True happiness. It’s something we all say we want. But how easy is it to achieve and should we even be trying to attain this?
In this complicated world we live in, finding true happiness in life is becoming more important than ever.
Happiness starts within you. When we learn that all-important lesson, our lives take on a new sense of purpose.
Join us as we discover the best ways for finding true happiness in life.
Finding True Happiness In Life: Why Is It Important?
Why is finding happiness in life so important? Your happiness has a direct bearing on your life satisfaction, your self-esteem, your confidence, and your success.
It also affects your emotional, mental, and physical health.
How does it do this? When you are genuinely happy, you feel empowered to go after your hopes and dreams. Goals are easier to achieve.
Relationships and friendships are strengthened. You will even find it easier to make friends and solve any issues in your partnerships.
One of the main benefits of finding true happiness is the sense of calm you will feel even amid life’s troubles. You see, life won’t necessarily become easier, but your ability to deal with life’s ups and downs will improve.
Now that we know why we should be finding true happiness in life, let’s look at the how. How do we find genuine happiness? Can we do it on our own? Or do we need others to find it?
Do You Need Others To Find Happiness?
You don’t need others to find happiness.
One of the biggest mistakes we can make is relying on others for happiness. While we can certainly be happy for others, and with others, we should never rely on others for our own happiness.
Why? The reason is simple. True happiness comes from within.
Finding true happiness in life is not dependent on external factors such as material possessions, money, work success, or our living circumstances.
While these factors all impact our lives to different degrees, it is possible to be truly happy irrespective of our abundance or lack in these departments.
When you are at peace with yourself, and learn how to be happy with what you have, you’re on the path to finding true happiness.
How To Find True Happiness In Life
So, you’re seeking happiness, but don’t know where to begin. It’s very simple. Like so many things in life, you need to begin with yourself, in the present moment, to make today great.
The suggestions below are tried and true methods for finding real happiness, irrespective of circumstances, faith, or one’s values.
They complement any lifestyle, and can make a person happy where they are right now. Give these ideas a try, and you will start to feel happier from day one.
1. Practice Mindfulness
You have the power to be happy, no matter who you are, where you are, or what you’ve done in the past. Every day brings with it a brand new opportunity for finding true happiness.
Happy people feel that way because they choose to. Happiness is not only a feeling, but a choice, and you can make that choice today.
One of the easiest ways to nurture your happiness is to practice mindfulness.
When you’re mindful, you’re content with your life in the present moment and more able to deal with the stresses of life.
Here are some mindfulness activities that can help you find true happiness:
Connect With Nature
Make time to spend in nature every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Go for a walk in the park, sit by a lake, or simply spend time in your backyard.
Allow yourself to take in the beauty around you and appreciate the simple things in life. Nature has a way of making us feel more connected to the world and can help to ease stress and anxiety.
Meditate
Mindfulness meditation is a great way to focus on the present moment and let go of any negativity you may be feeling. Sit in a comfortable position and focus on your breath.
Allow your thoughts to drift by without judgment or attachment. If your mind wanders, simply bring your focus back to your breath. Over time, you’ll find it easier to quiet your mind and be more present.
Eat Mindfully
Our relationship with food is often fraught with emotional baggage and stress. Eating mindfully can help you to appreciate the experience of eating and savor the flavor and nutrients of your food.
When you eat mindfully, you eat slowly and without distractions. This allows you to fully focus on the taste, smell, and texture of your food. Eating mindfully can also help you to eat less and be more aware of your hunger cues.
Food is meant to be enjoyed, so let mindfulness help you to enjoy it more.
2. Choose Kindness In Your Daily Life
Showing kindness to others creates happiness in two ways. It makes the recipient of your kindness happy that you have done something considerate for them.
It also makes you feel happier that you have made a positive contribution to someone else’s life.
Kindness is contagious. It has a snowball effect that increases the happiness of everyone it touches. Finding true happiness is much more possible in a world where we all treat each other kindly.
The chain reaction of kindness always needs someone to start it, and that someone can be you!
Find ways to be kind to someone else in the form of a kind gesture, a kind word, or even a smile and you achieve greater happiness.
3. Develop Happy Habits
What are these happy habits? They are things that we do regularly that make us happy and are good for our emotional well-being.
