BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Mental Health 5 Steps To A Happier Life

Sometimes it helps to have a structure to life, especially when you are experiencing mental health challenges. Having a sense of purpose and something to achieve can really help you maintain a happier and more positive outlook.

In my latest article I offer you some tips to help get some structure in your life that can potentially help you be happier. 5 Steps To A Happier Life

I mentioned meditation in the article. If you take a few minutes out of your day to practice a simple technique it can really help to calm the mind.

Here is a technique to realise the first stage of mindfulness. I love this technique as the act of practicing it calms and relaxes the mind.

* Start by sitting comfortably with eyes closed.

* Narrow the focus of attention to the breath right down to where you notice it entering and leaving the body via the nostrils.

* Without effort or control over the breath start to count after each out breath.

* As you breathe out count one.

* At the end of the second breath, count two. Continue in this way until you reach ten.

* Once you reach ten – go back to the beginning and start again from one.
If your mind wanders and you find you have counted past ten, just bring your attention back to your breath, and start counting again from one.

Practice this for as long as you wish, I would suggest 10 to 15 minutes, or start slower then build t up when you are feeling more confident.

Counting on the out breath in this way has a calming effect on the mind, making it an excellent tool during daily activities.

Great article Tracy

I used to be one of the followers of the philosophy "I'll be happy when....."

Ugh! That never seemed to work LOL!!

Thanks Deanna, Glad you enjoyed it Yes its funny how the mind works and how unconscious we can be and miss the present moment. Its the journey not the destination comes to mind...

Can you hear that?
It's me, Chel!
I'm standing up and clapping really really loud.
That was an excellent article and I took notes (will there be a a quiz) .
Honestly, that was informational, uplifting and eye-opening. Your articles are wonderful to read, Tracy!

Wow Michelle, thank you so much for your comments it was a joy to read. Very humbled. So glad you are enjoying my articles. PS No quiz lol

I recently got a bracelet that has a little charm that says "It's the journey, not the destination." I LOVE it, because it reminds me - each moment matters.

Thats great Deanna, I love the sound of your bracelet! We act as if the journey is an obstacle to being where we want to be so we spend all our time trying to avoid it - and its all that there is

HA HA Tracy, I love the sound of my bracelet too

And I know, right??? I know that so often I treat 'the journey' as something to 'get through' when I really miss a lot if I do that.

Every moment is dear, and precious, and we can do a LOT with it once we decide we have the power, and it's up to us.....

Happiness is an inside job - Thank GOODNESS!!

Yes to that Deanna I wake everyday with gratitude for the day ahead and what it brings. Noticing all the good things that come and welcoming the challenges as openly as I am able.

Lets enjoy the journey