英語美文：會讓你很開心的14件事

　　摘要：你曾遇到過這樣的人嗎?無論把他們丟在什么樣的生活境況下，貌似他們總能從容面對。他們可能是在遵循某個幸福公式，你同樣也可以提高自己的幸福指數(shù)，做下面這14件經過證明可以讓你開心的事情。

　　Do you ever come across those people who are always upbeat and no matter what life throws at them, they just seem to roll with the punches? It’s quite possible they’re following a formula for happiness–right now. You can increase your own happiness quotient by doing these 14 things proven to make you happy.

　　1. Start with a Good Dose of Gratitude

　　你曾遇到過這樣的人嗎?無論把他們丟在什么樣的生活境況下，貌似他們總能從容面對。他們可能是在遵循某個幸福公式，你同樣也可以提高自己的幸福指數(shù)，做下面這14件經過證明可以讓你開心的事情。

　　以一顆感恩的心開始一天的美好生活

會讓你很開心的14件事

　　Being consciously aware of what you’re thankful for can actually change your level of happiness. When you wake up each morning, spend time recalling all the things for which you feel grateful. Start with simple things: Do you have a roof over your head? Enough to eat? It might be helpful to start a gratitude journal.

　　自覺地意識到你的感激之情實際上會改變幸福感受。每天早上醒來的時候，回想一下所有讓你有感激之情的事情。從簡單的小事開始：住得好嗎?吃得好嗎?開始寫感恩日記會很有用。

　　2. Make Sure You’re Giving Back

　　一定要回報

　　Do you give 10% of your income to your favorite charity or church? There’s something about giving that allows you to receive more in return besides just the awesome act of giving to help others. When you give, you’re sending a message to the Universe that you know everything’s going to be all right. By giving, you’ll be taken care of, too. You see it from those with very little to those who have millions: you have to give to get and by doing that, your happiness increases.

　　你把10%的收入捐給你最喜歡的慈善機構或教會了嗎?關于給予付出，除了這種超贊的助人行為之外，還會讓你得到更多的回報。在你給予付出的時候，你是在向宇宙?zhèn)鬟f一種正能量：一切都會好的。通過對他人的給予付出，你也會得到關心照顧。在你看來你的給予是那樣的微不足道，對于那些人而言卻是幫了一個大忙：奉獻了給予了才能得到，這樣做了，你的幸福感才會增加。

　　3. Laugh Every Day (It’s Better than Money)

　　笑對每天(笑容比金錢美好)

　　Do you spend time each day laughing? Do you purposefully find something to laugh about? When you laugh, you release a happy hormone called oxytocin. It’s a hormone that uplifts us as we share experiences with others. Even just making yourself smile will put you in a better place.

　　你是笑對每天的嗎?你有沒有有意識的去尋找讓你發(fā)笑的事物?人在笑的時候，釋放一種稱為催生素的快樂荷爾蒙。在我們與他人分享經歷時，這種荷爾蒙讓我們的情緒高漲。甚至只是讓自己微笑，也會讓你有個好情緒。

　　4. Foster Good Relationships with Family and Friends

　　和家人、朋友培養(yǎng)感情

　　Happy people don’t spend large amounts of time alone. By spending time with people you like, you forge supportive relationships that help you in times of stress. You also bond with others through common experiences, such as life’s ups and downs. They become your support network. People who don’t spend as much time with family or friends are more prone to loneliness and depression.

　　快樂的人大多數(shù)的時光都不自處，而是和自己喜歡的人相處，和家人朋友培養(yǎng)感情有助于你排解壓力。還可以通過共同的經歷與他人建立聯(lián)系，例如，探討一下生活中的苦辣酸甜。家人朋友都會成為你的支持力量。不找時間和家人或朋友多多相處的人，更易于孤獨抑郁。

　　5. Take Some Alone Time

　　找時間獨處

　　In contrast to spending time with family and friends, it’s important to step back and take some time for yourself, by yourself. You can recharge your spirit and find a little peace in a little bit of silence. Taking some time away and being alone can do wonders for your mood and outlook.

　　除了找時間和家人朋友相處外，還要找時間自己獨處，這一點也很重要。找時間讓自己沉默平和一下，你會更有精氣神兒。找時間獨處一下的確會對你的心境情緒有好處。

　　6. Do What You Love

　　做自己喜歡做的事情

　　Have you ever heard the phrase, “Do what you love, because the money will follow?” Doing things that you love to do–and even better, getting paid for it–are good ways to boost your levels of happiness. When work feels like play, you’re more likely to enjoy other aspects of your life better, too.

　　你曾聽說過這個說法嗎?“做自己愛做的事情，金錢會隨之而來。” 把自己喜歡做的事情做好了，是從中獲得回報提升幸福感的好方式。當工作變得像玩樂般輕松，你也更能享受生命中其它方面的快樂。

　　7. Volunteer Your Time

　　奉獻你的時間

　　When you give of yourself, either by time or talent, your focus shifts from your life to that of others, helping you realize that, just maybe, your own problems aren’t that bad. You invariably forge new relationships and experience an uplift in your spirit.

