What methods do you use to become happy? page 2

[Chaohinon]

hiking, lifting, sex, and violent video games

[Legbiter]

Bacon.

[solstice]

exercise always helps and lately, for me, lifting has been great for my mood!

[Damiana]

For ne, there's nothing like a sweat-dripping-off-my-back cardio session to get me feeling like a warrior post-battle. I know primal advocates slow movement but goddamn the runner's high feels good.

[Goldie]

Years ago I just decided to be happy. Whenever I get irritated or depressed about something, I acknowledge the feeling and then decide not to feel that way. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but in general, just "deciding" to not feel the negative emotion works for me. I think a good part of it is acknowledging the negative emotion--once I recognize it, I find it easier to dismiss it.

I have a wonderful life now, but I haven't always. My original father was alcoholic and physically abusive, and my first husband was emotionally abusive and slept around with multiple women in the short time we were married. It was during this marriage that I decided I wasn't going to allow someone else to determine my mood, and I decided then that I wasn't going to be depressed about it. Sure, I had times when it was hard to deal with the emotions, but once I recognized them, I could change how I felt.

Everything is temporary. Let go of the negative things and the positive will replace it.

[Knifegill]

Liver. Eat moar liver.

[sarasue624]

Some silly social dance or aerobics class. I'm partial to Zumba. You can't be depressed when jumping around to dirty latin lyrics!

A lot of people like meditation for depression, but I've never understood that - time to let me brood more than I already do? Not a good idea for me.

For some odd reason cleaning helps, too. Even though I hate cleaning.

[MattyH]

I agree with the others who said a) move and b) fake it. In the second category I find laughter helps - even if it just takes me out of myself for a little while. I grab my laptop and earbuds, head to the nearest place that has power (that's a short list in NJ these days) and pull up my faves on youtube: eddie izzard, bill cosby, victor borge, carol burnett. Get to the library and get yourself a funny book to read: anything by terry pratchett, dave barry, erma bombeck. Another thing I do is read one of the books that I loved as a kid. To paraphase George Bernard Shaw, the YA section is wasted on the young.

If you're in the part of the country that has been hit by the storm, I hope all is well with you. I'm trying to think of this as "primal bootcamp". No power, cold nights, and during the day I have to forage for food, cash and gas.

[Nigel]

Suggestions on what I could do to get some happiness in?

I suffered with depression years ago. My doctor prescribed drugs. Didn't work. The only things that did work were getting out of the job I was in and making the decision to be happy. It's not what others say or do that causes problems for us, it's how we react to them. Nowadays, I ALWAYS smile at people I meet. It makes them happier and that makes me feel even better.

Try reading The Art of Happiness on the thoughts of H.H. The Dalai Lama. ISBN 978-0-340-99592-1

I also have a motto:- "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it worthwhile." (Herm Albright)

[Leida]

Steam room, hot tub, pool - I find that winter gets to me if I don't get to the light, heat and water in a large space every few days. It also helps to book a tropical vacation in February -March about 3/4 way through the winter. Also seeds uncatalogued and starting the annuals in mid-April-early May + house plants that bloom in the winter and conservatories/winter gardens. I often buy flowers starting in December, as a part of grocery shopping to brighten things up. Vanilla extract - a dub behind the ear cheers me up with the wonderful scent.