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20 Simple Ways to Get Happy

rd.com — #18) "Give priority to close relationships." One study of more than 1,300 men and women of various ages found that those who had a lot of supportive friends were much more likely to have healthier blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar metabolism, and stress hormone levels than those with two or fewer close friends....

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  • sjbdallas, on 02/09/2008, -2/+33#21 Masturbate (I'll be happy for a few minutes, but then I get a guilty, dirty feeling)
    • surreal1111, on 02/09/2008, -1/+10Try using normal porn next time
    • designdraft, on 02/09/2008, -2/+8Phew, I thought I was the only one that felt guilty after blowing a load.
    • darkfish, on 02/09/2008, -1/+4But you must be *mindful* while masturbating!
    • eximious, on 02/09/2008, -2/+4I'm almost surprised they didn't list having an active sex life, especially in a long-term relationship. I'm sure "sex for one" activates most of the same beneficial pathways in the brain as regular sex does.
    • diggcensors, on 02/09/2008, -2/+2Oops, I guess i missed interpreted #16 "Spend Time Alone."
    • hello2usir, on 02/10/2008, -0/+2Why the hell would you feel guilty?
  • hanyoon, on 02/09/2008, -1/+19I'm usually happy when I'm out with my friends. Sure beats the hell out of Masturbating.
  • derian22, on 02/09/2008, -12/+10Enough with the ***** Reader's Digest posts, douchebag. They ***** suck. All of them.
    • homedaddy, on 02/09/2008, -5/+4anger makes me happy.
    • bg4468b, on 02/09/2008, -3/+2DiggSnobs bring joy to the hearts of all, don't they?

      Dude - turn your anger on something worthwhile. There's plenty out there...
    • known, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1Happiness? It' quite simple. Practice Altruism....
  • exodii, on 02/09/2008, -4/+1#23 Look at videos of Paris Hilton making a fool out of herself.
    • bingobongony, on 02/09/2008, -0/+7That is actually kind of sad for your life that you can only get happy when people that don't affect you in the slightest are down.
      • exodii, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1Just kidding, dude - and I dugg you up to prove it.
  • moletimer, on 02/09/2008, -5/+4Great article. Very helpful! Singing along and dancing to music, despite looking very silly, is actually awesome!
  • uziko, on 02/09/2008, -8/+2get some pussy
  • Vullkan, on 02/09/2008, -3/+11just smoke a spliff and every thing goes itself like in the list
  • whaleplushie, on 02/09/2008, -0/+7"8. Do one thing at a time". This does not make me happy; it makes me bored and robotic.
  • icepick314, on 02/09/2008, -3/+2#24 Point and laugh at all the antics of Britney Spears
    • sjbdallas, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1With the news about her manager coming out this week, i've actually started to feel sorry for her. When it was just her being stupid white trash whore it was funny, now, it's just sad. I'll be surprised if she makes it to 2009.
  • sdellboy, on 02/09/2008, -1/+6#25 "Load up on drugs and kill your friends."
  • dudefather, on 02/09/2008, -0/+13#25 http://icanhascheezburger.com/
  • Rotzooi, on 02/09/2008, -5/+4How does this asinine ***** make the frontpage!?
    • TheKillDoctor, on 02/09/2008, -0/+3Seriously? You don't know how Digg works?
      I think there's a help section around here somewhere...
  • Goodfeeling32, on 02/09/2008, -2/+4A quick tip from Buddhism : Whenever you're in a stressful environement, just try to have no thoughts at all crossing your brain for a few seconds.

    It's difficult, but meditating by focusing on your breath will help you to achieve this.
    • HibikiRush, on 02/09/2008, -0/+3How the hell are you supposed to do that? I can imagine it might be helpful yet at the same time hard to do...
      • Goodfeeling32, on 02/09/2008, -0/+2I used to be stressed in many environements, and I found out that if you want to overcome those daily stresses either you need to boost your confidence with pride, either you boost it with a control of your mind(emotions and thoughts).

        I couldn't do this quick mind void in the beginning, that's why I started learning meditation which basicaly consist on focusing on your breath and feel your body more and more for at least 5 minutes.
        Then once you're very focus on your breath during your meditation you can try to think only about positive things like how happy you are with the few you have(family, friends, yourself!) and even have compassion for people you don't like. You will enter a moment of pure happiness.
        Then after a few you can start trying having no thoughts at all.

        You'll be more able to apply this "making the void" tool in real life in different situations. (remember Obi-Wan's master taking a meditation break while fighting the red Sith in Star Wars E 1 :) )

        If you're interested in developping your mental skills efficiently you could start by checking some buddhist talks from the most famous and humored australian monk : Ajahn Brahm.(I got converted to buddhism only after hearing one of his talk lol!)

        http://www.bswa.org/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.ph ...

        Give it a shot, you won't regret it!

  • Azerael, on 02/09/2008, -0/+11Just realize that happiness is a biological construct that encourages you to do things that are evolutionarily beneficial and quit trying to chase it all the time.
  • WyldeJ, on 02/09/2008, -1/+4I thought this was a nice, well written article.
  • ragerz, on 02/09/2008, -5/+1#21 Don't do so much ecstasy...!
    • loaded12, on 02/09/2008, -2/+2#21 Do MORE extacy! :)
      • dorkino, on 02/09/2008, -0/+2Actually, do less. It burns out your seratonin and dopamine receptors in your brain, leaving you feeling generally depressed for some time afterwards.
  • eximious, on 02/09/2008, -3/+523) Get married (and stay married).