　　當你奉獻你的時間或你的才華時，你把人生關注點轉移到別人身上，有助于你認識到這一點：或許你自己遇到的問題其實并不那么糟，總能錘煉新的感受并體驗精神上的升華。

　　8. Get Enough Exercise

　　多鍛煉身體

　　When you take time out for exercise, you’re doing your body good in more ways than one. First, you’re doing what it was designed to do: physical exertion. Humans were made to move around and the body works best when it does what it was meant to do. Second, as you exercise, you release those same feel-good hormones as mentioned above. Third, when you take some time to exert yourself, you reduce your stress levels. All around, you need exercise to function optimally.

　　多找時間到戶外鍛煉身體，多活動身體總比身體始終處于一個模式好。首先，你的身體處于設定模式：強體力活動。身體狀況會反應出來你是怎樣對待身體的。其次，你健身的話，同樣會釋放一種上文所提到的感覺良好的荷爾蒙。第三，找時間健身會達到減壓的效果?？傊?，你需要運動鍛煉保持最佳的身體狀況。

　　9. Avoid Regrets

　　別讓自己有遺憾

　　We all make mistakes in life–that’s part of the human condition. But with a little forethought, you can try to avoid making big mistakes. Even then, they still happen. That’s when it’s best to learn to forgive–yourself and others–because everyone else just trying to get through life the best they can, too. They’ll make mistakes, but the trick is, moving on from them.

　　一生中我們都會犯錯誤，這是人類社會的一部分。但是稍微多考慮一下，盡量避免出大錯。即使這樣卻還是會出錯。最好學著去原諒自己、原諒別人，因為別人也在盡力把日子過到最好。他們會犯錯誤，但技巧在于要從他們身上吸取教訓改進自己。

　　10. Take Time to Meditate

　　找時間沉思冥想

　　Sitting down, lighting a candle and doing some deep breathing for ten minutes are all it takes to relax your mind and body. In doing so, you get in touch with your inner-self, and invariably, you’ll get to know yourself a little better. That’s definitely a booster on the happiness scale.

　　坐下來、點上蠟燭、做十分鐘的深呼吸讓身心放松。這樣你會接觸抵達你的內心深處，并且還能對你自己更好地了解一下。沉思冥想絕對是幸福的助推器。

　　11. Deal With Clutter

　　理順一下雜亂無章的生活

　　Are you overrun with books and papers piled everywhere? Too much mail sitting on the hall table? Why not tackle a small task each day for a month in an effort to de-clutter your life? When you’re not running around looking for items you can’t find, when everything has its place, you’ll automatically be less stressed and in a better mental state.

　　你把書和紙堆的到處都是嗎?桌面上掛著太多的郵件?為什么不每天處理一項小的任務，努力堅持一個月的時間，來理順你雜亂無章的生活?你不再為找不到東西而焦頭爛額，你的每樣東西都有固定地方，你自然就不會把自己搞得那么緊張有壓力，而且會有一種比較好的精神狀態(tài)。

　　12. Get Enough Rest

　　充分地休息好

　　Ever notice how cranky you are the afternoon when you’ve only had five or six hours of sleep? Many of us are suffering from sleep deprivation which can lead to higher levels of stress and edginess. After a good night of sleep, you can tackle your daily tasks in a more calm, alert way. It’s so much better than experiencing that awful sluggish feeling in that oh-so-important meeting with your boss. Your body will thank you, too.

　　你有沒有注意到，在只睡了五六個小時的情況下，第二天下午你就會陷入暴躁的狀態(tài)?我們大多數(shù)人在睡眠不足時會有更大的壓力感和焦躁感。晚上睡個好覺，處理日常工作任務就會更加精力集中、冷靜鎮(zhèn)定。與老板開會時，精神煥發(fā)總比全身慵懶松散的感覺好。你的身體也會感謝你讓它充分地休息好了。

　　13. Eat Healthier Foods

　　吃健康食品

　　You’ve heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” It’s true. If you spend your time eating package after package of boxed noodles, canned dinners or fast food, your body is going to let you know by gaining weight, feeling sluggish, and quite possibly having a host of health problems. How can you look and feel your best if the foods you eat are not good for you? By eating better you’re not only taking care of yourself, but you’ll also feel more vibrant and energetic. You’ll literally be healthier from the inside out.

　　可曾聽過這種說法：“吃得好身體好。” 真是這樣。如果你經常吃速食面、罐裝食品或快餐，你的身體也會給你釋放出不好的信號：體重增加、無精打采，而且身體很可能會出現(xiàn)一系列的健康問題。如果你吃得不好怎么可能會有最好的氣色和感覺呢?吃得好不僅能照顧好自己的身體，也會感覺自己更加精力充沛。你會感覺到自己那種由內而外的健康狀態(tài)。

　　14. Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

　　不拿自己和別人做比較

　　This is definitely easier said than done, but if you can condition your mind to focus on the good that you are doing and the good things in your life, you’re not going to be tempted to focus on how others are doing.

　　這絕對是說起來容易做起來難，但是如果你能集中精力把自己的事情做好，并關注生命中的美好，你就不會被誘惑去好奇地關注別人怎么做。