Embraces My Happiness Figurines, Angel with Wings Hugging Dog Angel Figurines Dog Remembrance Gifts for Dog Lovers (C)

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I used to think certain emotions were wrong to feel. I didn’t believe I had a right to feel angry or sad or hurt. There was always someone who had it worse than me. Pay attention. Studies find that people who practice mindfulness—the moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and external circumstances—score higher on measures of happiness, and lower on measures of anxiety and distress. Why we love it: Dogs have a way of lifting us up out of our darkest moments. Their unconditional love is a reminder that we are enough. “My idea of absolute happiness is to be in bed on a rainy day with my blankie, my cat, and my dog.”— Anne Lamott, American author, and activist This interspecies emotional contagion, as psychologists call it, has a psychological, a physiological, and a behavioral basis. In the last few years, multiple studies have shown that the transmission of emotions depends on the release of certain hormones (such as oxytocin), body odor changes in humans, the firing of key neurons in the pooches and their people, and other physiological factors.

Moreno believes joy is crucially important to health and the reduction of stress because joyful activities help keep us rooted in the present. ‘We have a tendency to think that self-care should involve a trip to a spa and an expensive massage – but allowing yourself to enjoy life is the ultimate in self-care.’ 5. Go on a joy diet I had wanted a canine companion for at least 10 years, but it just wouldn’t have been realistic. With a busy work and social life, a second job as a singer, a love of frequent holidays and a (then) long distance partner, I couldn’t see how I could fit a dog into it all. But it didn’t stop me pining for one. Betty has given me way more than I have lost and I don’t regret having got her one bit. But I wish that some of my friends would embrace my new life as a dog owner with a little more understanding and acceptance. I can be proud of myself for being willing to practice again and again. It’s the baby steps, tiny changes, and consistent willingness to try again that develop the qualities I hope to embody. 2. Being curious about who I am The emotional connection between humans and dogs is the essence of the relationship,” says Clive Wynne, a professor of psychology and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University. “Dogs are amazingly social beings, so they are easily infected with our warmth and joy.” But the converse is true as well, which means their owner’s stress and anxiety can also become the dog’s stress and anxiety.Rat racing is all about hunting for happiness, chasing an illusion, and never feeling content. The more we achieve, the more we want: another house, another car, another job, or more money. Happiness

Comparing yourself to others is an act of violence against your authentic self.” ~ Iyanla Vanzant 7. I am grateful. We don’t have to wallow in self-hatred, but leaping straight to self-love can feel impossible. Instead, we can make small shifts and adopt simple practices to help us learn to accept and value who we are right now, even as we continue to change and grow.You see, even people who love what they do can be rat racers, if they are struggling with the need for perfection.

Practice different kinds of appreciation. Life can be hard, because negative events and emotions are inevitable. But we can bolster our resilience by shining the light of our attention on the good things. Studies have shown that dogs can catch our yawns, experience an increase in cortisol levels when they hear a baby crying—just as humans do—and respond to the emotional tone of our voices. While interacting with each other or even just looking into each other's eyes, research has found that people and their dogs experience the release of oxytocin, often called the "love hormone" or the "cuddle hormone"—though the hormone’s effects are more complicated than that, given that it can foster trust and generosity in some situations and envy in others. For years I thought life would always be that way, but recently I was surprised to realize that I don’t hate myself anymore. Of course, there are still plenty of things about myself I wish were different, but my self-loathing is being replaced by acceptance. Savoring Walk: Take a walk and pay attention to positive feelings and experiences, to deepen and extend them. Mental Subtraction of Relationships: Visualize what your life would be like without the people around you.After all, when dogs and humans are angry, Meyers-Manor points out, their facial muscles are often tightened, their teeth may be clenched, and their body tenses up. This means that when you’re in the presence of an angry dog or when you’re enraged, each of you may unconsciously mirror the other’s facial expressions or body language and end up feeling the same way. “Because of our close connection with dogs, we have co-evolved to detect each other’s [emotional] signals in ways that are different from other species,” Meyers-Manor says. In a world in which the pursuit of happiness is complicated by consumerism, materialism, and the politics of rage, what can humans learn from dogs about happiness? Embrace contentment. I have met many wealthy people who were unhappy because their ego always wanted to get more or better. It’s like when we think, “Okay, I’ve got this house now, but when I can move my family into a bigger one, I will finally be happy.” I use the beautiful bed sheets and the nice towels instead of saving them for the guests, just because I’m worth it. According to the American Psychological Association, there are two recognised forms of joy: passive and active. ‘Passive joy involves tranquillity and a feeling of contentment with things just as they are. Active joy involves a desire to share one’s feelings with others. Both are associated with an increase in energy and feelings of confidence and self-esteem.’

Self-hatred prompted me to hide from others. I tried to only show a version of myself that I thought would be accepted. I was terrified I’d be rejected and alone if people knew the truth about me.Indeed, there is a great deal of research suggesting that trying to feel or falsely express happiness in bad situations is harmful to mental and physical health—and that striving to feel constantly happy can actually diminish your overall happiness in life. Multiple studies suggest that experiencing and embracing a range of emotions, not just the positive ones, is good for our mental and physical health. It’s also important to note that injury and illness can make happiness harder to achieve. For example, concussions and long COVID are both associated with depression.