How to Create Positive Emotions

Positive emotions foster mental and physical benefits. Positive emotions reduce psychological stress, and ease physical stress. Significant amounts of stress cause the brain sends to hormones into the blood stream that expand the blood vessels and thicken the blood platelets. Over long periods of time, this may contribute to negative psychological perceptions and early heart disease. Creating positive emotions can be done through listening to positive music, practicing positive "self-talk" and practicing other positive-emotion-building behavior.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pen

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Instructions

• 1

  Lay out a fresh sheet of paper and write down the things that you know make you happy. These could include spending time with a pet, going for a refreshing walk, winning a game or spending time with a cherished friend.

• 2

  Make a list of times and activities you were engaged in where the activity felt both effortless and refreshing. Note anything specific about the environment such as music, weather, time of day, furniture, food, places or people. Incorporate these elements into other areas of your life whenever possible.

• 3

  Make a plan to spend at least one day a week re-creating pleasurable things, such as exploration or pursuits of favorite hobbies or activities. The only purpose behind spending time doing these activities is to allow yourself to freely enjoy them.

• 4

  Write down a list of the most positive, curious or open-minded people you know. Tell them how much they mean to you.

• 5

  Make a list of the top 10 things that are most important to you in your life and why. Use emotion when you describe why these things are important to you.

• 6

  Spend time every day being grateful for things you might otherwise take for granted, such as your health, friends, home and others. Write down three things that happened to you during the day that were good and why every night before you go to bed.