Daily Habits of Happy Couples, Because It’s the Little Things That Count0 660
I love it when couples are so gosh darn cute that you could vomit. Jamie and Doug (from Married at First Sight, for those of you who don’t know), Faith and Timmy, David and Victoria. What are their secrets? How is it possible they are so damn happy all the time? Unfortunately, none of their publicists got back to me. Luckily, the secrets of happy couples are very universal, and can be applied to anyone from Bangkok to Boston.
Happy harmonious relationships are not about fireworks and roses every day. After all, life isn’t an episode of The Bachelor. Relationships come with more ups and downs than a roller coaster sometimes, but if you focus on building your relationship every day, rather than just on the big occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day), you’ll have enough glue to stay together. Imagine a building made just of the main pillars with none of the filler material like concrete or walls. It would fall apart like a game of Jenga. (I’m really working on those analogies).
Even if you are in a happy relationship, it doesn’t hurt to keep use some of these tips to keep the home fires burning. After all it’s all the little things that count.
They’re Touchy-Feely I’m not talking about swapping spit or making out at a bar (I actually saw this once). Think more holding hands and sliding your arm around their waist. It’s been said that this makes couples happier.
They Put Their Phones Away I know it’s hard, but sometimes you have to stop checking your emails, Facebook and Instagram for five seconds so that you can actually connect. You know, like, with another human being and stuff. You can comment on each other’s posts at work, like everyone else.
They Say “I Love You” often than usual An “I love you” once a day keeps the divorce lawyer away. At least, that’s what I always say. It’s not enough to assume your partner knows you love them. You’ve got to say it! Affection comes in many forms, and words are one of them.
They Sleep Together No, you horn dog, I’m not talking about doing the deed (although that’s important, too). I’m talking about going to sleep together. Cuddling up next to the person you love is essential for bonding. It’s OK to stay up late some nights, but if you spend most of your evenings by the computer or the boob tube while your partner is sleeping, you’re killing your relationship softly.
They Communicate Which means no nagging, nit-picking or otherwise being a pain in the arse. Couples with harmonious relationships talk to each other when they have beef. They don’t trade barbs. If you’re upset about something, don’t keep it in. You’ll just end up blowing like a pressure cooker.
They Have Shared Interests
He may not share your love of gardening and you may not understand his obsession with Monday Night Football, but you should share common interests and activities that are fun for the both of you — and make a routine out of them. For you guys, it could be walking dogs at the animal shelter. Or trivia. Or canning tomatoes.
They Say “Thank You” It’s really the little things that make all the difference, and couples who thank each other show that they appreciate one another and value their relationship. It’s not just about being polite — saying “thank you” more can actually boost relationship happiness.
Our ‘Exclusive Story’ this edition gets real and raw showing us ‘there indeed is more to life than this!’ when Aurena talks about her journey as a healer and a life coach. It is such a pleasure to feature her, and we know you will love her story and tips just as much as we do!
So to speak, I was not fully aware of what exactly energy healing therapy was all about until I met Aurena Agathe Fohler, a holistic healer, a life coach and a spa consultant. It wasn’t until I had an energy healer, and my internal transmission occurred, I truly understood how the healer ignite a spark within me and ultimately inspired me to write this article about how energy healing actually works and how this creative practice promotes healing, wellness, coping and personal change.
Energy healing is a holistic practice that activates the body’s subtle energy system to remove blocks. By breaking these energetic blocks, the body’s inherent ability to heal itself is stimulated.
Energy healing dates back to the early 20th century. Chakras, the seven energy transmission centers of the body, are described in ancient Hindu texts. Meridians, the energy superhighways of the body, are the road maps on which traditional Chinese medicine practitioners based acupuncture. Although various ancient cultures used different modalities to stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal, they all saw internal energy as a powerful force of good.
Aurena, a woman, full of life with a great sense of humor and beautiful big eyes with the color of the sea after a storm, that speaks to your heart and touches your body mind and soul with powers to heal. Healing, indeed is a spiritual gift she has received as an extraordinary chrism, gifts of healing are supernatural enablements given to a believer to minister various kinds of healing and restoration to individuals through the power of mother earth and father heaven.
Our brains are focused on survival. Anything more than that, you have to work for it.
There’s an unfortunate reason why happiness is often elusive – our brains simply aren’t wired that way. Instead, our brains have evolved to survive, to protect ourselves, to keep us safe. Sure, we have moments of elation and periods of contentment and bliss. But many of us are plagued with persistent negative emotions – we are just plain stuck in the “blahs.”
How do we find more joy in our life? Like anything else, it takes practice to cultivate ongoing happiness. In a sense, we have to reset our baseline. It won’t happen overnight, but here are some things you can do every day to discover the secrets of being happier.
Focus on the positive
To find long-term happiness, you need to retrain your brain from a negative mindset to a positive mindset. Try these things: Spendone to two minutes looking for positives in your life. Do this three times a day for 45 days, and your brain will start doing it automatically.
Choose a positive mantra for the day — something you will repeat to yourself, such as “Today is beautiful” or “I feel grateful for all I have”. And when things go sour, take a moment to try and see it from a positive light. Never under estimate the importance of recognizing the silver linings in life.
Celebrate little victories
Life is full of ups and downs, but in between we have a lot of little victories that go unnoticed. Take a moment to celebrate these small wins.
Did you check off all the things on your ‘To-do’ list that you’ve been procrastinating on? Yay! Did you finally clear out the thousand emails that have been filling up your inbox? Woohoo! Take pleasure in these little achievements. They add up!