    Couples in long-term relationships live longer than single folk and have lower stress levels. Don't go into your golden years alone!
    • HibikiRush, on 02/09/2008, -0/+624). Enjoy the constant sex you will be receiving due to being married. Oh wait, nevermind....
  • NinjaPirateDude, on 02/09/2008, -0/+6all i do is think about my life for a second, realise how great it is, then go to bed to wake up the next morning and have pancakes,mmmmm i love me some pancakes.
    • veeblefetzer, on 02/09/2008, -1/+0This comment is better than that whole article.
    • sjbdallas, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1Being a Ninja-Pirate would be cool.
  • Zadkiel, on 02/09/2008, -1/+1Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar
    http://www.amazon.com/Happier-Learn-Secrets-Lastin ...
  • Hackdaddy, on 02/09/2008, -4/+12Maybe it's just me, but the numerous wars that America has started really makes me unhappy. The greed, evil, and blindness of this nation is pathetic. War is murder. Collective murder. We are all responsible for it.

    This nation invented nuclear weapons in 1945 and we spend more on defense than the whole world combined. I doubt there's any threat to our country. 911 does not count because the military stood down and perhaps even participated. If after all these years later and the planned quagmire in Iraq you still buy the government's excuses, well I feel sorry for you. That's a lot responsibility to be that clueless.

    Even worse are the ***** that actually think Bush is a Christian. More like a devil-worshiper if you judge by his actions.

    I think that God would pretty much agree that this is a nation of complete *****. I hate you ***** bastards.

  • littlegrubber, on 02/09/2008, -3/+4#26 Don't read 20 ways to get happy lists
  • viralblink, on 02/09/2008, -0/+5Simple things do seem to matter the most.

    I'm happy :)
  • yellowsnowcone, on 02/09/2008, -1/+5How come these lists never mention the obvious, like "go have sex"?
  • stonedslacker, on 02/09/2008, -0/+1#27 Join Scientology

    /sarcasm
  • amanspace, on 02/09/2008, -3/+0Very beautiful article! :)
  • Terrk, on 02/09/2008, -0/+8Honestly, one of the best times of my life is when I went Christmas shopping for a family in need. That was so much fun. I've notice the more I give away, the more I seem to have. So stop being so damn selfish!



    Another thing we do is depend on people way to much. Just take a second, put your hand over your heart, and realize that you're alive. You are breathing. Just think about how amazing the human body is! Every time someone puts me down, I always think "hey, they are just a person. What they said may or may not be true...But I'm ***** alive!"
    I tend to do this every day before I go to work, because the air force can be a stressful environment!

  • leerayIG88, on 02/09/2008, -2/+2Crack, Porn, and Women.
  • coolnewuser, on 02/09/2008, -2/+021st. Read this post!
  • nherd, on 02/09/2008, -3/+0pwned ???
    #19 ... actively religious people are happier and cope better with CHESS!!

  • Shadez, on 02/09/2008, -1/+17. Make a list.

    Explains all the top x lists on digg?
  • retrorambler, on 02/09/2008, -0/+4Number one is the most important and is also the hardest. I think everybody has a very hard time being in the moment. Most of our unhappiness comes from grasping for things. If we relax with uncertainty we will be more happy. We grasp for things in the future that we cannot predict, we grasp for things in the past that we cannot change. It all keeps us from seeking fulfillment right here and now.
  • amcorona, on 02/09/2008, -1/+1Who needs friends when I can go off on people on xbox live?
  • benkrembs, on 02/09/2008, -2/+1I stopped reading the list at the "Gardening" recommendation.
  • flawlessjess, on 02/09/2008, -2/+2Sex, good nights sleep, partying hard, alcohol, not reading top 10-whatever lists spread across multiple pages
  • Ikulus, on 02/09/2008, -0/+4I do most of those things and I'm not happy.
  • daxsymbiont, on 02/09/2008, -0/+2"laugh out loud", "Hum along", "Scent the air", "Ignore the stock market".

    lol, you might as well register to a mental institution.

    life is not a collection of "tips".
  • daxsymbiont, on 02/09/2008, -2/+10. ***** "tips" that only scratch the surface.
  • jevinel, on 02/09/2008, -1/+0gardening? how come?
  • GunsGermsSteel, on 02/09/2008, -0/+2Rassle polar bears (although I guess that falls under "give priority to close relationships).
  • bdbr, on 02/09/2008, -1/+4#28 Put your article on two pages and double your advertising revenue.
  • RhodesSkolar, on 02/09/2008, -0/+0For a good laugh, I look in the mirror.
  • soul1383, on 02/09/2008, -0/+2#29 breathe
  • paragonwealth, on 02/19/2008, -0/+1Excellent article. It's funny how the simple things in life always make us the happiest. Most people think money is the key to happiness, but it isn't lasting. Read "Money and Happiness" by Dave Young at www.moneymanagerslive.com.
  • counseling, on 02/20/2008, -0/+0Great suggestions, but this story missed one of the best ways to become a healthier, happier, and more satisfied person: counseling and psychotherapy. My experience as a therapist is that many self-help techniques are useful, but unless one deals with the old wounds one harbors, there will remain a glass ceiling on the level of happiness one can achieve. Most Americans focus on the future, on improving, and on compensating for conscious and unconscious negative feelings and beliefs. Psychotherapy & counseling helps people to transform these obstacles rather than avoid them. For more info on healthy psychotherapy, visit http://www.GoodTherapy.org
  • portos12, on 06/26/2008, -0/+1Happiness is a key to good life.
    http://www.bluedune.net
    http://www.e-uuu.com
  •  

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