These will differ from person to person, but there are a few that apply to everyone. Healthy eating, exercise, and getting enough sleep all boost happiness naturally.
A healthy body is needed to house a healthy mind, and vice versa.
If you have caught yourself saying that you will be happy when you lose weight, you should take note.
Happiness does not come from a number on the scale or from a smaller clothing size. It comes from taking care of yourself and making healthy choices because you love your body, not because you hate it.
When you’re healthy, you’ll have the physical energy and mental calm you need to do the things that you love. You’ll be able to better handle stress and will be less likely to get sick. You’ll also feel better about yourself, which is essential for true happiness.
4. Practice Gratitude Regularly
Human happiness goes hand in hand with the practice of gratitude. Be thankful for what you have, and for the good people in your life. Make this a priority by starting a gratitude journal.
It will probably surprise you how much you have to be thankful for when you take the time to write it down.
As you write each thing that you are grateful for, say a silent thank you. Try to do this consistently, at the beginning or end of each day.
Something as simple as partaking in Thankful Thursday is helpful. Just start with small steps. Before long, it will have become a habit and you will think of more and more things to say thank you for!
Do you want to take gratitude a step further?
Show how grateful you are for the good things in your life by passing on this joy to others. Become a volunteer and give back to the community.
Also, teach your children to be grateful for what they have. You will become an example of gratitude for them to follow – they will learn to cherish things and become happier people too.
5. Surround Yourself With Positivity
Socializing with positive people, in stress-free environments, will make a great contribution to your mission of finding true happiness.
Positivity tends to rub off. Unfortunately, so does negativity. So spend time with family and friends who make you feel happy!
You might not be able to spend as much time as you like with these people. You might not be able to pursue every item on your bucket list. But every positive moment increases your chances of finding true happiness.
As important as it is to increase positivity in your life, you must also reduce negativity. If you can’t avoid negative people altogether, try to limit your exposure to them. And when you do interact with them, try to stay positive yourself.
Social media interactions are a possible avenue of negativity. If what you are reading online makes you feel anything less than happy, it’s time to take a break. Unplug from the virtual world for a while and dedicate more time to things that make you happy in the real world.
6. Do More Of What You Love, Do Less Of What You Don’t
We often struggle to put this wisdom into practice. It is essential for finding true happiness! Focus on enjoyable hobbies and activities, and find ways to spend more time having fun.
Make a list of things you love doing, and make sure to do more of these things more often.
If you love spending time outdoors, make a point of going for a walk every day, even if it’s just around the block. Or, if you love cooking, try a new recipe each week.
Doing more of what you love will help bring more joy into your life.
Unfortunately, there will always be things we don’t enjoy doing but have to do. The trick is to limit these activities, and if we cannot do so, to change our attitude towards them.
For example, if you don’t enjoy having to get up to go to work, remind yourself that your job allows you the financial stability to care for yourself and your family.
If possible, find ways to turn obligations into opportunities to do what you love.
For instance, if you have to commute to work, listen to music or an audiobook that you enjoy on the way.
Finding True Happiness Sometimes Necessitates Changes
If you are desperately unhappy, it may be necessary to take some major steps to change your situation. Moving forward, this could involve quitting your job, ending a relationship, or moving to a new location.
Of course, these changes can be scary, but sometimes they are necessary in order to find true happiness.
For instance, if your job is problematic, it may be time to consider a change of career or a different way of working. There are many options available nowadays, such as remote work or freelance work, which can offer more flexibility and help you to find a better work-life balance.
Don’t be afraid to make changes in your life if you feel they are necessary for your happiness.
Sometimes, all it takes is a small change to make a big difference.
Final Thoughts
True happiness is sometimes hard to define. It is the joy you feel when you are content with your own life and your place in it. It is not about chasing happiness. It is about discovering the reasons you already have to be happy in your everyday life.
Sustainable happiness comes from accepting yourself, your life and the people around you. Sometimes it means making small changes to find more contentment. It is different for everyone.
You can find true happiness by taking the time to appreciate the good in your life, practicing gratitude and learning to live in the present. If you need some help with this, consider using the Do Happy App.
It is a great tool that can help you focus on the positive and do things every day that make you happy.
