PRINCIPAL`S MESSAGE

BEING HAPPY

Being happy is more than not being depressed, angry or worried. Being happy means more than not being miserable.

Being happy means not only feeling happy but also knowing that your life is going well and has meaning. The key to happiness lies in good friendships, positive relationships, doing your best and having a sense of purpose. What can we do to increase our feelings of contentment? Here are four ideas.

First of all, identify your strengths. Write down a story about a time when you believe you were at your best and re-read it every day for a week, asking: What personal strengths did I display when I was at my best? Creativity? Good judgment? Kindness? Loyalty? Courage? Passion? Forgiveness? Honesty? Writing down key qualities puts you in touch with what you’re good at. Then you can think about how to use those strengths so you can organise your life around them.

Second, look for the good. Set aside ten minutes before going to bed, write down three things that went really well that day and ask yourself, “Why did this good thing happen?” This makes you concentrate on the good things in life and you will find yourself looking for the good things you will write about that night.

Make a gratitude visit. Think of someone who has been especially kind to you. The person might be a member of your family, a friend, a neighbour, or a teacher. Meet with them and talk to them about how thankful you are. When you do this, it helps you understand how important people are to you.

Lastly, respond more positively. The next time someone you care about shares good news, go beyond the regular “That’s nice” response and express genuine excitement, prolong the conversation and encourage the person to tell others or have a celebration. By showing your appreciation and pleasure, you increase their happiness – and your own.

We like happy people and seek them out. By trying these four strategies, you could become the kind of person others like to be with. You will be more content with your life and feel happier.

Acknowledgement: “The Happy Factor: Practicing the Art of Well-Being” by Julie Scelfo in The New York Times Education Life, April 9, 2017