5 Ways to Spread Happiness

From Donald Trump to denim shoes, there are plenty of things in this world designed to make us miserable. However, I’m a big believer in trying to spread those positive vibez, not just for yourself but for those around you too. We all know how much being around a negative person can affect our mood, so to counteract the actions of all of the Debbie Downers in the world, here are some tips for increasing the positivity. 

1. Say thank you more. If you’ve ever read The Secret, then hopefully like me the main thing that you took away from it was the importance of gratitude. As cheesy as it sounds, we actually have so, so, so much to be thankful for and when you begin actually adding them up, you realise how lucky you really are. As well as acknowledging this to yourself, saying thank you to others more is such a simple way to add a little happiness to someone else’s day. Now, I believe the English are quite polite as standard (a friend of a friend said a completely sincere “thanks guys” to someone who gave him a fine for littering the other day, NO JOKE), but try to go a step further to really make someone’s day.

2. Dish out the compliments. You know how happy you feel when a stranger tells you they like your hair/shoes/nails? You can make other people’s day in the same way by giving them a little confidence boost. And don’t reserve it for strangers – compliment the woman at work on her new ‘do if you notice it (yes, even if she once took your water from the kettle and you’ve been holding a grudge for six months) or tell your dad that his new fleece takes years off him.

3. Offer to help. Whether it’s asking someone if they would like any help with their shopping bags or offering to take on a part of a project for a colleague, offering a helping hand is a great way to spread some joy. I can’t promise you’ll feel happy 100% of the time (ever volunteered to help someone move house, for example? You regret that three van-loads in…) BUT it will really mean a lot to the person you’re helping.

4. Get involved in some charity work. Helping others via a charity is one of the most effective ways to spread some happiness to those who really need it. While donating money is always a nice thing to do, giving your time can sometimes help even more. Christian Aid* are currently promoting their Big Brekkie campaign, which encourages people to host a fundraising breakfast to help those suffering in the refugee crisis. Erm, helping others AND eating croissants? Sign me up. Check out the video below for more information:

5. Replace negative thoughts. Thisfinal point is another one that I learned from The Secret, and it actually made such a difference to my mood when I started doing it. From an insecurity about how fat your arms are to a catty thought about that attention-seeking girl on your Facebook, we all have little negative thoughts, ideas and beliefs that rear their ugly heads throughout the day. Even if they seem silly, these thougths ultimately bring our mood down without us realising it, and the easiest thing to do is literally stop yourself halfway through and think about something positive instead. So as soon as you start thinking ‘my arms look like a massive joint of gammon’, replace it with ‘BUT MY HAIR LOOKS FLEEKY AF’ and you’ve effectively stopped the bad thought and vibes in their tracks. You know the classic ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say…’ mantra? Apply that to your inner monologue too, and you’ll be amazed how much better you start feeling AND acting.

These are my top tips for spreading a little positivity around, but what are yours? Let me know in the comments!

*This post was written in collaboration with Christian Aid and their Big Brekkie campaign, but all thoughts on vibez, positivity and croissants are my own. 

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