Words by Smiley Team
Living a happier lifestyle is important for all of us – but one important thing to remember is that it shouldn’t be a journey you take alone.
Alex Nunn, head of movement building at Action for Happiness, supports hundreds of volunteers to run local community-building courses at the charity. One thing he is passionate about is connection and being aware of people around us.
So how can we cultivate a happier life through connecting with others?
Firstly, don’t assume you know what happiness means, says Alex. ‘Happier living’, as Action for Happiness often refer to, is a full emotional experience with meaning and deep connections – it’s not being happy and jolly every single day.
[Read more: 5 small actions that can boost your wellbeing]
The more we live alone, the more we focus on ourselves, continues Alex, and the most angst-ridden and challenging our life may become. “When you focus on your own happiness, a couple of things happen,” he says. “One, is you find things that make you happy, like gratitude for example. And you notice things making you unhappy.
“Another part, and a final piece of the puzzle, is the importance of other people in our lives – whether that’s family, mentor, friends,” he says. “If you recognise the role of other people in your life, you really get that sense of interconnection.”
Happier, kinder, together – that’s the motto for Action for Happiness. So how can we make sure we take that on board in our day to day lives?
Make time for these connections, says Alex. “Actually take time to reflect on and appreciate all the ways people are, and have been, involved in your life.”
When you are with these people, make time to really listen to them and have conversations that really matter. Not just about football and what’s on TV, says Alex, but making yourself a bit more vulnerable to them. “A key skill is making sure you listen as much as you offer.”
“If you have an aspect of yourself you are exploring, sometimes it can be helpful to connect with new people who are exploring the same thing,” says Alex. These people will “get it” seeking out new relationships will enhance that aspect of yourself.
Ultimately, says Alex, relationships can be where you store parts of yourself, so you can recover them when you lose it. “That’s why communities are so powerful,” he says. “They are built up in a way that is regenerative in itself – not just you making an effort and then it’s gone.”
Find out more at Action for Happiness, the movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society. Visit their Instagram to find out more, too. And donate here.
