Life can be hard, but remember – you deserve to be happy!
When trying to manage the many challenges life throws your way, it’s easy to fall into a negative mindset. You might feel as though you don’t deserve happiness, or feel bad when you take some time off for self-care.
You don’t have to feel guilty for being happy – you deserve to be happy!
We’ve compiled a list of the top reasons you deserve to be happy. If you’re feeling a bit downtrodden, this one’s for you.
Why Is It Important To Be Happy?
There’s nothing unusual about feeling sad. In fact, it’s very normal for all human beings. Sadness itself is a natural emotion in life, and feeling it isn’t always a bad thing.
It’s only when sadness becomes overwhelming, or lasts too long, that it is problematic. If you find yourself starting to spiral downwards, it’s important to find ways to feel happiness. If you entertain negativity, it will overstay its welcome.
Unhappiness, if left unmanaged, can cause people to suffer in their daily lives. On the other hand, happy people often live more productive, sociable, and fulfilled lives.
Happiness is important because it has a ripple effect on your well-being and everything you do. Happiness allows you to think more clearly, make better decisions, and be more resilient when things go wrong. When you’re happy, you’re more likely to see the positive side of things and have a better outlook on life.
People who feel good tend to choose kindness and spread positivity. In that way, putting in the work to overcome your darker moments helps others who are in a similar situation.
Working towards feeling like you deserve to be happy is a big project. It’s a journey that requires effort, and it might not be a short one either.
For those struggling – you deserve to be happy, and putting in the effort is worth it!
You Deserve To Be Happy: Top Reasons
Your Value As A Person Is Not Conditional
As a human being, your life holds a special value. It doesn’t matter where you are in life, what you do, or what you believe. Simply by being you, you are special.
This may sound cliché, and you’ve probably heard it before, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. In fact, its ubiquity should speak to the statement’s worth. Every time someone says it, there’s a chance it’s heard by someone who needs to hear it.
Nowadays, there’s often an idea that to be worth something, you have to earn it. This mindset can cause severe and long-lasting damage to those who internalize it.
The issue here is that earning your value means different things to different people. If people continuously try to earn their value, the goalposts will keep shifting. These people won’t reach a point of feeling valued.
To feel like your life has value, you need to accept that you don’t need to earn it. Take pride in the fact that you’re you! Your worth is not based on arbitrary goals. The simple act of being alive makes you valuable. Your happiness starts with you – just as you are.
You Are Capable Of Change, No Matter Your Circumstances
One of the most common reasons people don’t feel happy is because they believe they aren’t good enough.
This idea stems from several factors, from your environment and peers to your sense of self-worth. Regardless of what led you to this point, if you think you fall short in some way, you’re wrong. No matter what your circumstances are, you can always do your best to rise above them.
For some, this growth requires serious hard work. For others, problems may stem from societal or economic factors outside of their control.
In either case, there’s always a choice to try to make a difference in your life. It doesn’t matter how small those differences are, and it doesn’t matter if you make slow progress. Your happiness is worth the wait and effort involved.
Regardless of circumstance, your outlook plays a part in your ability to grow and improve. If you’re battling with a positive attitude, The Optimist Creed might help you. It is a list of guiding principles that remind people that change is possible and worth pursuing. It’s a way of affirming your worth and showing you don’t need to give in to negative thoughts.
No matter your situation, you can take steps to reach a more fulfilling and happy life.
You Deserve To Feel And Receive Love
Another common reason that people don’t feel like they deserve happiness is tied to love.
Often, your negative thoughts or past experiences can make you feel like you don’t deserve to be loved and happy. If your idea of love is skewed, it impacts both how you express love as well as how you experience it.
Everyone deserves love, no matter what they may have gone through in their past. Just because a previous relationship didn’t work out doesn’t mean you should give up on love completely. Honestly, there are so many reasons why a relationship may have failed that have nothing to do with you.
It can be difficult to believe that you deserve love and happiness when you’ve been hurt, so start with self-love. Consider integrating some powerful affirmations of self-love into your day. These will help you internalize the fact that you are valuable and lovable, no matter what. Once you start to accept this, it will become easier to open yourself up to love again.
Of note, love comes in many forms, not only romantic. Appreciating the love from friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers can help break down the barriers that keep you from feeling loved.
So, take the steps necessary to cultivate relationships with people who support, encourage and challenge you. Read up on how to keep in touch with friends and loved ones and put this knowledge into practice. With the right people in your corner, you’ll start to feel the love and happiness you deserve.
You Are Strong Despite Your Traumas, Not Because Of Them
If you think your trauma made you who you are, think again. While traumatic events may change the course of your life from time to time, they aren’t responsible for your growth. In every instance, you are.
Any lessons you learn after traumatic events are the result of you growing and overcoming them. Your trauma didn’t help you grow as an individual; you grew in defiance of your hardships and challenges. Don’t attribute your success and triumph to the negatives in your life.
Internalize and accept that you made those things happen, and you deserve to feel proud.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that everyone deserves to feel happy and fulfilled. You don’t need to feel guilty for wanting to be happy or believing that you are worthy of it.
If you’re struggling with feeling like you don’t deserve to be happy, it’s okay. There’s no shame in admitting that you’re battling. If you think you need some more help, consider seeing a therapist. Therapy can delve into the root causes of your negative emotions, providing tools and strategies for understanding and managing them. For those who can’t attend in-person sessions or prefer flexibility, online therapy can be an accessible and effective option.
Ultimately, you are in control of your own happiness. You just have to be willing to take the steps necessary to get there. So take a few deep breaths if necessary and start to look for ways that you can bring more joy into your life. Make time for yourself and do things that make you feel good. If you do, you’ll soon start to notice the positive changes in your life, and realize all of the many reasons you have to be happy.