Tough times call for new perspectives. Start the week with useful tips for “hacking” your way to happiness
After progressing jauntily in my career for the past two decades, I was recently unexpectedly and heartbreakingly laid-off. Made redundant. Rejected. Accustomed to being sought after and courted for jobs, I found myself with the daunting task of finding work in this increasingly surreal and unfamiliar time.
Like a beloved show, our lives are also now on hiatus. On hold. Behind a glass case. Like a birthday cake or an out of reach piece of jewelry. A world put on pause but whose demands are ceaselessly unrelenting. In contrast to our prior existence, thumbing frantic texts to stem back the tide of obligations and emails, some of us find ourselves with either too much time, or new tasks being placed on our Zoom-weary shoulders. How do we re-define ourselves and find happiness in this new narrative?
We need to “hack” our way forward.
The first hack is the concept that to change results, change your thinking. This is the hardest hack; it requires you accept the idea that thoughts can shape your reality. At the least, it changes your own perception of your reality. Let’s start with reframing. I’ll use my own experience, but now with a new perspective; I was not “laid-off.” I was not “rejected” from a job. I am being “redirected.” The universe is redirecting me to something better. Every nope, every not now, not yet, clears the distractions so my true path comes into greater focus. This also helps shift to thinking about a more positive future and the possibilities yet to come, versus reflecting on what was lost.
Try reframing inevitable and unavoidable drudgery. “I have to cook and clean again,” becomes, “I have enough food to make wonderful meals for my family and a loving home to maintain.” Feeding positive thoughts and feeling gratitude helps lull those feel-good hormones to wash you in hazy serotonin. Dwell in the positive. Do not feed negative thinking.
THE BEST CHOICE
The next hack? Choosing happiness. Whether you choose to rehash the negative, or reframe it and move on, it is your choice. Put it into practice and it gets easier. Every morning, before you grab your phone or make coffee, spend a moment in bed. Think of three things you are grateful to have in your life. From the most sublime to the most mundane, embrace each one. Reflect about these wonderful things and give thanks for their presence in your life. Fiercely choose happiness, every day.
The easiest one to master is to hack your brain by coaxing “happiness” chemicals through simple acts. Exercise. Eat dark chocolate. Hug a beloved pet. Spend time outdoors. Watch a comedy. Give a compliment. Discover apps like Headspace or Calm which remind you to choose joy every day. Share your happiness through hacks of kindness. Giving time or money raises both your oxytocin and your conscience. Create your new narrative. Move forward.
The final hack? Just keep going.
This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 11:32 AM.