Increasing Happiness Help in Maumelle, AR—Therapists and Counselors

When people turn on the evening news, they hear the daily report of how crazy and chaotic life can be. That is not even counting the hardships people face in their personal lives. Life is a rollercoaster, and no one gets a free pass. However, some people grimace throughout the ride while others throw their hands up and smile. These happy people are the ones who sing along with Pharrell,

Here come bad news talking this and that
Yeah, give me all you got, don’t hold back
Yeah, well I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine
Yeah, no offense to you don’t waste your time
Here’s why: Because I’m happy…
—“Happy”

Sure, happy people feel frustrated, disappointed, or sad at times, but the overarching trajectory of their life is joyful. How do they maintain their smile despite life’s difficulties? Everyone online expert has a suggestion: Give up these foods… Yoga helps… Stand in a power pose before starting the day… Get more sleep. But can people actually become happier? New research says, yes, people can learn to become happier.

In many ways, emotional happiness and physical strength are parallel concepts. People have their own, unique level of strength, but with consistent, beneficial exercises, anyone can grow stronger. They might not become body builders, but people can improve their physical strength. Similarly, people experience a unique level of happiness, but with consistent emotional exercises, they can grow happier. Many people want to be happier, and they are turning to mental health professionals to help them distinguish between clickbait and psychologically beneficial exercises.

The professionals at Thriveworks Maumelle are seeing more and more clients who are prioritizing their happiness. These clients are ready to build up their emotional strength, and our professionals are ready to guide the process.

How Do Happy Feelings Form?

Think about the following situations. Have you ever had this or something similar happen to you?

• You have had one of the best weeks of your life because your team finally pulled out a win in the big game.
• During a fun night with friends, your ex- sends a random text message. The evening and several days following are ruined.

If you are like most people, you can relate on some level. The details may differ, but the formula is the same: favorable outcome=happiness. Unfavorable outcome=negative emotional state. Most people have fused their happiness to events and people—these outcomes—that they cannot control.

Certainly, other people and outside circumstances affect people’s happiness, but people often have much more power of their own joy than they exert. Happy people look inward instead of outward for the source of their joy. Happy people often take action when they can—cutting out negative emotional habits and practicing positive ones. These small changes often yield big dividends.

Cutting Out Negativity

People indulge certain emotional patterns that cultivate negativity instead of happiness. Identifying these patterns and cutting them out can create a lot of joy in people’s lives. A few examples of negative emotional patterns include:

• Entitlement: Happiness is pursued and earned, not passively given. The Declaration of Independence describes it well, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
• Blame: Placing responsibility for one’s happiness upon a random force, such as the weather, means there is an easy excuse not to be happy. It is often easier to point fingers and place blame instead of doing the emotional work that cultivates joy.
• Comparison: Looking over one’s should to see what others have and what others do often leads toward bitterness, not joy. Happy people take life on its own merits, not in comparison to others.

Practicing Positivity

When people stop wasting time and energy on negative emotional habits, they usually have space to form positive emotional habits. Skilled counselors can point people toward mental health exercises that work best for them. These habits may feel difficult at first, but over time, they often become easier—much like physical exercise. A few examples of positive emotional habits include:

• Goalsetting – Working toward an achievable target can bring clarity and focus to people’s days. Achieving the goal also builds confidence.
• Changing one’s mindset – People can learn new information, look at situations from different angles, and build new skillsets if they are open to change.
• Practicing mindfulness – Being present in the moment means people are growing in their self-awareness and their self-understanding. Notice every thought, sensation, and feeling.
• Promoting thankfulness – When people take time to write down or talk about what they are grateful for, they are training themselves to notice the goodness, beauty, and kindness in their lives.

Help for Increased Happiness: Counseling at Thriveworks Maumelle

Are you ready to prioritize your happiness? If so, you are not alone. With time and focused attention, people can learn how to be happier. Many people are looking to mental health professionals to guide them toward a more joyful life. Thriveworks Maumelle offers counseling for increased happiness, and we have appointments available. Let’s get started.

When you call Thriveworks Maumelle, know that we accept most forms of insurance. We also offer evening and weekend appointments. We do not keep a waitlist. A real person answers our phones—not a voicemail, not an automated teller.

If you are ready to get started, we are ready to help. Contact Thriveworks Maumelle today.