7 Habits for a happy life

There are many ways a person can be happy. The Beatitudes Jesus gave us on the Sermon on the Mount share 8 of these. But I want to share with you 7 habits which can surely bolster our happiness. They are actually based on the acronym BLESSED - Beauty, Laughter, Encounter, Song, Silence, Engage and Devotion.

Beauty. Scripture tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), and St. Basil the Great taught that every flower, tree, bird and stream should lift our hearts toward the Creator. 

Laughter. Proverbs reminds us that “a cheerful heart is good medicine,” and research agrees. Laughter releases endorphins, stimulates dopamine, improves immune function and reduces stress hormones. Joy is not a luxury for Christians; it is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Encounter. Our daily relationship with God. There are several Catholic ways to remain connected to Christ, including Scripture meditation, the sacraments, Eucharistic Adoration, journaling, and simple prayers that can be woven throughout the day.  

Song and music. Scripture repeatedly calls us to sing God’s praises, because God is worthy of our praise. But there is also good scientific reasoning for it, too — studies show you just feel better. Whether singing hymns at Mass, praying through the Psalms, or listening to praise music, worship changes our hearts, our mindset, and our bodies.

Silence. It encompasses fasting and detachment, things that have become increasingly more difficult in our noisy, materialistic world. The Desert Fathers and countless saints understood that God’s first language is silence. 

Engage. One of the strongest findings in happiness research is that close relationships are the greatest predictor of long-term well-being. Loving relationships are the single strongest contributor to happiness and healthy aging. Christianity has always been about communion — with God and with one another. Studies even suggest that regular volunteering is associated with lower rates of depression, better health and greater longevity.

Devotion. Devout people are the happiest people, because they feel closer to the Almighty. Devote yourself to praying the Psalms, the Rosary, adoration in front of the Tabernacle, reading spiritual books.