You might be wondering how to find what makes you happy in life. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place.
Most of us can give an immediate answer when asked if we are happy or not. But when asked to name what makes us happy, not too many of us can pinpoint what it is. So many people say that they want to be happy, but few understand what it is that makes them happy.
The source of joy can, and does, differ from person to person. In this article, we will look at how to find what makes you happy in life.
Why Should You Try And Find Out What Makes You Happy?
True joy is a state of being, a sense of satisfaction that comes from within.
When you find what makes you happy in life, you can harness that to create more happiness for yourself.
Happiness is subjective – we all experience it in different ways. Our perception of what makes us happy also changes throughout our lives. This means that the journey to find what makes you happy is continuous, rather than a one-off mission.
The Importance Of Finding Out What Makes You Happy
Finding what makes you happy is undoubtedly important.
Happiness affects more than just your mood. It has a profound impact on many spheres of your life. There are countless advantages to leading a happier life, but let’s discuss some well-known benefits.
Happiness leads to more and more positivity, which leads to more happiness. This cycle can make a big difference in your daily life and can help you to feel more stable and optimistic.
By seeking out things that make you happier, you create the space for more positive experiences.
It Improves Your Mental Health
Unhappy people may have low confidence and poor self-esteem. However, the reverse is also true.
Happiness increases confidence and self-esteem. This will affect your career, your interpersonal relationships, and many other aspects of your life.
When these areas of your life are in balance, you’ll feel happier as well.
It Affects Your Physical Health
It is well known that the mind-body connection is a strong one.
Happiness can lower stress hormone levels in the body, which in turn can improve your physical health.
Happiness is also associated with a better-functioning immune system, which is critical for staying healthy.
It Offers Life Satisfaction
Happiness tends to come with increased satisfaction in life.
Happiness enhances your relationships with family and friends. You will enjoy life more, and want to be more engaged. Happy people tend to draw positive experiences towards them.
It also increases motivation, which can spur you on to set and achieve your goals. This leads to greater self-confidence, which is a key factor in a happy life. It’s a cycle that can go on and on.
Let’s tackle the question of how to find what makes you happy.
How To Find What Makes You Happy
Want to find what makes you happy, and what you want out of life?
We’ve compiled a list of our top tips for finding what makes you happy in life. If you want to know how to find what makes you happy in life, read on!
In addition to these tips, you might want to read these helpful happiness hacks.
1. Focus On Your Happiness
You need to learn how to stop relying on others for happiness.
If you’re looking to lead a fulfilling life, you need to realize that you’re in charge of your happiness and unhappiness.
You, and you alone, are responsible for finding your happiness. You cannot expect others to find it for you. Nor should you be making others happy at the expense of your emotional well-being.
You have to focus on yourself, and your inner voice, before you can focus on others! When you’re happy and healthy, your relationships with others will improve.
When you’re in a good space, you’re able to give the best you can to your relationships. This can work to improve friendships and partnerships.
Practical Applications
Be honest! Have you been hesitant to pursue something recently? Could it be because you’re not doing it for yourself?
For example: have you pursued the career path your parents chose for you? Are you upholding an image that your partner demands of you?
It is natural to want to please others in our lives. However, do not do so thinking that their happiness equals yours. It does not.
Encourage your loved ones to reach for their dreams but also focus on your own. We are all unique and want different things out of life. Spend time thinking about what you want from yours.
2. Help Others Without Expectations
While we wouldn’t recommend living your life for others, there’s nothing wrong with being a helpful force in the community. So long as it’s not to your detriment, practicing kindness can make you feel good!
Why not spend some time volunteering for a cause that’s close to your heart? Donating time, money, and efforts to a cause you believe in can feel great!
It’s also a great way to meet people with similar interests to yours. Who knows, maybe they’ll introduce you to more things that can make you happy!
Unlike spending money and time on others to win their approval or friendship, your efforts to raise money for a charity can bring happiness.
Donating to a good cause activates the reward center of the brain, and has been proven to reduce stress. Knowing that you have helped people improve their lives for the better is a fantastic mood booster.
Practical Applications
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than yourself.
Be the reason someone smiles today for no reason other than it feels good. Any activity that contributes to the well-being of another person or animal, or even the environment, can provide you with a mood boost.
3. Live In The Here And Now
Do you pin your hopes for happiness on some future event that’s out of your reach? Well, you’re not alone. This is called ‘destination addiction.’
Do you think you will be happy once you lose weight, move to a new city, or make more money?
While setting goals is a great idea, and definitely has benefits, there’s a flip side to the coin. You should feel motivated, but you should not feel like you’ll only be happy once you’ve achieved these goals.
By placing your focus on a distant event, instead of the here and now, you do yourself a great disservice.
We’re not saying that you shouldn’t have goals. Small wins are not to be underestimated!
The setting and attainment of goals is a healthy part of your development. But to be happy at this moment, you need to be fully present in the moment.
Practical Applications
Learn to distinguish between short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. These are all important, but don’t get so caught up wishing for a brighter future that you neglect the present.
Setting short-term goals is important. If you only set long-term goals, you won’t be able to measure your success up until the moment you achieve your long-term goal. Having smaller objectives is much more motivational than huge goals that seem unattainable.
4. Keep A Happiness Journal
It’s always easier to remember things if you write them down. Why not start a happiness journal? You don’t need anything fancy – just pick up the first notebook you see!
Keep this journal with you and journal daily. When something makes you happy, jot it down. If you would prefer to use an app, consider the Do Happy App!
After a week or two of doing this, patterns may begin to emerge. What tends to crop up more frequently?
Analyze your journal entries, and think about all the things that make you happy. Figure that out, and you will begin to understand what you need more of in your life.
These journals can help you when you’re feeling down. If you don’t feel like doing anything, try doing something that you consistently wrote about in your journal. This is sure to perk you up!
Practical Applications
When you go through your happiness journal, think about what you’ve written. Why have you included each entry? Consider why each entry made you happy.
For example, you may have written down that you were happy spending time with friends. Was it the company you enjoyed? Was the environment pleasing?
If you wrote that you were happy on vacation, was it because you liked the place? Was it because you escaped the hustle and bustle of life at home?
Explore the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ and you will have more clarity about your unconscious desires.
Do you secretly strive for more peace in your home life or work environment? Do you need to be closer to nature? You’ll discover much about yourself by reflecting on your happiness journal entries.
5. Determine What Doesn’t Make You Happy
It might be hard to list what makes you happy. Sometimes, it can be a lot easier to list what doesn’t make you happy.
If you struggle to put your sources of joy into words, do the opposite. Write down the things that you know make you unhappy.
Is there anything you do regularly that makes you distinctly unhappy? Think about your daily activities, work, or relationships.
It might be your job, your place of residence, or a particular relationship. Do you get upset when you have to host people after a long day at work? Perhaps you feel that you don’t have enough alone time!
Whatever it is, write it down and think about why these things make you feel the way they do.
Practical Applications
As with the happiness entries, pop on your thinking hat.
Analyze why your entries make you unhappy. Is it because they make you feel helpless, frustrated, or angry? What would have to happen to turn that around for you? In this way, you will also be tapping into your subconscious desire for change.
Final Thoughts
Happiness starts with you. It might seem like you need to make certain people happy, or meet a particular goal, before you can be happy. This is simply not true!
It’s important to embrace the here and now. After all, if you’re not happy with what you have now, who’s to say you’ll be happy with more?
Happiness is about forming habits that give you the opportunity to find peace and joy in life. It can take a bit of work, but it’s not unattainable. You can start your journey to find happiness at any point!
If you were looking for how to find what makes you happy, we hope this has helped.
