Mom Monday: Nourish Your Happiness

Did you ever have the mantra told to you that hard work = success = happiness?  Isn’t this the key to happiness?

Sounds familiar to me! From the time I went to school I worked hard to get good grades. As I got older, I poured myself into my work and said yes to about everything I could have. I married a wonderful guy. I had two great kids. I had a great job. I should be happy, right?  Happiness follows success?

While I’m thankful for the advice to work hard – I wouldn’t stop doing that – I now know that to be happy is something totally different. Happiness instead, drives success, not the other way around. 

Happiness is not about what happens to me. It’s about my thoughts and my actions after something happens to me.  It’s about my daily routine.  My daily happy habits.  How I nourish my happy.

Keys to Happiness Jen Haugen

I had the opportunity to listen to Eric Karpinski, Happiness Coach and Positive Psychology Workshop Leader, at the Hormel Gifted and Talented Symposium. (Highly recommend Eric as a speaker). And Eric shared his research on happiness – after coming to a point in his life mid-career where he thought he had it all but he still wasn’t happy.  When he asked the audience who wanted to be happier, nearly everyone raised their hand. 

And his key takeaways were:

  • You can increase your happiness.
  • Happiness leads to success.
  • You can spread happiness.

He noted there are six things we can do every day to increase our happiness. 

6 Happiness Habits:

  1. Recording three specific things we are grateful for and why.

Just doing this one thing every morning helped pessimists become low level optimists increasing life and work satisfaction, productivity, accuracy, creativity, and engagement. After 21 days. There’s magic in gratitude.

       2. Or by consciously practicing an act of kindness on someone else.

Like send a text or an email every morning with two sentences to someone you think deserves recognition, praise or encouragement.

       3. Journaling three minutes per day about the most meaningful thing that happened.

Processing your day helps you find that one thing that’s been the most meaningful. And writing down every detail of that meaningful moment.

       4. Exercising three times per week for 20 minutes each day.

Actually science shows just this one thing is equal to taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication. (Of course, talk to your doctor before changing any medications, but the changes in the brain from exercising are amazing).

       5. Practicing meditation.

Once a day, take two minutes and only focus on breathing, watching your breath go in and out.

       6. And even praying for someone in a loving and kind way.

This is basically sending positive wishes and prayers to people you know and love which increases your love for them and your own positive emotions.

Eric challenged the audience to pick one idea and do it every day for 21 days. That’s the way to develop a new habit. And if you are an over achiever like me, please, puuhlease, still pick just one. You will be happier and less overwhelmed!

I’m committing to journaling for meaning, to remember moments and process my day.

So I’ve got my journal and pen all ready to go next to my side of the bed to practice this new habit. To journal with intention and meaning. I can’t wait to see what I discover.

Join the Nourish Your Happy Club!

Just having this information does not guarantee transformation.  I’m inviting you to be a part of the Nourish Your Happy club by leaving a note in the comments about what one habit you will try for 21 days.  Accountability is where it’s at.  Want to join? I would love it!  Just leave a note in the comments and subscribe to my newsletter for inspirational content and accountability – let’s do this together!! 

[Tweet “Join the Nourish Your Happy club! Which habit will you do for 21 days? Via @jenhaugen jenhaugen.com”]

For more mom moments to nourish yourself and your family – or MOMents – check out my new book, The Mom’s Guide to a Nourishing Garden. Filled with inspiration on how you are already enough. Inspiration to nourish yourself. Inspiration to nourish your family. Plus 30 garden-fresh recipes.

The Mom's Guide to a Nourishing Garden

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