Happiness isn't something earned, it can't be bought, and it certainly isn't something exclusive by nature. The ability to live happily is inevitably the greatest wealth one can accrue. Here are ten go-tos for magnifying your ability to discover and create happiness each and every day.
1. Prioritize Self-Acceptance
I can guarantee that we've all heard this to excess, but loving yourself really is the key to loving your life. You carry something beautiful, irreplaceable, and special. Undermining any asset of your being is only striking away at the gift of individuality—embrace what you've been given and all that you are!
2. Experience As Much As You Can
When we're scared, when we feel free, when we've extorted all our energy into something on a whim, when we get lost in exploring the world—all are some of the best things to do for yourself. Stimulating such an array of emotions and actively seeking out new opportunities challenges old beliefs and widens your scope of the world. Get out there!
3. Appreciate Your Defeats
As unsteadily as we may stand after being let down, or how broken we may feel from personal upset, we must always persevere from defeat headstrong. Growth can be derived from conquest or failure, but we mustn't extort our energy where it doesn't benefit our being. Embedding negativity within your mental perspective and holding onto such adversely-coated attitudes will only taint your outlook of future endeavors. We live and we learn!
4. Believe In Your Motives
We all are guilty of silencing ourselves behind actions and words of those more powerful in physical stature, in fiscal advantage, in emotional stability, or in social status. Never forgo an action or choice when it is your personal beliefs and passions that are being challenged by others'. Happiness is extracted from the littlest increments of what gives you and your life purpose—follow through with what it is that you believe in. Be your own biggest supporter!
5. Act Benevolently Onto Others
Arguably one of the most defining acts of humanity is the ability to do kindly onto others. The world seems to more and more revolve around this give-and-take, pull-and-push, and winner-and-loser kind of competition. Whether it's coming from a place of generosity or in philanthropic intent, the unfolding of smiles is enough to start a wave in those around you.
6. Remember to Breathe
Losing yourself in the midst of, well, life is something we all are challenged with. It's this pattern of self-discovery, busy-work, learning through time, and just living that one can easily get tangled within. Taking time to breathe, just breathe, is crucial to resetting your energy, thinking, and balance. Whether it's right before bed while reflecting on the day's activities or right before an intimidating situation, recall your strengths through encouragement. It's essential to pause, to breathe, to reflect, to think, and to take time to revisit yourself without the pressures of the world.
7. Place Trust Within Your Heart
Sometimes we don't fully understand why we feel certain ways, react to some situations differently than others do, or behave in ways unexpected by the majority. Gut instincts and first responses really are our inner selves speaking primary to second-guessing or adjusting our rationale against others'. The more we stay true to our beliefs and trust in our reasoning, the greater our ability to live happily in our individual selves.
8. Never Give Yourself Reason To Regret
The moment we start beating ourselves down for the consequences of an action is when we begin to doubt our abilities to make decisions and live without gripe. When you start to view these "regrets" as nothing more than "lessons learned" is when you begin to strive for something better than to look poorly upon the past. Just this simple change in mindset will transform your thought process.
9. Commit to Opportunities of Growth
A hundred hours spent surfing ideas and being content in wonder will never amount to the wealth of a hundred hours spent continuing education, actively seeking new motives for success, or executing your goals. Every day you should make it a priority to better yourself, better the community around you, and better the world in which you live. A stationary life will bring little happiness. It's expanding yourself and persevering through lows that will set up a greater tomorrow—a greater future.
10. Prioritize Positivity
Above all else, it's your mindset that generates happiness. Grab a hold of what makes you come alive—a hobby, a set of values, a recreational activity, a collection of memories, or an occupational position. Confront your frustrations with the same level of integrity as you would put into those things, and shelter yourself in positive thinking and attitudes. Easier said than done? Maybe. Take it one day at a time and let positivity be your expression, let it be your truth, and I guarantee that you'll find happiness in avenues of your life that you wouldn't first suspect.
