Does your brain often produce unhappy and negative thoughts? Well, luckily for you, it’s easily possible to rewire your brain for happiness and positivity (with the help of some easy and simple exercises).
In general, human brains tend to have negativity bias that really destroys your creativity, productivity, situation handling and decision-making skills. But why do our brains have a negativity bias? Well, that’s primarily because — human brains are wired to pay more focus and attention to the negative experiences.
Nevertheless, you can actually train your brain and unlock the power of positive thinking. So, what are you waiting for? Stave off all negative emotions and follow the below-mentioned six simple exercises to train your brain for happiness.
1. Exercise
Undoubtedly, regular exercise is one of the best, time-tested, and most recommended ways to train your brain for happiness. It reduces your stress and anxiety. It has the ability to remove unwanted clutters from your mind and offer you a better mood. Apart from regulating your mood, it trains your brain in such a way that boosts your resilience towards negative emotional situations.
According to the research study, exercise can significantly affect your body and brain chemistry. In this way, it helps your brain to control your emotions (both in the long and short run). Other than that, exercise releases a bunch of endorphins that improve your mood and offers a sense of positivity and relaxation. Additionally, exercise helps you produce certain brain chemicals (like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) that fight stress and anxiety. Apart from all of these aforementioned benefits, regular exercise helps you accomplish your fitness goals and keeps you healthy.
2. Breathe mindfully
Negative emotions not only become an unwanted barrier in your path of growth, success, and self-development but also they make your life absolutely miserable. Such emotions also induce a feeling of unwillingness, anxiety, lethargy, and exasperation. So, what’s the easiest and simplest way to combat these emotionally volatile situations and train your brain to become happy? Well, mindful breathing is considered to be a great way to control and regulate your emotions.
Neuroscientists have already discovered that our breath is closely connected to our natural emotions. In fact, each of our emotions has a specific breathing pattern. For instance, we breathe slowly, deeply, and fully when there’s a feeling of pleasure, joy, and happiness. Alternatively, our breath becomes quick and shallow when we feel stressed, anxious, or afraid.
In connection with this exceptional discovery, it has been further proved that mindful breathing can effectively activate your parasympathetic nervous system and help your body/brain relax and rest. So, take an advantage of this amazing tip, practice mindful breathing, train your brain, and control negative emotions.
3. Smile
Is it possible to have unhappy feelings when you are laughing? Of course, it’s not. In this context, the third tip will discuss the magic power of our natural smile that can effectively train the brain for ultimate happiness.
There is something truly magical and special about a smile. So, next time when you’re feeling red-hot or blue with anger, please force a smile and smirk on your face. Although it may seem a bit stupid and silly; but it really works.
When you are stressed, angry, or sad, smile at yourself and hold it until it’s genuine. It will immediately lighten up your brain and make you feel much better.
4. Practice gratitude
What is gratitude? Well, it’s a state of mind that arises when you try to affirm and acknowledge any good thing in your life. It’s a healing cum supportive emotion that relishes little pleasures.
So, if you are struggling with stressful travel, disappointments or family drama, a simple practice of gratitude can let you feel the essence of joy, happiness, and satisfaction.
To practice gratitude, simply find out and list down three things every day that make you feel grateful and obliged. Try to find out unique areas of gratitude in respect to your day-to-day life (please note, no repetitions are allowed) and continue this activity for up to ten months. It’s an awesome way to train your brain for happiness.
5. Listen to music
The power of music listening is a wonderful thing. It boosts your energy level, increases your productivity, and makes you feel better. Scientists have uncovered that music creates specific movements in our brain which induce positive emotions. Listening to music can really increase the efficacy of neurons in your brain. As a result, you will have a better control over your mood, emotions, and behaviour.
6. Create a healthy mindset
It’s important to intelligently deal with your negative feelings (for your own good). So, please create a healthy mindset and focus more on the positive things/aspects of your life. Not only a healthy mindset will let you feel happy, content, and peaceful, but also it can drastically improve the quality of your life.
For your reference, here are five ways to create a healthy mindset.
i) Overcome your anger.
ii) Control your fear & anxiety.
iii) Control your excitement.
iv) Maintain positivity and control your sadness.
v) Overcome the feelings of jealousy and insecurity.
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Author: Ryan Ervin
Ryan is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer at fitnessgoals, with a passion for writing and a love for chocolate. He enjoys long walks with a breeze and finding ways to make dessert healthy.
