The primary objective of every human being is, in addition to surviving in the vast daily chaos, to find inner serenity.
We are in the constant search for happiness. We look for her in contact with other people, in the family, during office hours and while we have fun in our minds doing activities that fascinate us.
We do everything we can to live in peace.
The world in which we live, however, does nothing but put a key on the sore spot: tests to be done, a meeting to be prepared, an urgent project to be delivered tomorrow. There are many ways in which the outside world affects our inner calm, transforming our thoughts into a hurricane of emotions and sensations that more closely resemble a real earthquake.
So, what, then? How to live in peace? Do you have to resign yourself?
Of course not, why should you? Do you see only stressed out people around you? I don't think so. And do you know why? They have learned to better manage their anxieties to enjoy a life of happiness.
Here are five helpful tips that are approved by science and allow you to adjust your days without being overwhelmed by bad thoughts.
5 scientifically proven tricks for happiness
1. Set a time to worry about
Living in a state of perennial anxiety doesn't suit you. It leads to a series of negative results that affect your mind but also your body.
However, this does not mean that you should avoid at all costs what frightens or creates anxiety. Worries are part of our existence. They are our life. Without them, we could not weigh our decisions and see if we are going in the right direction.
So how can we live in peace and come to terms with our heads?
The right compromise, according to some recent studies, is to schedule a 30-minute cut every day to address your concerns.
One such scientific study was conducted in 2011 by Penn State University and published in July 2011 in the Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. In this case, the researchers, led by Tom Borkovec, were able to implement a four-step program to help them control their anxieties.
In this way, you create a healthy daily habit in which you focus your attention only on your problems and think of nothing else. This leads to a better and more serene life, because for the rest of the day you will feel free and free from oppression.
2. Internet employee? Learn to adapt!
The network is now a great help in developing, simplifying and maintaining remote relationships. With applications like Skype, Facebook and Twitter, we can keep in touch with people around the world, creating a collection of friendships and useful business skills for the future.
However, all this is also a double-edged sword.
If your life revolves around the virtual world, maybe you should start thinking that something is wrong, because checking Facebook notifications every minute for connections, tastes and actions is not good for your mental health.
On the contrary, your anxiety increases exponentially. And you want to learn to live in peace, don't you? So it's time to turn off your laptop and smartphone too! Look what I saw in there!
No matter how much positivity it has brought into our lives, technology can increase anxiety.
I'm not saying this, but a study by Anxiety UK published in July 2012 says that about half of people feel anxious and uncomfortable when they can't receive email or check social networks.
This result shows that we may need to regain control of technological devices rather than be crushed by them. Remember that they are not indispensable.
Think about what you're missing, there's a world waiting to be explored. Release your anxiety and try to find your happiness by discovering new things, without computers or smartphones. At least for one day.
3. Be mindful: Accept and Pass on the Problem
This part takes up a bit of point one when I suggested that you take half an hour of your time during the day to think about your concerns.
This is because living in a constant state of anxiety leads to a dangerous cycle that is difficult to get out of. But it is also important to avoid thinking about it.
Its goal must be one: to go further.
A study published in 2005 in the journal Behaviour Research showed that people who try to suppress problems inevitably end up being overwhelmed by them. Those who, on the other hand, lend themselves to a less obsessive attitude seem to live with less anxiety and more serenity.
The advice given, therefore, is to take note of the situation, accept it and move on with your life.
4. Write your thoughts in a journal
Writing is one of the best remedies for stress. It may sound strange, but when you have a pen in your hand, your whole world takes a different turn. Quieter, quieter. More peaceful. More blessed.
But why do you feel better when you write your thoughts in a journal?
The answer is simpler than you think. Putting your anxieties and concerns on paper makes them real. Look at them. They're over there.
And if you think you should only increase your negative mood, you're wrong. Once you have written them down, you have imprisoned them in those pages and you will never have to worry about them again. It's like they moved from your head to the paper.
Science also seems to agree and explains it with a 2011 University of Chicago study published later in the journal Science. This was able to demonstrate how writing influences people's emotional state in a positive way.
5. The meditation
Yoga and the art of meditation can be really useful for living in peace, because they reduce anxiety and stress. In what sense?
A study published in 2013 by the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience shows that meditation reduces anxiety levels and has beneficial effects on the cerebral cortex.
Take a yoga course or, if you prefer, take some time for yourself and meditate alone. The key to how to live in peace is within you, you just need to know how to look for it.