Happiness is a feeling of contentment, satisfaction and fulfillment. It can be a result of achieving goals, building strong relationships, or simply being in the moment.
Happiness is a lot like a full tank of gas. You never know when you might need a boost or detour. That’s why it is important to have a full tank.
1. Be grateful for what you do have
When you feel down, it can help to remind yourself of what you have. You might even try a gratitude practice that involves writing down three good things from your day. This is a proven technique that can improve mental health, particularly for people who experience depression or anxiety.
You might also try a visualization exercise to build your gratitude muscle. Try making a collage of your life’s blessings, such as loved ones or simple pleasures. Or, you can make a vision board of what you want to accomplish in the future. This can be a powerful tool that motivates you to work hard.
Another great way to cultivate gratitude is to savor the things you can see, touch, hear, smell and taste. Remember that much time and effort went into whatever it is you are appreciating.
2. Invest in yourself
Investing in yourself means making deliberate choices to improve your health, relationships, and knowledge. These investments can pay off big time in the future.
Putting goals in writing is one of the easiest ways to invest in yourself. It’s like a grocery list; it lets you know exactly what you need to realize your dreams.
Another way to invest in yourself is by nurturing your friendships. They help you add laughter, perspective and balance to your life. It’s also good for your mental and emotional well-being. Keeping in touch with friends helps reduce stress, according to research. Lastly, investing in self-care by journaling, meditating, or cleaning your home can also have a significant positive impact on your life. The key is to make these changes a habit and commit to them long term.
3. Take care of your body
The physical body is the vehicle that carries us through life and deserves care and attention. When you prioritize your health, your body and mind will have more energy to give to your everyday tasks resulting in better productivity at work, more patience with loved ones, and a greater capacity to engage in activities that bring you joy. A simple way to take care of yourself is to exercise, whether it’s a relaxing walk or a high energy team sport. Studies have shown that exercise has an immediate positive effect on happiness and also improves the function of your brain over time.
4. Connect with others
Happiness is a feeling that can be influenced by your mood, but it also has a lot to do with how connected you feel to other people. Having close relationships can help you bust stress, boost your mental and emotional health, promote career success and lead to stronger social connections.
Identifying the qualities of connection that matter to you—such as a sense of shared reality, mutual understanding, and trust—can be helpful in building these connections. Getting to know your neighbours, co-workers and even strangers can be one of the most effective ways to improve your overall well-being.
It can be challenging to prioritize happiness in life, especially when it feels so elusive. But the benefits of doing so are many: happier, healthier, more fulfilled and satisfied.
5. Give back
Many people feel good about their life when they are able to contribute something positive. Giving back to the community can take many forms, from volunteering to simply smiling at a stranger. What is most important is that you find an activity that aligns with your interests and resources.
Happiness is a complex feeling and it can be difficult to measure. However, it has been linked to many positive outcomes such as better health, more productive work, and stronger relationships. It is also correlated with lower stress, less depression and anxiety. Jeremy Bentham even recommended that public policy should aim to maximize happiness, and Thomas Jefferson included “the pursuit of happiness” as a fundamental right in the Declaration of Independence.