Happiness can be hard for some people to find. Being happy shouldn't be a chore or a job for anyone. Here are seven ways I have learned how to be happy.
1. Treat Yourself
Me, myself, and I. Repeat those four words over and over and over. Sure, you can have other relationships: friends, family, significant others but you will always come first. This was personally the hardest to overcome. Yet today, I still find myself putting others first, but that doesn't stop my happiness. It's okay to put your friends and family before yourself when needed, but don't make it a habit.
2. Find Happiness In Others
You know you're happy when you're not looking to knock others down. When you look for happiness in others, you find happiness in yourself. When the people you surround yourself with are happy, it can alter your mood as well!
3. You're Allowed To Have A Bad Day
Not every day is going to be a good day and not every day is going to be perfect. You're allowed to have mess ups and you're allowed to just stay in bed all day and watch Netflix if that's what you feel you have to do. Just don't make it a regularity. Having a bad day doesn't make you a screw up and it doesn't make you any less of a person. Crying and being sad is a natural occurrence, and it's alright to take those feelings head on.
4. Show Appreciation
If others know that you appreciate what they do for you, they'll show you gratitude and that's a huge ticket to happiness. Write someone a letter, thank them in person, hug them! Let them know that you appreciate them being there for you and they'll reciprocate the action.
5. Don't Let Time Slip Away
Time is a funny thing. It is the same for every one, but one moment it could be going by as slow as a snail, and the next, it could flash before your eyes. No matter what you're doing, skydiving, saving a life, or simply hanging out with friends always remember to take a moment to take in the view in front of you, because a moment is just a moment, and it won't last forever.
6. Quality Over Quantity
People and relationships can be tricky. Just always remember quality over quantity. You can have 100 friends and you may be the most popular person in school but you'll go home every single day with no one to talk to when you really need it. Find yourself one or two spectacular friends and you'll be set for life.
7. Help Others
This step doesn't have to go as deep as you think. You don't necessarily have to find someone who is crying in order to feel as though you have officially helped someone. Sure, that's incredibly kind of you, it can be as simple as helping someone pick out an outfit. The other day I was walking behind a girl in middle school and she was carrying a show box. The box slipped from her hands and there were tiny light and dark blue pebbles that scattered everywhere. I asked if she needed any help and she shook her head no. I bent down and began to help her anyways. We had a great conversation about her science project and it made her and I both feel better after we picked up every last pebble. Whatever you do, make it count!
Happiness might feel impossible to achieve sometimes. But as long as you remember these seven things and apply them to your everyday life, happiness can come to you easily.
