Kerstcadeautje: gelukkig 2011!

Ik schreef er al eerder over: de happy planet index. Brits onderzoek door de New Economics Foundation van o.a. Nic Marks wijst uit dat je gelukkig wordt van onderstaande vijf handelingen, mits regelmatig uitgevoerd. Het klinkt bijna te simpel… maar ik denk dat we allemaal wel eens ervaren hebben hoe waar dit is. Het leek mij wel een leuk cadeau aan jullie: een goed begin van het nieuwe jaar. Toch?

Connect
With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Be Active
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.

Take Notice
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are on a train, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.

Keep Learning
Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.

Give
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you.

En als je het niet gelooft, kijk dan nog even naar hoe Nic Marks het verhaal vertelde op TED

P.S. Nils Roemen (ja, broer) is in het kader van 7 Days of Inspiration bezig met een project om geluk zichtbaar te maken. Meer over zijn Bruto Nationaal Geluk project op zijn website.