Happiness isn’t about leading an obstacle-free life — your life will
always have obstacles — instead, it’s about learning how to change what
you focus on and how you react to circumstances, regardless of whether
they’re good or bad. Happiness is a mental state of well-being that
comes from focusing more often on the behaviours, people, and things
that will enrich and inspire your positive physical, mental, and
emotional growth. Here are 10 steps to begin living a happier life:
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Step One: Exercise.Yes,
you’ve heard it before, but exercise is one small change that yields
really big, life-changing benefits. For starters, it is a fantastic
energizer, invigorating your mind and body. Exercise improves your
sleep, and it’s a natural anti-depressant that will help your attitude
and outlook. As time passes, you’ll gain the added bonus of being
happier with your physical appearance as well. If working out is already
a part of your life, great. If it isn’t, commit to walking just twenty
minutes every other day to start out. You don’t have to join a gym, sign
up for exhausting classes, and completely reorder your life to reap the
benefits of this investment.
Step Two: Take Charge of Your Mind.If
you want your thoughts and attitudes to be positive, you must fill your
brain with encouraging ideas. For this reason, you may consider making
motivational books and audio recordings part of your daily ritual, too.
It sounds incredibly hokey, but listening to a motivational CD during
your morning commute or reading motivational messages for fifteen
minutes can put you in a positive place all day.
Step Three: Celebrate Success.Most
people tend to focus a lot of mental energy on the things that went
wrong rather than the things that went well. Instead of beating yourself
up, start celebrating your many successes. Relax about the things that
don’t go perfectly, and celebrate everything that does. The cycle of
negativity that focuses on failures will keep you from becoming a truly
relaxed, content, and happy person.
Step Four: Eliminate Excess Stress.Stress
prevents you from living in and enjoying life. It can also cause
negative long-term effects ranging from high blood pressure and insomnia
to depression and anxiety. If you can’t eliminate or change a stressor,
such as a job you hate but can’t afford to quit, challenge yourself to
handle it differently. Decide beforehand how you will react in a more
enlightened way when certain stressful situations occur. Having a game
plan in place beforehand can reduce your negative reactions to
stressors—big time.
Step Five: Live in the Present.If
you’re ruminating on what’s already happened or fretting about what
might come to pass, you’re not enjoying the moment. You’re exacerbating
your anxiety and unhappiness by choosing to dwell on things you can’t
change or control. Forgive others (and yourself) for any wrongs you
might be holding on to and stop dreading the future. Over time, you’ll
start to live the adventurous, wonderful life in the present you were
always meant to.
Step Six: Hang Around Positive People.We
influence and are influenced by the people we hang around. Gradually,
you need to gravitate more toward the ‘Positives’ and distance yourself
from the ‘Negatives.’ This might mean calling a positive friend and
asking to meet up for coffee or a beer, or walking away from the water
cooler when your co-workers begin to gripe and complain. Negative people
will inevitably pass their unhealthy attitudes on to you.
Step Seven: Strengthen Close Relationships.It’s
always worth putting work into improving close relationships because
the quality of the relationships you have with the people you are the
closest to can make or break the quality of your life. Loving,
supportive relationships will improve your outlook and well-being.
Address any unresolved grievances and apologize for the things you may
regret. Most of all, put more work into the relationship with your
significant other than you do into anything else: This can make such a
great difference in your emotional health, your stress levels, and your
overall happiness.
Step Eight: Be Friendly.Extending
simple human kindness to other people can make a huge difference in
their lives…and in yours. Everyone on Earth is carrying some sort of
burden. You can’t make their pain, stress, or grief just magically
disappear but you can make others feel just a little bit lighter and
happier on their journey, even if only for five seconds. When you make
friendliness a habit, you’ll attract kindness and smiles in return, and
you’ll feel great about yourself for making a positive difference in the
world!
Step Nine: Give Back.It’s true: It
really is better to give than to receive. Giving doesn’t have to involve
money, either; your time, talents, and compassion are just as valuable
as cash, if not more so. We’re all busy—but as often as you can, make
the effort to do something nice to help another person or organization.
Whether you’re giving time, energy, money, or encouragement, being
generous will build up your self-esteem, broaden your perspective, keep
you anchored in reality, and connect you to your blessings.
Step Ten: Be Grateful.Yes,
living with an 'attitude of gratitude' is a clichéd concept. But across
the board, grateful people are happier and healthier; yes, studies have
actually shown that thankful individuals are healthier too! It’s
extremely important to be aware of all of your blessings, and to honour
and thank those whom you owe for them. The humility that comes from
knowing you owe so much to so many others may, in turn, spur you to give
back more often to those less fortunate than yourself.
