Hypnotist Paul McKenna promises he can make you happy – even in 2020

1. Give yourself happy vision

THIS technique is an instant mood booster.

When we move our eyes in different directions we access different parts of the brain and we disrupt negative thought processes.

1. Remember a time when you felt unhappy, just enough to have a little bit of that feeling again.
2. Look up at the ceiling for at least 30 seconds, trying to see the tips of your eyebrows. You should feel just a gentle strain on your eye muscles.
3. Keeping your head still, and thinking of that feeling, slowly move your eyes from side to side, so that you are looking up left and up right, back and forth 20 times.
4. Now, with your head remaining still, look up and down 20 times.
5. Now, still keeping aware of the feeling, even as it is diminishing, move your eyes in a “figure of eight” 20 times, and then in a “figure of eight” in the opposite direction 20 times.
6. Now look straight ahead and notice how much you have reduced the feeling. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4 and 5 if you want to reduce it more.
7. Do not let yourself look downwards for any length of time until you feel OK again.
8. If you feel miserable feelings coming back, look up again and go back to step 2.

2. Find your happiness keys

EACH of us has individual keys to happiness.

My seven are health; love; laughter; loyalty; creativity; gratitude; generosity. You can use yours to unlock joy.

1. Ask yourself: “What is most important to me?” It could be your family, your career, money, health.
2. Choose the most important things in your life. Take each one in turn and ask yourself: “What is it about this that is important to me?” If family is important to you then ask yourself: “What is it that’s important to me about family?” The answer might be: “Enjoying every day”. Ask yourself again: “What is important about that?” and the answer might be “love”.
3. Keep asking: “What is it about this that is important to me?” until you reach the value or “key” that drives it.
4. Work through each of your most important things and write a list of all the values that underpin them. These are your core values. I have seven, you may have more or fewer.
5. Now every day re-read the list – pin it somewhere where you can see it.
6. Then ask yourself every day: “How can I live my values today?”
   Make a note now to ask yourself three questions every day for the next week:
   A: Have I lived by my values?
   B: Has my life been enriched?
   C: Do I need to adjust or add another value to my list?

3. Keep a gratitude diary

KEEP a happiness diary on a computer, in a notebook or on your phone.
Each day write down five things that you are grateful for.

For instance: Today I am grateful for: My health, a good night’s sleep, the taste of my first cup of tea in the morning, my wife and the sunlight on the puddles in the road when I walked my dog.

If you feel low, read back what you have written to give you a boost.

And keep adding to your list to remind yourself of the good things you have.

4. The happiness posture

THIS simple act – done either standing or sitting – can change your mood as the body affects the mind and vice versa.

1. Imagine there is a silver thread coming down from the sky that is gently pulling you up from the top of your head. Imagine letting that thread hold your head upright.
2. Let your shoulders drop down and back. Feel your back being lifted up by your neck until your head feels like it’s floating on your shoulders.
3. Now let your shoulders drop a bit more. Imagine that silver thread holding your head up and let it support your whole body. With each breath, let yourself relax a bit more, keeping that upright stance. Hold for a minute.

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