August 21, 2004

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       The secrets of everyday wellbeing











    We use lots of different words to express feeling good about ourselves and about life - 'happiness,' 'wellbeing,' 'contentment,' 'harmony,' 'enjoyment,' 'peace.' They don't all mean the same thing, of course, but they do all suggest self-esteem and a positive outlook on life.


    Someone once said that the secret of happiness is having someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. There is probably some truth in this - although it doesn't mean you have to have an adoring spouse or partner, a high-powered job and a world cruise coming up in order to enjoy life! The 'someone to love' could be a friend, relative or pet, and the 'something to do' and 'something to look forward to' could be just about anything you enjoy.


    But even if you have those 3 'somethings,' there may be times when you do not feel very good. The way we feel can be affected by all sorts of things - including lifestyle, past experiences and genetic factors.


    Scientists also say that people who always seem to be in a good mood may simply have naturally higher levels of certain substances - endorphins (types of hormone) and the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. These are released by the brain and make you feel good when you are enjoying yourself or when something nice happens.


    But our state of mind is only partly influenced by the past or by physical factors. The rest is down to us - to the way we think about things and how we manage the different aspects of our lives. Most of us have much more influence over our feelings than we may think.


    But taking control does not mean suppressing or denying your feelings - it means understanding the way the mind works and trying to change negative ways of thinking into more positive ones. We cannot always avoid negative thoughts, but one of the secrets of mental balance is being able to notice when you are 'choosing' or 'allowing yourself' to think negatively rather than positively, and keeping an eye on the way your lifestyle affects your mood.


     

    The secrets of everyday wellbeing

    Some feel-good factors:



    • relaxation
    • the ability to express your feelings
    • achievable goals to aim for
    • time for the things you enjoy
    • a healthy diet
    • a sport or exercise you enjoy
    • work you find rewarding
    • a comfortable balance between work and leisure
    • time to yourself, to do the things that interest you
    • time for friends and family

    Some things to minimise in your life:



    • too much stress
    • feelings of rage or frustration
    • expecting too much of yourself
    • negative thoughts and feelings

    There is no instant recipe for a sense of wellbeing - but these are some of the main ingredients. Find out more about stress, negative feelings and thoughts, anger, and how to cope.