Many people spend a lifetime finding happiness. Some never find it at all. The funny thing about happiness is that you can start being happy whenever you want. It isn’t something that can be found, like a shell on the beach. It’s a feeling that anyone can choose to have at any time.
Barring any medical conditions of course, many will argue that point. But, what if it was true? What if you could choose to be happy, regardless of what’s going on around you, or despite your circumstances? Can you imagine the positive impact that would have on your life?
If you’re feeling down, take a look at these tips on being happy. Apply one, or both, and see if you don’t feel a little closer to feeling happy afterward.
1. Appreciate the little things
It’s easy to get distracted from the good things in our lives when everything around us seems to focus on how bad things are. It’s not completely our fault, though. Society conditions us to give our attention to negative stuff, without putting emphasis on the positive aspects of life. Don’t believe me? Turn your tv to any cable or local news channel to see an example of this. With that said, it’s no surprise that this is one of those tips on being happy that some of us overlook.
Instead of focusing on what is going wrong in life, focus on what you have. This may be the greatest difference between people who are sad and people who are happy. Sad people talk about what is wrong. Happy people talk about all of the things that are right. When you get centered on what is important to you, it will be much easier to dismiss the negatives that come along daily. Don’t forget the small stuff either.
For example, rolling out of bed in the morning counts. There are some people that can’t move on their own or who don’t have a bed to roll out of. Brushing your teeth counts. Some people don’t have the luxury of brushing their teeth, or the ability to do it on their own. And yes, reading this article counts, too. Do I really need to point out how much more difficult life would be if you couldn’t read?
2. Do what you love to do
Ok, let’s look at the second of these tips on being happy. Sometimes getting stuck in a routine of doing things that we don’t like, or want, to do can bring on negative feelings. Then we get caught up in that neverending routine of getting things done, that we never set aside time to do the things we enjoy doing – and we wonder why we’re stressed. This is where gifts, talents, and hobbies come into play.
One way to look at it is, you’re stifling your creativity, when you don’t find the time to do what you enjoy. Your gifts and/or talents is an expression of that creativity. Regardless if you like to paint, fish, sculpt, write, or even run. Taking steps to move towards doing the things you want, even on a small scale is something you can do to help you feel better.
On that note, a thought I’d like to suggest is to never settle for anything less than what you really want to do. No matter how difficult it may seem to reach for your dreams, they are your dreams. Dreams help to keep that inner fire going.
Your dreams are those things that you do because you enjoy doing them, not because of some reward that comes with them. Keep in mind, you don’t have to immediately get what you desire in order to be happy. Sometimes just the ‘thought’ of experiencing something will give you a feeling of joy. Keep your attention on that feeling, and things will begin to shift.
Start creating from within
Not feeling happy, is mainly a result of something we don’t like about our surroundings. Whether it’s our environment, people, things, what we see in the mirror, or even what we hear. These are all things outside of us.
When you make the decision to start being happy regardless of anything outside of you – when you choose to be happy from within, your mood changes. You’ll see things from a different perspective. The more you practice feeling better (which is all you need to do), the closer you’ll be to feeling happy, and things will change around you.