We can increase feelings of happiness by recognizing and nurturing our strengths, abilities and virtues and cultivating self-efficacy. We can prevent depression by nurturing skills of optimism and hope. In developing optimism, we cultivate a greater sense of resilience that can support us in dealing with uncertainty and difficult times.
“The belief that we can rely on shortcuts to happiness, joy, rapture, comfort, and ecstasy rather than be entitled to these feelings by the exercise of personal strengths and virtues, leads to legions of people who in the middle of great wealth are starving spiritually.”
–Martin Seligman, PhD
Engaging in optimistic and hopeful thoughts not only increases our resistance to depression, but it also builds stress resiliency and resistance to illness, and it encourages positive feelings, including happiness. Self-defeating thoughts and negative self-beliefs, along with their accompanying anxiety and fearfulness, are some of the most common things that holds people back from living their full potential.
Our pessimistic and self-defeating thoughts usually serve some purpose. If we can learn to perceive them in this manner and begin to untangle from them, it becomes easier to hold compassion for ourselves. We can use meditation for healing practices and mindfulness and resilience practices to support emotional healing and happiness. And when we learn how to practice self-compassion, this supports our healing process. Once we learn how to increase happiness and put the practices into place, the rewards can be immense.
Jen Johnson is a licensed mental health counselor teaching mindfulness for resilience in uncertain times. Learn more about working with Jen.