I found this article... and thought you might enjoy it as much as I did!
It is from Prevention Magazine.
Posted on Saturday, 10.20.12
MENTAL HEALTH
4 moves to feel happier
PREVENTION MAGAZINE
Just as you strengthen muscles by using them, you can tone your positive personality traits, such as optimism. Adults who spent time exercising character strengths improved them — and their overall sense of well-being — better than a control group, according to a new study from the University of Zurich.
Try these moves, based on the activities study participants completed. No sneakers required:
The Reach-Out (improves gratitude): Write a letter or an email to someone who has supported you or gone out of her way for you recently, and let her know that it mattered. Expressing gratitude can elicit positive emotions, which play a key role in boosting your mood, researchers say.
The Joint Effort (improves enthusiasm): Lacking motivation to do the things you really want to do? Surround yourself with an energetic crowd — at a sporting event, an uplifting seminar, or even an aerobics class. Enthusiasm can be contagious and habit forming.
The Door Opener (improves optimism): Think about a situation in which you lost out on something, whether the cause was bad luck or bad timing. Write it down, then identify a door that opened because of that closed one. This move helps you look on the bright side.
The Deeper Dig (improves curiosity): Rather than simply wondering about a topic of interest, probe further. Read an article or go to an exhibit. Journal about your experience or recap it on Facebook. Learning — and sharing — knowledge fosters curiosity.
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How to use these exercises to improve your organizing:
The Reach-Out - Positive emotions are contagious. if you feel positive in one area, that can spill out to another area... and another. Use this "exercise" when you can't make decisions, or when you feel sad about the state of your organizing.
The Joint Effort - Use this exercise when you can't make yourself get started. Get someone around you who can help you organize, or at least help to lift your mood. Go help someone else organize, and use the joint effort to bring more enthusiasm into your life. Caution. Keep away from negative people! This only works with the joint effort brings you up... not down!
The Door Opener - Remember to always get the most "visual bang" in your organizing. Okay, you tried something that didn't work. Look at the bright side. So, you gave something away that you wish you still had. Look at the bright side. Now identify a positive thing that occurred because of a a mistake you may have made.
The Deeper Dig - Help someone else get organized, and you will be strengthening organizing muscles that you can use to help yourself get organized. Learn organizing techniques. Go to youtube and search for "how to organize a ________." The more you know, the more you can use to help others as well as yourself.
Happy Organizing!
Marsha Sims
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