The journey towards staying happy is one filled with bumps. You are going to find yourself lost on some days, getting off the rails but, like with life you pick yourself up. “Happiness is a journey, not a destination” _Buddha.
Staying happy requires being intentional, silencing the voices that speak otherwise, and distancing from the situations and people that threaten the process. Happiness is also a choice; one you will have to make every day.
Here are Tips to help you stay happy;
- STOP COMPARING YOURSELF
You may not be where you want to be but, the most important thing is that you work every day to be a better person. That should be your focus; to be a better person than you were yesterday. Everybody is on a separate journey, comparing yourself with others will rob you of your joy. In staying happy, it’s paramount to identify the triggers that move you into the rabbit hole of comparison and deliberately isolate yourself from them. A social media post, a family event. It’s okay to protect your happiness. Social post sometimes is not a reflection of true life, often people rarely show the process just the result which might be an exaggeration. Stay away or filter what you consume.
2. BE GRATEFUL
Counting your blessing is one of the best ways to stay happy. It is often easy to look at the things going wrong in your life, as the proverbial half empty rather than half full. But, what about the ones that have gone well. Get a gratitude journal. Write down all the things you are thankful for, starting from the tiniest thing: the breakfast you had today or your clingy cat to the big things. Do it every day for thirty days. Whenever you are feeling sad, look at your journal it will help you feel better.
3. FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTH
There is something unique about you, as cliche as it sounds. Your experiences, habits, and attitude are unique to you. You have something that you can share with the world whether you have discovered what that is or not. Make a list of your strengths, the things you are good at, whether it is writing, drawing, painting even the way you think. Then, work on becoming better. People who spend time developing their strengths are much happier.
4. INVEST IN SELF-CARE
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everyday struggle, the quest to meet your needs that you forget that you matter. Selfcare is important. Spend a day doing the things that make you truly happy. A day at the spa, seeing a movie or it might just laying in bed with a good book. Investing in self-care means there is a balance in both your mental and physical health and this balance will immensely improve your productivity. Increased productivity will help make you happier. The best investment you can make is in yourself.
5. DO AWAY WITH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Controlling your mind and thoughts will help you on the journey to staying happy. A lot of the things you manifest: fear, self-doubt, and low self-esteem are the products of your thoughts. The things you think about yourself reflect on who you are and how you permit others to treat you.
The first step toward replacing negative thoughts is to acknowledge that they exist, pretending that they are not there or wishing them away will not take them away. Acknowledge and analyze them, and find out if they are rooted in something you have done, a mistake you made. It is time to let go, and forgive yourself.
Then replace these negative thoughts with positive ones, say it out loud if you can. It helps to reinforce these positive thoughts over and over again. instead of saying, “I’m not worthy” replace it with “I can provide value”. This process requires consistency and persistence but, in the end, you will be happier and healthy,
6. EXERCISE
Research has found that exercise releases endorphins known as the feel-good hormones. This hormone improves mood and cognition. Although, the release of this hormone is dependent on the intensity and duration of the exercise. Exercise also helps lower stress levels and reduces anxiety. The thought of exercising might be a daunting task for you, registering at a gym and being consistent. But you can start by taking 30 minutes to walk every day, soak in nature, a simple dance to your favorite song. Exercising gives you a chance to improve your quality of life and overall wellbeing.
7. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY
The people you surround yourself with have a big impact on how you view life and invariably affect your mood. If you find that you are a pessimist, surround yourself with optimists. There is a chance their positivity will rub off on you. Identify the people in your life who make life a little better and easier. Spend time with them. Build friendships that uplift and encourage you to do better and look out for your best interest. The assurance that someone has your back makes going through life a little easier.
8. ONE STEP AT A TIME
Oftentimes we are in a hurry, to meet a deadline, achieve our goals, and get money for our dream lifestyle. It becomes overwhelming when you realize that things aren’t going according to plan. It’s like you are in a race against time. Taking on too much at the same time reduces your productivity. Low productivity affects your self-worth because for a lot of people their self-worth is tied to their work and then overthinking and sadness follow. It is time to slow down and breathe. One task at a time.
On the day it feels like everything isn’t going according to plan, remind yourself that there are better days ahead.
9. BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER
Nobody is going to cheer for you better than you. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself the compliment you expect from other people. That which you desire from outside must start from within you. Be kind to yourself.
Hope you find this content useful. Please do drop a comment.
