We all want to feel connected and content. Ultimately, satisfaction with life is essential for a happy and fulfilling existence.
However, with the daily stresses and challenges, finding happiness can sometimes seem impossible.
The good news is that there are simple steps we can take to boost our mood and to be happy.
#1 Positive Thinking & Self-Talk
The power of positive thinking cannot be underestimated when feeling more content.
By actively engaging in positive self-talk, you can develop a more optimistic outlook on life and elevate your overall mood.
For instance, instead of saying, ‘I can’t do this, ‘say, ‘I can do this; I just need to figure out how. ‘ This will help you cultivate a more optimistic mindset.
#2 Exercise For a Happy Life
Exercise is essential to physical and mental health and can be a great source of happiness.
Physical activity provides psychological benefits such as improved mood, increased confidence, and lower stress levels.
Exercise has been shown* to help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety, along with improving optimism and general outlook on life. This is because physical activity releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which can help boost your mood.
Therefore, to feel happier, you should make physical exercise an integral part of your daily routine.
#3 Surround Yourself with Positive People
Another way to increase your overall sense of contentment is by surrounding yourself with positive people.
Having healthy relationships that encourage you to achieve your dreams can be invaluable in helping you stay motivated. Plus, spending time with them will also make it easier for you to stay positive.
Prioritize building relationships with supportive people instead of those who bring your energy down.
#4 Take Time For Yourself
Taking care of yourself doesn’t just mean focusing on your physical health. It also involves nurturing your mental well-being.
Make sure that each day includes some time for yourself where you focus on doing something that brings you joy. Read a book, listen to music, and spend time with people you like.
Taking regular breaks from work or tasks will help reduce stress levels, which can positively affect your mood.
#5 Improve Your Life With Meaningful Work
Finding meaningful work can be a challenge, but taking the time to reflect on what makes you happy can be incredibly valuable.
It requires looking inside and understanding your strengths and personal values.
Once you clear that hurdle, you can find or create something that gives your life purpose.
This will allow you to make better decisions along your journey and ensure that whatever path you take is one of greater satisfaction.
#6 Taking Care Of Your Own Happiness
We often go out of our way to be kind and supportive to the people we care about, but showing kindness to ourselves is just as vital.
Treating yourself like a friend will help you become more mindful of your needs and make you happier.
Remembering to make time for things that make us happy, such as taking time out to relax or ensuring you have good quality sleep, are all beneficial outcomes of treating yourself like a friend.
#7 Declutter Your Life
Decluttering is a great way to reduce stress.
Studies** have shown the health benefits of improving your living environment and having less clutter in the home.
An organized space can make a big difference in increasing feelings of happiness and decreasing anxiety levels. When your environment is clutter-free, it can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed, leading to a greater sense of contentment.
Taking the time to declutter will give you a sense of accomplishment and clarify ways to enhance your life.
#8 Learn How To Manage Negative Emotions
Properly managing negative emotions is an incredibly beneficial life skill, yet many people never think to work on it.
Recognizing how you are feeling and why and devising strategies for dealing with difficult emotions can help you develop healthier outlooks on life and drastically improve your overall mental health.
Managing negative emotions better is a challenging but essential journey if you want to live life more easily.
#9 Improve Life Satisfaction With Breathing
Practicing controlled breathing has been found to improve life satisfaction significantly.
Using conscious, slow, and deep breaths for just a few minutes or longer periods can bring powerful calmness and clarity of thought.
Furthermore, controlled breathing can increase focus and reduce anxiety. After introducing a regular breathing practice, individuals often report greater life satisfaction.
#10 Own Negative Thoughts
Owning worries and allowing yourself to acknowledge negative thoughts can be empowering. It’s a sign of strength and self-awareness. By accepting anxiety instead of ignoring it or pushing it away, you’re taking control of your mental state and setting the stage for positive change.
Allowing yourself to accept anxiety instead of ignoring it or pushing it away can help in the long run.
Keeping track of any patterns or triggers associated with negative thinking can help identify areas for improvement and better understand yourself.
#11 Escape To Nature
Spending time in nature has proved beneficial for physical and mental health.
For starters, it boosts physical health through physical activity often associated with nature, such as walking, swimming, or biking.
In addition, there are natural elements like fresh air and sunshine that further improve physical wellness.
Being outdoors helps reduce mental stress by allowing us to appreciate and connect with the natural world, leading to increased happiness.
