Health And Wellness

How You Can Train Your Brain To Be Blissfully Happy In Seconds

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smiling woman

That's right, we now know the favorable formula for this sought-after state of bliss. According to the Mayo Clinic, happiness is out there for everyone — once they adopt the "my glass is half full" mentality. 

Can negative people actually do that?

You bet! According to Shawn Achor, you'll be much more optimistic and find happiness by doing five simple (positive) tasks each day for 21 days.

He suggests: Adopting a grateful heart, taking two-minute meditation breaks, performing short bursts of exercise, participating in random acts of kindness, and reliving one positive experience through the art of journaling.

RELATED: 5 Simple Choices That Can Shift Your Day From Blah To Blissful

Repetition is the secret to success

Just like the athletes that practice improving their skills, you too can make yourself happier by retraining your brain through repetition. If Achor's list seems daunting, simply choose one task to do for 21 days — even THAT will improve your mood.

RELATED: 10 Ways To Make Yourself Happier In 30 Seconds Or Less

Is brain training real?

Yep. When someone says that you can train your brain, what they're REALLY describing is how to create new neurological pathways. ​Wait, neuro—what?

Let me explain it this way, think back to the last time that you went sledding. The first, second, or even third time down the run was slow, bumpy, and not as fun as those final trips you made down the hill before you called it a day. 

That's because it took you going down the same lane several times to smooth down the bumps and create a fast track to the bottom.

RELATED: The Totally Odd, Utterly Counterintuitive Way To Finally Be Happy

The new way of thinking

The first few trips down the hill are essentially what you're doing when you force your brain to think in a new way. In the beginning, it seems impossible, like you will never get a fast sledding track. But the more you do it, the faster it becomes.

That's exactly what you do when you continually choose to change your negative perspective into a positive one. You create deeper grooves in your brain so that positive thoughts begin to flow faster and more naturally.

That means that you can start to see things in a positive light. For example, when someone cuts you off in traffic instead of cursing the driver's existence you'll seamlessly think, "That poor [insert profane word of choice] is late for something," with a smile on your face.

Don't knock it 'til you try it

Take the challenge! After all, it's only 21 days — that's less than a month. Start to change your brain one positive thought at a time (and become a happier, more optimistic you).

RELATED: How To Master The Art Of Being Happy In 15 Steps (Or Less!)

Jessica Miller is the author How To Start A Mental Health Private Practice. Her Youtube channel, Super Living has more relationship tips.