So something awesome just happened in your life? You are very excited, euphoric and even joyful, but you have no idea how to express these positive feelings, not to yourself or to those around you. You're not alone! Many people have a hard time expressing their happiness, and there are many ways you can do it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Express your happiness to yourself
Step 1. Have kind thoughts
It is normal for human beings to focus on the negative aspects of themselves. Self-critical behavior is an evolutionary trait that keeps them moving forward. The downside is that this behavior affects the ability to maintain a positive attitude. In order for you to express your happiness to others, you have to be able to maintain that happiness without being carried away by negative thoughts and you have to be able to express that happiness to yourself.
If you are feeling happy, allow yourself to feel good and do your best to stay away from negative ideas. Be proud of your accomplishments and don't let thoughts like, "I could have done better" or "I don't deserve this" get in your way. Congratulate yourself and don't beat yourself up
Step 2. Create a work of art
Despite the common “tortured artist” trope, some studies have shown that creating art can actually enhance happiness and prolong feelings of pleasure. During art therapy, people have shown that art is a source of joy, even by creating something that can communicate a painful thought or memory. If you're already happy, expressing that happiness through art can even enhance positive feelings.
- Paint, draw, sculpt or create something with your hands. People who participate in art therapy often report that creating something physical is a joyous experience because it provides pleasure for exploration and innovation. Some people gain energy to prosper by having a tangible product in front of them.
- Create a gratitude journal. If you don't like visual art very much, writing down your feelings can be a great way to focus on happy thoughts. You could also write a fictional story or poem to express those feelings in an abstract way, rather than making a list of things that you are grateful for.
- Make music. Some brain imaging studies show that upbeat music activates reward centers in the brain and releases dopamine; This provides a hit of happiness, just like drugs or sex. Playing a musical instrument and creating a positive song can amplify your happiness as you express it through music.
Step 3. Treat yourself well
Happy people tend to have balanced lives, which means they know when to work and when to play. Simply taking the time to take care of yourself in the way you need to is a great way to express your happiness and love for your mind and body. Doing nice things for yourself is a workable equivalent of telling yourself positive affirmations in your mind.
- If you've been waiting for a bubble bath, but have put it off because you've been too busy, schedule it for the end of the day so you can get the much-needed relaxation.
- If you are the type of person who skips lunch at work to finish a spreadsheet, change that attitude and take an hour off to take a walk and eat a sandwich.
Part 2 of 3: Express Your Happiness to Others
Step 1. Express happiness directly through language
Telling someone that you are in a good mood is an easy way to communicate your positive feelings. However, you should try not to brag about being happy, because that can make you appear arrogant or even annoyed.
Also, try to avoid saying, "You make me feel happy," instead of, "I feel happy." Although the person may be happy to bring you joy, it is also possible that they may feel pressured to respond or may feel responsible for continuing your happiness
Step 2. Encourage others to be the best they can be
This may seem as if it is not a direct expression of your happiness, because you are not telling the person why you are feeling in a good mood, but it is a common misunderstanding. Expressions of happiness can be abstract. Technically, you express happiness whenever your behavior is influenced by that emotion. So simply by being a positive force in someone else's life, your happiness shines through. Some examples of encouragement include:
- Tell your friend how proud you are of his recent accomplishments.
- Give your partner more praise for his singing voice when he shouts out his favorite heavy metal songs in the car.
- Encourage your younger brother to apply for that scholarship, even if he feels discouraged.
Step 3. Participate in some acts of generosity
Verbal expressions of happiness are common, but sometimes actions speak louder than words. If you're in a good mood, why don't you do something nice for someone else to share in the richness of positive sentiment?
- You could give your mother a card to let her know how much you love her.
- You could show up at your sick friend's house and bring him soup and a DVD.
- You could donate a little money to a good cause of your choice.
- You could hug your partner more than usual.
Step 4. Overcome negative situations and act as a positive force in someone else's life
When someone is in a bad mood, it can be easy to get carried away by their negativity. If you are in a good mood, you have the power to transfer that positive energy to the other person and change the situation.
- Avoid gossip. If someone you know says bad things about someone else, try to divert the conversation away from offensive topics and talk about someone you love or appreciate.
- Stay away from negative environments. If you are with someone who is in a bad mood because they are too hot, too tired, or very uncomfortable, suggest that the two of you move to help change their mood.
- Support someone in need. If a friend is having a hard time, do your best to listen to their thoughts and feelings without criticizing. Don't try to force him to be in a good mood with you, but instead channel your happiness by paying attention and being understanding. Giving your time to those in need is an abstract way of expressing your happiness and transmitting positive energy to those around you.
Part 3 of 3: Analyze why you have trouble expressing your happiness
Step 1. Ask yourself if you are really happy
Some might argue that this question is impossible to answer, because happiness is a subjective feeling, but most psychologists believe that people can accurately indicate their emotional states; If someone is happy, they probably are.
- However, it is possible that someone can pretend to be happy to please others or to get through a difficult situation in life.
- Ask yourself if you are really happy or if you are just faking happiness for some reason or another.
- If you find that you are not as happy as you would like, that could be why it is difficult for you to communicate your happiness to others.
Step 2. Find out what the obstacles to expressing yourself are
Each person has their own unique reasons for struggling with the expression of happiness. There is no single, irrefutable solution to getting through an emotional roadblock, but don't let that put you off! You can often answer these questions for yourself by taking the time to think about your relationship to happiness and how it may affect your behavior.
- Think about the situations in your life in which you were successful in expressing your happiness. Do you remember any moment? What did you do in that situation that was remarkable? What parts of that moment can you recreate?
- Think about the cases in which you could not express yourself. Of what you did, what would you change? What thoughts did you have when it was difficult for you to share your feelings?
- Is there a case in your past where your happiness was suppressed? Do you remember a time when you were expected to express happiness when in reality you weren't happy at all?
Step 3. Find out which methods of expression seem appropriate to you
Expressions of happiness don't always look the same to everyone. Just because your favorite character on television expresses his happiness by smiling a lot and inviting his friends to lunch doesn't mean you have to too. Each human being is unique, as are their methods of expression.
- Try some expression methods to see how they feel. Buy someone flowers, buy yourself an expensive dinner, or just smile at a passerby.
- If certain expressions of happiness feel more natural than others, choose what makes you feel good. Do what makes you comfortable, and in the future, you could push the boundaries and try expression methods that you wouldn't normally try. Don't be ashamed to take small steps.