Taking advantage of the great outdoors improves physical health and serves as an escape from everyday life, bringing joy and energy on a deeper level.
#12 Rewrite Your Story
Rewriting your story is a powerful and transformative tool to create a better life.
It is an approach to shifting how we think about, and interact with, the events and circumstances in our lives.
By taking the time to step back and assess what has happened to us and how we want to read it going forward, we can create new and more positive experiences.
Powerful questions to ask yourself when rewriting your story are:
- Are you in control of your story, or are you a victim of the circumstances?
- Is life a challenge or an exhilarating journey?
- Is there a greater purpose behind life’s events?
- Are you anticipating the best or preparing for the worst?
- Why are we presented with trials and tribulations?
From writing down the stories we tell ourselves to understanding how our perception shapes everything around us, rewriting our stories can be a powerful tool for self-improvement and, ultimately, a happier life.
#13 Give More, Get More
Generosity can bring positive emotions to both the giver and the receiver.
Giving something to another person can be powerful, often producing a pleasing sensation in the giver. Studies*** have shown that donating to charities releases endorphins, creating a physical feeling of happiness.
On the other hand, on the receiving side, generosity makes people feel important and appreciated.
When both individuals experience those positive feelings, it encourages an atmosphere of goodwill that enriches the lives of those involved.
#14 Improve Your Life
Being happy is all about feeling positive toward your own life. It can be challenging to find positive feelings when times are hard, but it’s important to remember that personal growth comes from embracing these moments.
Take the time to connect with yourself and your thoughts and feelings. Find ways to remind yourself of your positive traits and practice self-care through exercise, journaling, and meditation.
Know that you have the capacity for strength and happiness even without a companion, and spend time honoring that.
#15 The Joy Of Spending
Money may not be able to buy true happiness, but research has shown that spending it wisely can bring joy and fulfillment to our lives.
Rather than using our money on material possessions, investing it in experiences has been proven to bring greater happiness.
Experiences such as going on vacation, taking a class or learning a new skill, attending cultural events or concerts, and even exploring the city can all leave us with priceless memories that any material item can’t replace.
The happy life we seek is often created through these experiences rather than going out and buying something new.
#16 Connecting With People
Connecting with people is proven to have many positive effects, and increased happiness is one of them.
Studies show that good relationships are essential to living a good life. Perceived social support makes us feel good, reduces loneliness and isolation, and allows us to establish new perspectives from differing points of view.
To experience true happiness, investing in relationships and creating a community where you can be happy is essential.
#17 Get A Pet
Cats and dogs have been our companions for centuries and provide us with a special kind of happiness that is hard to explain.
The unconditional love and playful spirit these animals bring into our lives is unparalleled by human relationships, making it a kind of happiness we never want to let go of.
Cat owners find comfort in their pet’s comforting purr, while dog owners feel joy when they are greeted with enthusiasm after coming home from a long day of work.
From their personalities to the moments they share with their human beings, cats and dogs make us feel loved in a way that never fails to brighten our day.
#18 Giving Back
Volunteering contributes to society’s greater good, but it can also significantly affect a person to be happy.
Studies**** have found that volunteering is linked to greater happiness, lower blood pressure, and decreased mortality rates.
Helping others in need can also build resilience—the ability to better cope with life’s traumas and setbacks.
From the benefits it provides, volunteering is an invaluable asset and an excellent opportunity to promote one’s ability to be happy.
One Question For You
Many psychologists use subjective well-being to measure happiness when looking at a person’s emotional health.
Subjective well-being is the overall evaluation of one’s life experiences, including emotional states and how satisfied one feels with different aspects of one’s life.
Ask yourself: On a scale from 1 to 10, how happy are you with your life?
Though this question may seem simple, it can provide helpful insight into your well-being.
If the answer is not as high as you would like it to be, consider incorporating some of the happiness habits discussed in this blog post into your daily routine.
Remember, happiness is not a destination but a journey. By taking small steps each day towards creating a more positive and fulfilling life, you can experience true and lasting happiness.
You control your happiness – prioritize it and watch as your life transforms.
*Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity on Anxiety
Elizabeth Anderson and Geetha Shivakumar
**Interactions of top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex. Stephanie McMains, Sabine Kastner
***Why Giving to Others Makes Us Happy. Michael Blanding
****Exploring the Effects of Volunteering on the Social, Mental, and Physical Health and Well-being of Volunteers: An Umbrella Review
Beth Nichol et al
