Edited from Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Classical Jewish sources speak extensively about happiness starting with the Torah itself which instructs us to 'rejoice in all the goodness that God has given you' (Deut. 26:11). Happiness is a skill that can be learned. Maimonides wrote nine centuries ago that the way to develop any positive trait is to practice doing that trait over and over again. When it comes to happiness, the more a person does positive acts of kindness, the more joy becomes part of our nature.
There is research that joy sparks the production of four "pleasure chemicals": Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphins. When you speak and act joyfully, you get spurts of those positive chemicals in the brain. Happiness is a choice, citing the adage of 18th century Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lutzatto: External movements arouse inner feelings. Even if you don't feel happy, act happy. You'll begin to feel happy!
The secret is an 8-word mantra: Joyful thoughts. Joyful feelings. Joyful words. Joyful actions. By repeating these words enthusiastically, 10 times a day for 5 seconds, you can constantly upgrade your attitude and become a master of happiness. We always have something to be joyful about. If a person's glass object would fall and break, and at that moment they receive the news of having won the lottery, would they be upset about the glass breaking? Of course not. So too, the joy of being alive should override anything we may find to complain about. To get a quick moment of joy, smile and wave to the mirror. It always smiles and waves back.
Classical Jewish sources speak extensively about happiness starting with the Torah itself which instructs us to 'rejoice in all the goodness that God has given you' (Deut. 26:11). Happiness is a skill that can be learned. Maimonides wrote nine centuries ago that the way to develop any positive trait is to practice doing that trait over and over again. When it comes to happiness, the more a person does positive acts of kindness, the more joy becomes part of our nature.
There is research that joy sparks the production of four "pleasure chemicals": Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin and Endorphins. When you speak and act joyfully, you get spurts of those positive chemicals in the brain. Happiness is a choice, citing the adage of 18th century Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lutzatto: External movements arouse inner feelings. Even if you don't feel happy, act happy. You'll begin to feel happy!
The secret is an 8-word mantra: Joyful thoughts. Joyful feelings. Joyful words. Joyful actions. By repeating these words enthusiastically, 10 times a day for 5 seconds, you can constantly upgrade your attitude and become a master of happiness. We always have something to be joyful about. If a person's glass object would fall and break, and at that moment they receive the news of having won the lottery, would they be upset about the glass breaking? Of course not. So too, the joy of being alive should override anything we may find to complain about. To get a quick moment of joy, smile and wave to the mirror. It always smiles and waves back.
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