from : Roots and Wings
Faith and prayer help keep one grounded. Knowing and trusting there is Someone greater than all of us who has control over all these events helps stem the tide of worry and anxiety.
However, there are additional steps we can take to preserve our well-being during stressful times.
In 2008, the New Economic Foundation was commissioned by the UK Government’s Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Well-being to review the interdisciplinary work of over 400 scientists from across the world. Their aim was to identify a set of evidence-based actions to improve well-being, which individuals would be encouraged to build into their daily lives.
The study describes the concept of well-being as comprising two main elements: feeling good and functioning well.
“Feelings of happiness, contentment, enjoyment, curiosity and engagement are characteristic of someone who has a positive experience of their life. Equally important for well-being is our functioning in the world. Experiencing positive relationships, having some control over one’s life and having a sense of purpose are all important attributes of well-being.” (Huppert, 2008)
The NEF study found five evidence-based actions we can build into our everyday lives so that we can be more joyful and peaceful.
Connect.
Connect with the people around you and with family, friends, colleagues and neighbors, at home, work, school or in your community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Social networks provide a buffer against ill mental health, and studies have shown that happy people have stronger social relationships than less happy people.
“Strong social relationships are supportive, encouraging and meaningful while broader, more ‘superficial’ relationships are important for feelings of connectedness, familiarity and sense of self-worth associated with an individual’s position in a community. The key message is that time and space must be given to both types of relationships,” said the study.
Facebook is good, but actual face-to-face contact is so much better!
Be active.
Go for a walk or run. Step outside and play. Garden or dance. Exercise. Discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of fitness.
I notice that it is in those weeks when I am unable to exercise that I become cranky and get into a funk. The NEF study shows that regular physical activity is associated with a greater sense of well-being and lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.
“It is not clear, however, if regular exercise has a direct influence on feelings of well-being, or whether well-being is a determinant of regular exercise behavior.”
Feeling blue? Go take a hike—literally.
Take notice.
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savor the moment, whether you are in a car, eating lunch or in a mall shopping.
“Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.”
I like waking up early to catch the sunrise. I go outdoors when it is a full moon. At night when all is quiet, I go and watch my children sleep. The lesson here, I suppose, is to never lose the wonder and the joy of surprise.
Keep learning.
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course.
“Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favorite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.”
Yes, you can always teach an old dog new tricks, so long as the dog is open to learning.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests the opportunity to engage in work or educational activities helps to lift older people out of depression.”
Who says you can’t run a marathon at 60, or complete your doctorate at 70? There must be always something new to engage you, to stimulate you and get you out of bed everyday.
Give.
This last tenet is my favorite. Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time.
“Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you. Individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy. Research into actions for promoting happiness has shown that committing an act of kindness once a week over a six-week period is associated with an increase in well-being.”
Although much of the world seems in disarray and life has become more complicated, going back to the basics and incorporating these simple steps into our lives will help raise our well-being quotient.
Happier and mentally healthier citizens, after all, make for a better and more peaceful planet to live in.
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