How do you feel? You know, at the end of each day, after everything has settled down and you’ve finished with work or school? Do you feel happy? Content? Content with your life as it is right now? If not, it might be time to take some steps toward finding happiness. In this article, we’ll look at 10 ways to find happiness in everyday life.
1) Value yourself
It’s really easy to make someone else’s opinion of you more important than your own. This can lead you into a dangerous trap: If someone else doesn’t like something about you, then you hate it about yourself, too. Don’t fall for it! Value your own opinions over those of others and don’t rely on others for validation. It will be hard at first, but that wall can crumble if you work at it. Accept compliments graciously: Sometimes accepting a compliment is harder than giving one!
2) Start where you are
There’s no right way to find happiness, but there are lots of good ways. Start by doing one simple thing that brings you joy—whether it’s a hobby, talking with a friend, taking a walk or dancing around your living room. Find happiness where you can and be thankful for what you have; that’s how you build your sense of well-being. Your life is unique and so is your path to happiness, so just be yourself and take steps toward living in a more positive way.
3) Let go of the past
Much of our happiness is based on our memories. And often, those memories are attached to regrets and guilt. If you can learn to let go of past relationships or poor decisions, it’s likely that you will find more happiness in your life going forward. While it might be painful at first, take a look at your most recent relationship and think about all of your mistakes.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting; rather, it means forgiving yourself for not being perfect as well as understanding what went wrong so that you don’t repeat your mistakes.
4) Stop comparing yourself to others
We’re all prone to compare ourselves with others, but too often we end up feeling unhappy about our situations because of it. It’s easy for me to think that I’m falling behind because I don’t have a new car, or a big house or lots of fancy clothes. But when I look around and see what other people are doing, they’re not necessarily better off than me; they’re just different.
Comparing yourself with others is an exercise in futility because you’ll always lose in that game. Everyone is on their own path, and it’s your job to make sure you take control of yourself instead of letting yourself get distracted by other people’s lives.
5) Focus on one thing at a time
Saying yes to a lot of things in your life is not a recipe for happiness. When you take on too much, you’re setting yourself up for resentment and stress (and other negative emotions). You don’t have to quit your job, but being more selective with opportunities that come your way can have a positive impact on how you view yourself and others.
6) Nurture your relationships
Yes, it’s possible to be happy without a relationship—but there’s something magical about finding happiness with another person. The secret is learning how to nurture those relationships, which means making them a priority in your life. Make time for friends and family; don’t take loved ones for granted. And if you happen to find yourself in a romantic relationship, remember that these words of wisdom also apply: Be vulnerable, forgive easily and build one another up.
7) Learn how to listen
Listening is a lost art in today’s fast-paced society. But if you want to learn how to find happiness, then it’s something you have to learn. Great communicators aren’t always good talkers — they are good listeners. So take some time off from speaking and spend more time listening, both at home and at work. The results will surprise you.
8) Ask more questions
When we feel anxious, trapped, or unhappy with life, it’s often because we’re not asking ourselves enough questions. In fact, when we don’t ask questions—when we stop looking for answers—we lose our ability to even find them. The truth is that you can never truly be happy if you don’t ask yourself tough questions about what makes you happy and what doesn’t.
9) Talk about what you like and not what you don’t like
It’s easier to talk about things you like than it is to talk about things you don’t. So shift your focus from what is making you unhappy and start appreciating what makes you happy. Don’t have a happy memory? Make one up!
10) Smile. A lot.
It’s hard to be in a bad mood when you’re smiling. So, smile. A lot. Not only will you brighten your own day but it could even improve someone else’s, too. The best remedy for any problem is time: If you let time do its thing, most problems fade away. But as anyone who has experienced heartbreak or been on vacation from hell knows all too well, sometimes time isn’t enough—it takes a conscious effort (usually accompanied by some form of distraction) to get over that hump and into better spirits.
