Happiness 101 - Your Guide To Happiness

Embrace the knowledge that imperfection is part of life and feel the calmness settle into your soul.

Perfection is impossible, and holding ourselves and others to these standards is unproductive.

By accepting that life is imperfect and recognizing that there is beauty and grace in that imperfection, happiness seeps in and calmness is restored.

Listening to music lifts our spirits — upbeat music can brighten your day and boost your mood. It makes us feel better, in part because hearing music causes our brains to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter connected to pleasure and reward.

You’ve probably felt the power of music yourself. We’ve all been moved by particular songs that spoke to us in specific circumstances.

Listening to a happy, upbeat song can change almost any mood into a happy one – it may even encourage a bit of dancing!

Mindfulness meditation works by bringing your awareness and attention to the present moment.

Being mindful means practicing being present, aware and curious. Through mindfulness, we can find peace and affirmation in ourselves.

Reflect on what your interests are and what you’re truly passionate about.
Build your career in an area that motivates you, doing something that you love to do, and your happiness factor increases exponentially.
A career change can often give our lives direction and bring a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Cultivate gratitude on a daily basis. Giving thanks and being grateful for all you have will make you happier and more content.

Spending time each day acknowledging everything you are thankful for in life will help you see there is more good than you realize, and you’ll find that sadness, anxiety, and depression are diminished.

Pursuing activities and interests beyond your occupation is so important.

Spend time with your friends and family.

Get daily exercise.

Creating a balance in your life will reduce your stress and give you an outlet to express yourself and have fun at the same time.

One of the best things you can do to boost your happiness is to simply be yourself.

This means accepting yourself for who you are, while not being dependent on the approval of others.

Sometimes easier said than done, but with continued focus, you can and will achieve this important goal.

Moods tend to be contagious — so spend your time surrounded by happy people.

It’s pretty difficult to be in a sad or bad mood when you are in the company of someone who is happy by nature.

My advice is to seek these people out, and when you find them, learn from their habits and yours will quickly mirror theirs. Happiness attracts, captivates, sustains, and maintains happiness.

Worry creates unnecessary anxiety when your mind is full of negative, spiraling thoughts. It’s important to remember that situations, as difficult as they may be, are never made better by worrying.

The ability to experience happiness, joy and contentment is difficult when you’re consumed with worry.

Look for strategies to help you deal with what worries you. Some great ideas include talking with someone about your worries, practicing mindfulness and gratitude daily, and relaxation techniques like exercise, meditation, and deep breathing.

We have a fundamental need to interact and connect with others and we seem to naturally build our ‘circle’ — the people who will support us, understand us, and be there for us through our life’s journey.

Pursuing and maintaining positive relationships brings us happiness… this has been proven time and time again throughout the history of mankind.

Being focused and aware of positive-only thoughts brings a surge of happiness to self!

Choose a positive mantra for the day — something you can easily repeat to yourself, such as:

“Today I will treat everyone with respect and kindness”
“I feel grateful for all I have”

The level of happiness you feel in relation to the money you spend is often directly relational to where you spend it.

The key is to spend wisely. Spending money on experiences — travel, dining, and concerts, for example — often makes us feel happier because we are sharing the experience with others, whereas the happiness we feel with the acquisition of material possessions often fades.

Experiences often help us define our purpose and passions in life, along with the memories we build.

Be a part of something bigger — be generous with your time and your money. Give to others in need and to those you love and care for.

Those who give back have a sense of selflessness and humanitarianism.

People who have meaning and purpose in their lives are happier, feel more in control, and get more out of what they do. They experience less stress, anxiety, and depression.

It’s good to remember that ‘giving’ creates stronger connections between people and helps to build a happier society for everyone.

It’s not all about money — we can also give our time, ideas, and energy.

I truly believe that the more time we spend in nature, the more we relate to the natural world around us, therefore the greater our sense of happiness will be.

Our connection to nature also helps us to maintain a healthy and positive state of mental health, which is something we all strive for.

Nostalgia often brings a feeling of warm, happy memories, and those feelings we experience while reminiscing about our past can help us reconnect with feelings of love and a sense of fulfillment.

Reflecting on these good times and happy memories can increase our self-confidence, making us feel closer to those around us.

These are moments we all want and deserve, so do it.

Be nostalgic and enjoy the moments.