Very Happy Phil

Help! One of the favourite strategies I discovered several years ago to lift unhappy people out of their unhappiness is volunteering. Loads of research has now proved kindness to others boosts our health, happiness and we live longer!

I will give you an example; The Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London carried out research suggesting a "strong link" between volunteering and recovery from a variety of conditions, including depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. And it can boost happy people too. In a 1998 study life satisfaction was found to improve 24 per cent with level of altruistic activity.

The reasons volunteering boosts our happiness;
Keeps us busy
Socialize with others
Belonging
Give us a Purpose
We get an opportunity to be kind
Can be Pleasurable and fun and boost our self efficacy and ‘flow’ time

Volunteering can boost old and young people. Studies of older people with a purpose found seven in ten feel satisfied. Without a purpose seven in ten feel unsettled about their lives. Twice as many college students who enjoyed their lives and studies had a purpose, compared to those who did not.

Here are a few of my favourite quotes which inspire me;

“It’s proven that volunteering is really good for self esteem”
-Emma Kelly, Psychologist

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
- Mother Teresa

“It is well documented that low thresholds of volunteering, even two or three hours a week, elevate mood in most people. This phenomenon was dubbed "the helper's high"”

People with pets are happier and live longer!

Pets are so good for health that dogs are taken into hospitals to help patients heal! Dogs seem to boost health best. Cat owners have better health than non cat owners though.

Retirement homes with pets have residents living longer and with better health than those that don’t.

Pets boost health!
Pets increase fun!

I will give you an example; Seventy percent of family’s with pets were happier and had more fun!

Here are a few of my favourite quotes which inspire me;

All we need is love

Have a happy PET week!

Keep positive!

Phil McNally
Author & Mental Heath Expert

Remember,
“Happy people have a pet! Having a pet boosts our health and our happiness!”
–Phil McNally, Author

“Hit the spot, well paced with solid content. Thought it was refreshing, highlighting the benefits of positive thinking needs to be a continuous process. Unfortunately it is too easy to drift back to the perceived comfort zone of negativity. Personally I feel better about myself and what we’re chasing as a team.”
-Andy Skinner, Business Development Manager, Red Spider Technology

"I have witnessed Phil excite, enthuses and empower his audiences. Here at PSYBT our clients have ideas, goals and dreams, with his techniques and encouragement Phil McNally lets them turn them into reality!"
-Simon Fraser, PSYBT Manager

FREE happiness boosters every Monday here; http://www.veryhappyphil.com

Every week I consider a topic that I would find most useful to ponder. This week I could not stop thinking about what I thought/feel could be a huge mistake financially. Even knowing and using some of the tips below I still found it a huge challenge. I was aware my thinking and regretting and beating myself was not helpful, but it was hard for me not too. You may find it too.

“Over thinking is thinking too much- needlessly, passively, endlessly and excessively pondering the meanings , causes and consequences of your character, your feelings and your problems; “Why am I so unhappy?”….. “What did he really mean by that remark” and so on.”
--Prof Sonja Lyubomirsky Ph.D. ‘The How of Happiness’

We can often consciously or unconsciously wasting our time Thinking; worrying, regretting, comparing, self focused judging or present day analyzing and assessing.

I went to see happiness expert Ajahn Brahm and asked him to give me one tip to help me increase my happiness. He said “Stop thinking.”

That was it! I smiled, nodded and left!

Over thinking expert and author Susan Nolen-Hoeksema gives this advice; “Cut free, move to higher ground and avoid future traps.”
-Susan Nolen-Hoeksema PhD, author, ‘Women who think too much’ and ‘Eating, Drinking, Overthinking; The Toxic Triangle of Food, Alcohol, And Depression And How Women Can Break Free’

Replaying negative events over and over in our mind has a negative affect.
Talking about them helps see;
http://www.veryhappyphil.com/content/it%E2%80%99s-good-talk