research suggests will support your health and happiness, and foster positive connections with other people.”
Our other online suggestion is arguably a bit edgier (we’ll let you discover the blog’s name at this link), but we appreciate the somewhat snarky tone that writer Jacqueline Kehoe brings to her weekly Friday roundup of “5 Fascinating Things.” Kehoe reminds us that the world is a wondrous place—even when we are beset by challenges. Keeping that in the forefront of your mind can give your happiness quotient a boost.
Two Books to Spark Happiness
Let’s face it: We could all probably use a break from staring at screens, so in addition to the online resources above, we also want to recommend a couple of books.
The first is Microjoys: Finding Joy (Especially) When Things Are Not Okay by Cyndie Spiegel. The author, who also penned A Year of Positive Thinking, provides thoughts about—and ideas for—finding happiness in little things. She calls it the “practice of discerning joy in any moment.”
Our second book recommendation is The Fun Habit: How the Disciplined Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your Life by Mike Rucker. The author is an organizational psychologist, and his central premise is that it is a mistake to spend your time seeking future happiness. Instead, Rucker argues, you should put the focus on loving your life right now. Fun, joy, and wonder are at the heart of Rucker’s suggested approach—and he sees no reason to put those things off.
Mental Health Treatment Supports More Happiness
We noted above that mental health disorders—like the various kinds of depression, anxiety and panic disorders, trauma-based disorders, and more—require more than just deciding to get happier. Even the best advice about how to get happy is unlikely to truly help if you are not pursuing treatment for your mental health.
At Peak View Behavioral Health, we offer personalized mental health care. We understand that each person we serve has unique needs, and we are committed to listening intently so that your care meets your specific needs. You can count on us to help you make improvements in your overall mental well-being—and maintain those improvements over time.
It is possible to experience more happiness in your day-to-day life. The first essential step is taking your mental health seriously. At our Colorado Springs facility, we have the expertise, experience, and empathy necessary to support real change in your life.