Find your work–life balance
Work takes up a lot of our day, but it shouldn’t be the only thing we do. It’s important to pursue activities and interests beyond our job. Do you have a hobby? Are you spending time with friends and loved ones? Are you getting exercise? Creating balance in your life will reduce stress and give you other outlets to express yourself and have fun.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness mediation, works by bringing your awareness and attention to the present moment. It’s about being non-judgmental and accepting how you are feeling. Practicing mindfulness means being present, aware and curious. Accepting what we are going through decreases stress and helps us see situations for what they are. Through mindfulness, we can find peace and affirmation in ourselves.
Celebrate little victories
You may think of artists as being moody and depressed but studies show that engaging in creative activities on a regular basis actually makes you happier. Those who spend time using their imagination and being creative have more enthusiasm and are more likely to have feelings of long-term happiness and well-being. Such creative activities can include writing, painting, drawing and musical performance.
Accept imperfection
Many of us strive for perfection – we desire to push ourselves to be our best. But in order to be truly happy, you mustembrace the imperfection that is part of life. Perfection is impossible, and holding ourselves and others to these standards is futile. We will always end up feeling let down. Accept that life is imperfect and recognize that there is beauty and grace in that imperfection.
‘’Don’t waste the best years of your life in a joyless job’’
Akna Goonaratne University of Deikin, Melbourne
Do what you love
It’s pretty hard to maintain happiness if you hate your job. Don’t waste the best years of your life in a joyless job, even if it’s paying the bills. What are you interested in? What are you truly passionate about? Focus on building a career in an area that motivates you and will provide you with a high level of satisfaction, and your happiness factor will go up exponentially.
Spend wisely
It’s tempting to believe that the more money you have the happier you’ll be. But the reality is, it’s how you spend your money that helps you feel happier. The key is to do it wisely. Spending money on experiences — travel, dining, and concerts and so on — can make us happier because we are sharing those experiences with others. Happiness connected to material possessions fades, but experiences help us define our purpose and passions in life.
Live in the moment
Our thoughts and feelings often revolve around the past or the future. Reality is what you are experiencing at this very moment; what you are going through right now. Sometimes we want to escape that reality. But when we stay in the present, we are fully engaged in our lives. Endeavor to live in the moment, and you’ll begin to have a deeper appreciation for your life.
Cultivate gratitude
Find ways to cultivate gratitude on a daily basis. Giving thanks and being grateful for all you have will make you happier and more content. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what you have received in life. Those gifts may be tangible or intangible. When you spend time each day acknowledging all that is good in life, you’ll see there is more good than you realize, and you’ll find that sadness, anxiety and depression are diminished.
‘’Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what you have received in life’’
Give back
Be generous with your time and your money. Give to others in need. Give to those you love and care for. Those who give back have a sense of selflessness and humanitarianism. Those who are generous in spending money on others tend to have good health, perhaps because giving has a feel-good effect that lowers blood pressure and stress.
Surprise yourself
It’s hard to feel happy if you are bored or feeling blah about life. Part of feeling happy is feeling stimulated, interested and a little surprised by life. So surprise yourself by setting goals outside your comfort zone. Put yourself in new or unexpected situations. Set goals for yourself and then work to achieve them. And remember to enjoy the ride!
Listen to and engage with music
Listening to music lifts our spirits. It makes us feel better, in part because listening to music causes our brains to release dopamine, a neurochemical connected to pleasure and reward. Those who engage with music through dance or through attending concerts report high levels of happiness and a sense of well-being.
You, be you
One of the best things you can do to boost your happiness is to just be yourself. That means not being dependent on the approval of others, but accepting yourself for who you are. Spend some time getting to know yourself. What defines you? What do you believe in? Who are you, underneath it all? Search for ways to be comfortable in your own skin.
Hang out with happy people
Ever hang out with a gloomy person and leave feeling bummed? That’s because moods can be contagious. It turns out that feelings can be transferred from one person to another, and the more we share experiences with one another, the more our emotions and behaviors become synchronized. One secret to long-term happiness is surrounding yourself with others who are also happy.
Nothing compares to you
Stop comparing yourself to everyone around you. Most importantly, stop comparing your things to all the things everyone else has. Social media has a way of making us feel like everyone else has it better than us. How often does scrolling through your newsfeed make you feel negative emotions? Allowing envy and resentment to take root, robs us of appreciating what we have.
‘’Constantly worrying about everything creates toxic anxiety’’
Stop worrying
Constantly worrying about everything creates toxic anxiety, where your mind is steeped in negative, spiraling thoughts. Worries plague your mind and make you afraid and apprehensive about things you often have no control over. Sometimes we believe that if we worry enough, we can keep bad things from happening. But the truth is, you cannot experience joy or even contentment when you’re consumed by worry.
Akna Goonaratne University of Deikin, Melbourne
Build meaningful relationships
Happiness, love, friendship and community go hand in hand. As humans, we have a fundamental need to interact and connect with others. We naturally seek our tribe – the people who will support us, understand us and be there for us through life’s roller-coaster ride. Without meaningful relationships, we are lonely and isolated. We’re happier when we pursue happiness with others.
Spend time in nature
Some researchers believe that today’s ultra-wired generation is actually suffering from a nature-deficit disorder. Studies have shown that the more time we spend in nature, and the more we relate to the natural world around us, the greater our sense of happiness. Our connection to nature also plays a role in maintaining positive mental health
Reminisce over happy memories
Why do we love all things retro? Perhaps because nostalgia makes us happy. Nostalgic feelings, or reminiscing about our past, can help us reconnect with feelings of love and a sense of wonder and fulfillment. Our past shapes us and defines our identity. When we remember good times and happy memories, we can increase our self-confidence and feel closer to those around us.
So to speak, I was not fully aware of what exactly 
