3 Exercises In Mental Training That Make You Happier

Is it possible to become happier just by performing exercises in mental training? The answer is yes! The last two decades of research in positive psychology have revealed that you can train your brain. You can actually change the way it works. This is done by raising the neuroplasticity, increasing the gray mass and strengthening the neural networks.

It’s just like there are specific exercises for specific muscle groups and physical qualities. In the same way, you can train different groups or mental abilities. This is mental training that will increase your overall happiness and your well-being.

But why do you need a happy brain? There is a simple answer to that. Scans of the cerebral cortex show that the brain produces more electrical activity after negative stimuli. Researchers believe this is because the brain tends to focus on the negative. To be more specific: it focuses on the “fight or flight” impulse.

You can train your brain to get rid of that negative impulse. At least sometimes when it’s not necessary. One of the best ways to do that is through positive thinking exercises. If you make these exercises part of your routine, you can begin to experience its positive changes in every area of ​​life.

In this article,  we will talk about 3 different exercises of mental training. These three help your brain to be happy and successful.

It is in human nature to think about what comes next. Which is the next goal to chase. This kind of optimism pushes you forward. It gives you the energy to keep going. But it loses a lot of power to be happy if you forget to be grateful for it.

Exercising gratitude is extremely powerful because it reminds you of everything you have. It can also underline a specific message: you do not need as many things as you think you need. Gratitude has been linked to many different physical and mental benefits. Happiness is one of them. So the first exercise in mental training is gratitude.

Whether you do it by saying that you are grateful for your breakfast or by keeping a gratitude diary, the most important thing is that you remember to say that you are grateful every day. By doing so, your brain focuses on the positive side of things and ignoring it only makes things more complicated. This is probably the easiest and most effective way to improve your well-being.

Breathing can have wonderful effects when you take control of it. Many people are unaware of its incredible potential as a relaxant and sedative. Anger, anxiety, fear, stress and tension can lead to shallow and unhealthy breathing.

All you need to do is breathe attentively for five minutes. It does not matter if you are sad or anxious. Spend only 5 minutes during your day focusing on your breathing. This is the beginning of a meditation exercise.

There are many studies that  show that smiles, whether natural or forced, produce “happiness” in body and soul. This is because smiles send out positive signals to your brain, for whatever reason.

A 30-year study on this subject was even conducted at the University of California, Berkeley. The researchers studied people’s smiles in old yearbooks and then measured their success and well-being.

The researchers studied things like how satisfying and lasting their marriage was. They created a points system and a standardized measure of well-being. They looked at how well these things foresaw the outcome of their lives. The people who smiled more in the yearbooks achieved a higher score in each category.

The truth is that smiles are a very simple exercise. Give yourself a chance to laugh and smile every day by seeing things you like. Spend time with people who make you happy, read fun things, etc…

Always remember to “put on” your smile and take it with you. Smile when you greet people, when you thank them and when you meet them for the first time. It’s easy, fun and satisfying. It will bring a lot of happiness, both to you and the person at the other end of the smile.