We've enlisted the help of Dr Andy Cope and Gavin Oattes, authors of upcoming book, SHINE rediscovering your energy, happiness and purpose, to share seven ways you can boost your mood - even when you're feeling at rock bottom. You're welcome.
1. Plot twist
Your life is a story and you’re the author. You might not be able to change the events that have happened, but you can re-cast yourself as the hero. That changes how you view the past and, spookily, will affect how you approach the future.
Change your language. In the same way that in the 1980s ‘problems’ became ‘challenges’ we’d like you to start saying ‘plot twist!’ So when something doesn’t go according to plan, it’s not a nightmare, crisis, challenge or problem, it’s merely a plot twist.
2. Let it go
We’ve all been wronged, treated unfairly, dissed, dismissed, abused and upset. As someone once said to me, ‘I haven’t got time for any new wounds – my old wounds are still healing.’ It’s time to let it all go and move on because, guess what, the world has finished with your past if you have.
3. Shine-tinted specs
Everyone knows and understands déjà vu, that feeling of familiarity, an experience that has happened to you before. Very few know the opposite, vujà dé, which is when we see a familiar situation through new eyes.
Rose-tinted spectacles are so last millennium. We’re offering you an upgrade to ‘shine-tinted’. Not only will they help with your vujà dé, they also allow you to illuminate wonderful experiences that most people miss.
4. Celebrate bad stuff that didn't happen
The accident you didn’t have, the headache you didn’t suffer, the supermarket queue that wasn’t there, the lack of red traffic lights on the way home, the train that wasn’t delayed… have a go, it’s fabulous fun.
5. Scratch your itch
We all need that something special, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It’s the cape. What’s your cape? Think of the cape as your purpose, your why. You can survive without it, but with it, you fly. The Japanese call it your Ikigai. Pronounced ‘itchy-guy’. Your itchy-guy is your drive - the reason you get up in the morning.
6. Plenty of the F-word
Failure. Dirty, rotten, foulmouthed, despicable failure. The truth is simple; if we’re unwilling to fail, we’re unwilling to succeed.
7. Get snuggly
The secret to happiness seems to be in embracing the snuggles. Here’s a raft of new words for you; we think you’ll notice a theme:
- Mysa [Swedish] to be engaged in a pleasant or comfortable activity; to be content or comfortable; to get cosy; to snuggle up.
- Peiskos [Norwegian] Lit. Fireplace coziness, sitting in front of a crackling fireplace enjoying the warmth.
- Hygge [Danish] enjoying life’s simple pleasures. Coziness. Snuggliness.
Feeling happier already? We thought so.
