Let us start today’s article with a quote from the Dalai Lama. He said, “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” Upon reflecting on his wise words, we can realize that happiness cannot be bought in some markets; our actions can only create it. Do you remember Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King?
A humble wild boar and a tiny meerkat spend their lives chanting ‘Hakuna Matata,’ which means ‘there are no troubles’ in Swahili. Though trouble sometimes finds them, they remain happy and carefree. Timon and Pumbaa don’t need to strike a balance between personal and professional life.
They are free from the stressful lifestyle of our modern world. Still, there is something we can do to find happiness within ourselves amid all this chaos. Here are some tips to live a happier life.
Why does happiness matter?
People respond to this question in surprisingly different ways. Some suggest that there are far more vital things to worry about; others see happiness as crucially important and something that every human being eventually wants. Happiness reflects our emotional state, but it is more than a passing mood.
We are emotional beings and experience a wide array of feelings daily. Negative emotions—like fear and anger—help us escape danger or defend ourselves. Positive emotions—like enjoyment and hope—allow us to connect with others and build our capacity to manage when things go wrong. Living a happy life doesn’t mean denying negative emotions or pretending to feel joyful all the time.
We all face misfortune, and it is entirely natural for us to feel anger, sadness, frustration, and other negative emotions. Happiness is about making the most of the good times and effectively handling the unavoidable bad times. To experience the best possible life, we must live for the moment and prepare ourselves for the future.
So happiness matters—the scientific evidence is clear. The pursuit of happiness is not some middle-class luxury; it is about helping people live better lives and building a society that is more productive, healthy, and unified. As Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”
Tips To Live a Happier Life
1. Focus On Positive Thinking
To find happiness, you must divert your brain from a negative mindset to a positive one. Try these things. Spend one to two minutes looking for positive things in your life. Do this three or four times a day for some days, and your brain will start doing it automatically.
Choose a positive mantra for the day and repeat it to yourself, like “Today is beautiful” or “I feel grateful for the things I have.” When things go south, take a moment and try to see it from an optimistic view. Never underestimate the importance of noticing the silver linings in life.
2. Celebrate Little Triumphs
Life is full of ups and downs, but in between, we have a lot of little triumphs that go unnoticed. Take a moment to rejoice in these small wins. Did you clean your messy room? Finally finish that task you’d been putting off? Take delight in these little achievements and acknowledge your progress.
3. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation brings your attention to the present moment. It’s about being gentle and accepting how you feel. Practicing mindfulness means being present, aware, and inquisitive. Accepting what we are going through reduces stress and helps us see situations clearly. Through mindfulness, we can find peace and clarity within ourselves.
4. Accept Not Being Perfect
Many of us strive for perfection; we want to push ourselves to be our best. But to be a truly happy person, you must accept the imperfections that are part of daily life.
Perfection is almost impossible, and holding ourselves and others to these standards is pointless. We will always end up feeling disappointed. Accept that life is not perfect, and recognize that there is beauty and grace in imperfection.
5. Do What You Love
It is very hard to maintain overall happiness if you do not like your job. Don’t waste the best years of your life in a job you dislike, even if it is paying your bills. What are you interested in and passionate about? Focus on building a career that inspires and fulfills you, and your sense of happiness will grow naturally.
6. Live In the Moment
Our thoughts and feelings often revolve around the past or the future. Reality is what you are experiencing at that moment, what you are feeling right now. Sometimes we want to get away from that reality. We are wholly engaged in our lives when we stay in the present. Try to live in the moment, and you will start to have a more profound appreciation for your life.
Read More: 9 Tips for Embracing Joy in Daily Life
7. Be Creative
You may think artists are moody and depressed, but studies have shown that regularly engaging in creative activities helps to promote a happier mindset. Those who spend time using their imagination and being creative have more keenness and are more likely to have feelings of happiness and well-being.
Creative activities can include writing, painting, singing, playing an instrument, or any activity that engages your creative side.
8. Practice Giving Back
Be charitable with your time and your money. Give to others who are in need. Give to those you love and care for. Those who give back attain a sense of generosity and compassion. Those who are generous in spending money on others are most likely to have good health, likely because giving triggers a feel-good response that reduces stress and improves health.
9. Listen To Music
Listening to our favorite music lifts our spirits. It makes us feel better because listening to music causes our brains to release dopamine, a neurochemical connected to pleasure and relaxation. Those who connect with music through dance or concerts often experience higher happiness and a sense of well-being.
10. Stop Comparing Yourself with Others
Stop comparing yourself to the people around you. Most significantly, stop comparing your possessions to all the things everyone else has. Social media tends to make us feel that everyone else has it better than us.
How often does scrolling through your newsfeed make you feel negative and depressed? Letting envy and bitterness enter our minds robs us of appreciating what we have.
Conclusion
There is an important reason why happiness is often intangible; our brains are not wired that way. Instead, our brains have developed to survive, protect us, and keep us safe.
We have moments of delight and periods of satisfaction and bliss. But many of us are overwhelmed with constant negative emotions. So how can we find more joy in our lives? It takes practice to develop lasting happiness. We have to reset our mindset and emotional foundation. It cannot happen overnight, but with practice, we can all learn to live happier lives.
