We saw a headline the other day that completely stopped us in our tracks. It was to do with the Hollywood heartthrob and life survivor, Robert Pattinson, who said, “without therapy, I don’t know how you are supposed to do life.” The thing that struck us most about this is his nationality. He’s British.
That’s significant because, while every other American has a therapist, the Brits don’t open up; they don’t discuss their feelings, they bottle it up, stiffen their upper lip and try and ride out the pains of life on their own. So, to hear a British man say what he did about therapy really opened our eyes to how much laying back on a sofa in a sterile-but-homely room may actually help us become happy.
With that is mind, we have pulled together a list of simple ways in which we can all lead happier lives, and it starts with therapy:
- Talk To A Therapist
There is still a lot of stigma around therapy. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing a therapist or even a psychiatrist. Quite the opposite. It is a brave step to take. Life is hard, it is brutal at times and because there is no handbook we are all survivors of life. Having a therapist helps us make sense of it all and that can only be a good thing.
- Do What You Love
Every person has a hobby. They have that thing that they absolutely love doing. That thing that allows them to escape for a moment or an hour. Soccer, painting, poetry, swimming, teaching children to swim, singing, smashing out a beat on the drums, anything. What you need to do is make time to enjoy it. Society forces us to do things we don’t like. It’s up to you to fight back.
- Unscrew Yourself
Everyone endures a moment in their life that changed everything, and so have you. You experienced a moment that threatened to dim your shine. Well, now is the time to address that moment and try and overcome it once and for all. It could be you lost a loved one, in which seeking bereavement help could help massively. It could be you suffer with mental health issues, in which case the first point could be for you. Stop running. It won’t help. Now is the time to fight the good fight.
- Do The Gratitude Thing
We’re all guilty of taking things for granted. But if you just pause for five minutes in the morning to think about everything you are thankful for you’ll realise just how lucky you are. It could be a nice apartment, a family that adores you, a job, friends you can always rely on, a fridge full of food, or whatever. These things are too easily taken for granted. But by appreciating them more you’ll find your smile starts to grow bigger instantly.
- Nothing Can Replace Loved Ones
There really is no replacing the people in your life that you love unconditionally, and those that love you in the same way. We’re all social beings that crave that bond, whether family means blood or friends you can’t live without. Simply spending time with these people will have a way of feeding your soul. These are the people that stop you from feeling totally alone. They are the people that fill you with happiness.
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