{"id":1595,"date":"2018-02-12T02:01:43","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T02:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babysparks.com\/?p=1595"},"modified":"2022-05-04T11:01:51","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T19:01:51","slug":"happier-parent-happier-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/babysparks.com\/2018\/02\/12\/happier-parent-happier-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Happier Parent, Happier Child"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1860\" src=\"https:\/\/babysparks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20067a-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/babysparks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20067a-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/babysparks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/20067a.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Like any parent, you want to raise a happy child, and research tells us you can take steps to do that. One of those steps, and arguably the most important, is getting yourself on the happier end of the emotional spectrum. Put simply, happy children tend to come from happy homes, and you are the center of that home.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b><i>Highlights:\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research shows that happy parents are more likely to raise happy children.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents can build \u201chappiness habits\u201d by consistently practicing these scientifically-backed recommendations:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spend time with happy people.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cultivate close relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Express gratitude.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice self-compassion.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid comparing yourself to others.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing these habits can be difficult when struggling with mental health issues. Contact your healthcare provider if you\u2019re experiencing things like anxiety or depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If you\u2019re familiar with our BabySparks program, you know that our early experiences lay the groundwork for many outcomes, including whether or not happiness comes easily. Genetics can also play a role. Still, studies show that although it takes time and consistent practice, you can improve your mood and outlook.<\/p>\n<p>The key is to create \u201chappiness habits.\u201d There are plenty of science-backed ways to do this, but like any habit they require focus and repetition. It\u2019s the old muscle adage: Use it or lose it.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of muscles, exercise is always a good idea for many reasons, including increasing mood-boosting chemicals in your brain. But these five suggestions are easier, less sweaty ways to start moving the needle on your happiness level:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1) Spend time with happy people. <\/strong>Thanks to the discovery of \u201cmirror neurons\u201d in the brain, we\u2019ve learned that happiness-inducing actions like laughter are contagious. Consistently spending time with upbeat people can lift your mood. This doesn\u2019t mean connecting with friends who are on the serious side isn\u2019t also valuable. Read on to find out why.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2) Cultivate close relationships. <\/strong>A 75-year Harvard University <a href=\"http:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2017\/04\/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">study<\/a> found that the single most powerful piece of the happiness puzzle is relationships. Put simply, if you have people in your life that you love, and you love each other well, you will be happier. So whether it\u2019s giggling with a funny friend, having a deep talk with a serious one, or nurturing your marriage or connection with your children, relationships matter. A lot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3) Give thanks. <\/strong>Again and again, studies have established a strong link between gratitude and happiness. A simple way to reap the happiness benefits of gratitude is to keep a notebook next to your bed and write down 3 things you feel grateful for before you fall asleep each night. Other things that do the trick: Expressing gratitude to people in a heartfelt way. Text a friend to let her know you\u2019re thankful for her friendship. Tell your partner you appreciate him or her. Mention to the neighborhood kid who mows your lawn how much you value the work he does.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4) Spin the story. <\/strong>Instead of beating themselves up for making mistakes, happy people tend to weave self-compassion and silver linings into the stories of their lives. The work of world-renowned researcher <a href=\"http:\/\/self-compassion.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kristin Neff has established that self-compassion<\/a> is correlated with feeling content and fulfilled. Instead of criticizing yourself for a parenting moment gone awry, for instance, tell yourself that all parents stumble, you\u2019re doing your best, and you\u2019re learning along the way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5) Compare carefully. <\/strong>As Teddy Roosevelt famously said, \u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d Not surprisingly, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.concordia.ca\/cunews\/main\/releases\/2011\/03\/01\/regrets-study-examines-how-people-can-cope.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">research<\/a> shows that comparing yourself to people you believe have better lives than you makes you feel bad. This effect is exacerbated by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2015\/04\/150406144600.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">social media<\/a>, where the illusion of a better life is easily curated. What makes people feel better? Comparing themselves to people worse-off than they are. Spend less time measuring your value against the so-called supermoms, and instead give yourself a perspective-check by remembering that plenty of people in the world would love to have your life!<\/p>\n<p>While practicing these research-backed suggestions can set you on a happier path, they may not be enough for everyone. If you suffer from clinical depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, addiction or another similar issue, you may need to enlist the help of a doctor, a therapist, or both.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Like any parent, you want to raise a happy child, and research tells us you can take steps to do that. One of those steps, and arguably the most important,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1860,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[119,120,133,138,143,148,155],"age":[],"class_list":["post-1595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cognitive","tag-emotional-intelligence","tag-eq","tag-depression","tag-failure","tag-happiness","tag-mindfulness","tag-postpartum-depression"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"2.12.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["en","es"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"es":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.2 (Yoast SEO v25.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Happier Parent, Happier Child - 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