Leg Exercise

5 Ways to Maximise Happiness

Fortunately, humans are also wired for learning and growing. Just as we can physically train muscles to become tighter and stronger, we can mentally train ourselves to draw more pleasure from the mundane. This is why positive psychologists often refer to people's innate ‘resilience’. Despite personal background and circumstances, the human spirit is surprisingly durable and malleable. Research has found that to get happier, you must tap into this potential by activating your mind and body for joy.

Here are five ways to maximize your happiness
 

1. Go With The Flow

Think about the last activity you performed that gave you a true sense of satisfaction. It could be an adept showing on the tennis court, having a two-hour phone conversation with your best friend or lovingly tending to your garden. Whatever the pursuit, the main reason you may have felt so good afterward is that you had entered a state of ‘flow’. The concept of flow, coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihihalyi, refers to entering a state of becoming wholly absorbed in an activity. Flow states offer a balance of challenge and ease, which enhance their rewarding sensations.

Flow is more common among artists, athletes and religious devotees, but that doesn't exclude other people from finding a niche as well (see the work of Robin Lloyd and Sonja Lyubomirsky). Engaging in something that correlates to your personal strength and offers room for improvement can set you up for flow. In short, find something that you enjoy and get lost in it. 

2.  Appreciate the small things