I was embarrassed!
Patients who had just been released from the hospital’s psychiatric unit caught me red-handed. I was leading a group therapy session about how important it is to focus on the positive – what you want instead of what you do not want. I went on and on explaining that when we think negatively the neo-cortex part of our brains triggers neuro-chemical emotions which correspond to those thoughts.

Not happy
I smoothly seque-wayed into explaining what the many symptoms of depression are. The patients had been listening, and stopped me and not so diplomatically pointed out I was focusing on the negative. Lesson learned! MY lesson learned.
The group decided that instead of learning symptoms of depression, they would create a list of symptoms of happiness.
Here’s their list:
Symptoms of Happiness
- Feeling good (or at least “decent”) most of the day, for two weeks or more.
- Eating an appropriate amount of food with good appetite.
- Sleeping well and awakening refreshed.
- Taking pleasure in most everyday activities and enjoying fun activities.
- Having a good energy level most of the day, every day, for two weeks or more.
- Having thoughts of fun or of good times to come.
- Being able to concentrate on the activity on hand.
- Feeling that one’s life matters.
- Able to exercise three times a week for half an hour, or more.
- Socialize in person or on the phone with 5 to 7 people each week. ( texting counts too)
- Laugh or at least smile every day.
-
Happy is as Happy Thinks
How many happiness “symptoms” do you have?
(even one is a start).
PA
Linda commented (below): Feeling grateful, enjoying nature, feeling loved, able to say “life is wonderful”.
Something to be practiced daily! I love your blog!!!
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Dear Anonymous,
We usually don’t publish comments from “anonymous” in an effort to control spammers but anyone who loves our blog we LOVE.
judy & peggy
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Feeling grateful, enjoying nature, feeling loved, able to say “life is wonderful”.
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Linda,
Great list! Gratitude is everything and shown to change the neurochemistry of our brain – gratitude for nature, love and life. We’ll add that to the post right now.
judy
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Happy to be here as always… Yes, some of these I do experience.. Thanks Judy.. RS
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Ramesh,
Thank you for commenting! – You are one of the most positive people I know as is evidenced by your beautiful poetry. People should check it out at A Little More than Ordinary
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This is the list I need, to memorize and practice. Yes, I do some, but I need to do more of these activities. I need to exercise more and eat less as I know reasonable attention to both activities will improve my overall outlook.
Thank you for the post.
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Shari,
Practice is the difficult part . . . Posting helps remind me. What’s the adage ? . . . Teach what you need to learn
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