In this vast and vibrant world, happiness seems to be one thing that everyone desires. As it is generally painted as a grandiose faraway dream, one’s journey to happiness is habitually linked to a superhero’s journey in saving the planet–hard, full of complications, and entirely fictional. However, happiness is not exactly a hard thing to achieve.
What makes it seem so hard is often our own mindset, that we will be truly happy only when we have acquired some worldly things. While it differs with each person, most of the time, this includes money, power, fame, and the love we expect from other people.
So, instead of seeing happiness as a pot full of gold at the end of the rainbow, think of it as the rainbow itself. When you break happiness down and see it as a series of continuous happy feelings instead of one end goal, you will find that it is not as hard to reach after all.
As happiness is all about consistency, we have concluded some simple habits you can start to pick up in your daily life for maximum happiness. Let’s check it out!
1. A smile a day keeps the sadness away
As cheesy and simple as it might sound, smiling helps you become happier due to dopamine release, commonly known as the happy hormone. This does not mean that you have to fake a smile every time. But the next time you pass by a person you know, try to crack a smile and see how that affects your mood.
Another tip is to smile at your reflection in the mirror every morning. It can set you off in the right mood for the rest of your day. Even if you end up thinking that it’s silly, you will start laughing at yourself, which is also a win!
2. Nature has everything we need
More than just a copywrite for herbal medicines, nature really does have healing properties. When it doesn’t come in the form of tablets and pills, their magnificence can be felt just by you being surrounded by it on a simple walk. By doing this, you are giving yourself a chance to take a break from straining screens and polluted noises and then be awed and inspired by what nature offers.
So, what are you waiting for? Suit up in your most comfortable clothes, grab your favorite smartwatch so, you don’t get lost, and let nature do its job.
3. Shake the bad moods away
If you are not a fan of wandering around and need a more structured activity, exercise is the answer you’ve been looking for. Not just in favor of keeping your body healthy and in shape, exercising actually releases the feel-good hormones that can improve your mood and mental health.
Not an avid fan of working out? Worry not! Exercising does not have to be as hard and challenging as what you have in mind. In fact, you must let your body adjust to the strain slowly and build your workout routine as you go.
4. Put it down in black and white
Sometimes the bad thoughts that we have only seem to be as bad because we let them circle around in our brains and get entangled with each other. If you let this continue, on top of causing you more stress, finding a way out of your issues would be harder than it should be.
Writing down your thoughts is one of the most effective ways to detangle the strings of worries making a home in your brain. As it is a form of meditation, besides getting to see your problems for what they really are, you also get to reflect and thus find the best solutions for them.
5. Appreciate the little things
Whether it is on a dedicated journal or a simple note on your trusted tablet, try to note down three things you are grateful for daily. The purpose of this activity is not to tell you that you should be happy despite the bad situation you’re in. Instead, it gives you hope that your darkness is not all pitch black, thanks to the guiding lights you receive throughout the day.
6. Make friends with the pain
A huge part of leading a happier life is the ability to acknowledge and accept the situations you are in. So, instead of treating your pain and bad thoughts as an enemy, try to welcome them with open arms. Accept the fact that you are feeling what you are feeling— that it is valid and that you feel this way because you are a perfectly healthy human being, functioning at its peak performance.
Once you let your feelings fulfill their function, you will have the capacity to focus on actually solving your issues. Focus on the things within your means and let whatever higher power you believe in play its part in things that aren’t. Remember that good things take time and that failures can also be progress because, at the least, you are not idle.
7. Spread love and kindness
There’s always a certain satisfaction and, therefore, happiness in making other people happy. Something as simple as complimenting other people’s outfits can influence your mood, as you are influencing theirs.
More than just compliments, getting a small gift that reminds you of your friends can also be an option. Besides making you and them happier, it can also make them feel cared for by you. In the same manner, by giving your time and attention as a volunteer, you can also increase your level of happiness.
Having said all of that, it is important to remember that leading a happy life would never equal zero negativity. Instead, it is the ability to continuously make meaning of the good things despite the bad things happening in your life.
Remember that ‘rain’ is evident in the word ‘rainbow’ for a reason. That negativity is there to help you recognize the positive things and appreciate them instead of letting them just go by.
