IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS : THINGS TO DO TO IMPROVE UPON OUR HAPPINESS LEVEL

If the ranking of the World Happiness Report is anything to go by, Nigerians are less happy this year than they were in previous years. According to the World Happiness Report released in 2016, which ranks 157 countries by their happiness levels, Nigeria dropped from its 78th position in the world to 103 and 2nd in Africa to the 6th happiest country in Africa. Is our attitude of 'suffering and smiling' reaching its limits? 

Majority of Nigerians tend to view every leap year with superstitious dread and this leap year has done nothing to allay the growing fears and concerns. Nigerians have been going through several hardship right from the beginning of the year. The present economic recession in the country have only worsened the feeling and level of inadequacy, despair, desperation, insecurity, poverty, anxiety, fear, stress, confusion, depression and frustration experienced in the land. The Ogun State Commissioner for Health recently announced that the number of Nigerians suffering from varying degrees of mental disorders, from minor mood changes to extreme cases of mental illness,  have risen to over 60 million. This means one in every three Nigerian have some form of mental disorder. According to the Health Commissioner,  the major triggers of minor mood disorders that might lead to extreme mental illness include stress, depression and frustration brought about by economic pressures. Everyone is feeling the brunt, from the multinationals to the ordinary Nigerian on the streets. The average Nigerian, in order to survive, has learnt not to wait on the government but to provide for himself, family and business, the basic amenities of power, water and security. 

It seems quite logical to conclude that all these has put a damper on our cheerfulness and made us less happy this year than we were in previous years. But how can we manage our stress levels better and ensure that we do not lose our hope and enthusiasm? What can you and I do to ensure that we keep our happiness and energy levels high? Bearing in mind that happiness is a choice that lies solely with the individual and shouldn't depend on, or be determined by or be controlled by external forces. Life becomes much easier when we accept that there are some things we can't change or control and don't give those things the power to bother us or weigh us down. And those things we can change, let's go ahead and do so, in order to lower our stress levels. 

Below are a few more things to consciously do to improve upon your happiness levels and ultimately the quality of your life. 

Take a few minutes each day to appreciate your blessings! Think and give thanks. As human beings, we tend to focus on the bad and negative things in our lives and complain, grumble and murmur but when we deliberately stir our minds away from the unpleasant and focus on the good, we begin to feel better inside and better appreciate life. 

Let the sunshine back into your life literally! Take a walk outside under the sun often. If you feel gloomy, something as simple as going for a walk, or opening your curtains to let in the rays of the sun, will go a long way to improve your mood dramatically. That is the reason why invalids and convalescents who have been indoors for a long time feel lifted in their spirits when they come into contact with the rays of the sun. 

Think positive! Speak positive! There is so much power in a positive mindset. It gives you a great attitude and a wonderful perspective on life. It helps to lift one out of moodiness, sadness or depression. It brightens your day and life and attracts good things your way. 

Stay connected to your loved ones! It is important you spend quality time with family and friends. Hang out with people who are positive, kind and who have a sense of humor. 

Take time each day to do something good for someone else, without expecting anything in return. Impact the lives of those around you positively. Do something nice for someone, no matter how small, such as giving someone a helping hand, complementing someone genuinely, helping an old lady cross the street, smiling at your co-workers and so on. Give them valuable experiences and not just gifts. Experiences and good deeds last longer in the human memory than gifts. 

Spend time doing the things you love, the things that make you happy. If you like painting or dancing or reading, go ahead and do it. Life is too short for us to waste time doing the things we hate all our lives. There is no time like the present, so take a breath and go for it! 

Take on the job you love and be self employed. By self employed, I mean don't work for money, work for your passion. Money can only get you a certain level of happiness and security but it cannot bring you true happiness and fulfillment. 

Take up a valuable service to humanity and do it with all your might. People who serve humanity selflessly, sacrificing their time, energy, resources and talent, often find a meaning and a purpose for their lives. A purposeful life is a self driven life. It is a life of fulfillment, satisfaction, joy and peace.

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