Photo By Andre Furtado/Pexels
Column By Kristin Savage
When times are tough, everybody tries to find ways to keep themselves motivated and happy. Staying in a good mood has a lot to do with how you perceive things around you but changing your perception of the world can be challenging. Something you can do in order to improve your outlook on life is to start thinking about the simple things that make you happy.
Dealing with bigger issues can make us forget about all the little joys around us and all the things that we should be grateful for. The truth is though, that the simple things are the ones that will guide us to a much happier life. Here are some simple ways for you to start appreciating those less important things more.
1. Start your day with a smile
Smiling can help your brain release endorphins which in return help your body feel relaxed, happy, and stress-free. Starting your day with a smile can help you feel happier without having to put much effort in.
When you wake up, before getting out of bed, ask yourself, what is one thing you are grateful for that day? This might be a simple question, but it is bound to help you feel appreciative of what you have and put a smile on your face right away.
2. Live in the moment
Worrying over what tomorrow may bring is only going to cause you to worry and be stressed about scenarios that might never happen. Why worry about the future when you can shift all of your focus in the present moment?
Living for today means to stop dwelling on the past and working on improving your current situation. By putting all of your focus on enjoying everything you do while you do it, you will be much happier and satisfied with the life you are living.
3. Do things that you enjoy
Doing a job that makes you unhappy or putting yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable can severely impact your happiness. While you might feel obligated to do certain things, doing things you do not enjoy is going to make you feel unhappy in the long run.
Therefore, it is important to invest your time in doing things you enjoy, no matter how small or simple they might be. When you do something with love, you will feel much more satisfied and happy in the long run.
4. Find time for yourself
As simple as it might seem, finding time to journal, workout, meditate, or do some skincare might be crucial to your road to happiness. Taking care of yourself is very important for your mental health and well-being.
“Even if you need to take time to just lie on the couch and watch Netflix, you should always make time to spend by yourself and just relax. As you age, there will not be many opportunities for you to have alone time, so enjoy these moments whenever you can”, advises Donald Fomby, a writer for TopEssayWriting.
5. Make time for socializing
No matter how much of an introvert you might be, finding time to spend with friends and family is important. Staying at home or focusing on your work might seem like the best way to spend your time, but socializing will help clear your mind more than anything can.
You do not have to spend the night parting to feel like you went out. Even something as simple as a walk in the park with a close friend will help you recharge your batteries. In return, this will allow you to find the focus you need to go through the rest of your day.
6. Stop comparing yourself
Comparing yourself to others and their progress is one of the most harmful things you can do. Each person has their own, individual paths in life and everyone does things differently. Just because someone on social media has achieved more does not mean that you matter less or that you are not just as successful.
Just remember, that the things you have now, the body you have now, or the job you have now might be someone else’s goals. Be proud of how far you have come and never stop working hard. These little reminders should help you work towards the future you imagine for yourself.
7. Find your own purpose
Finding your purpose in life can be tough and many people spend years trying to find what they are meant to be doing. What you need to keep in mind is that there is no one that will suddenly tell you what your purpose is. You are the one that will create your purpose.
The best way to tackle this is by working on things you love. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor or a soldier and that is okay. Your own purpose should be shaped around what you love doing and it will be just as important as anything else. When you find what you love doing, all the hard work will have paid off.
8. Lower your expectations
Having lower expectations does not make you less motivated. When something goes different than you imagined, you will always be able to find a way to work things out. If you have low expectations, you will not feel as disappointed and you will be able to find a way to make things better while staying in a better mood.
The higher your expectations are, the easier you will be disappointed by anything life brings your way. Therefore, keep an open mind and expect even the worst-case scenarios. This way if something goes better than you expected you will be the happiest and most fulfilled person.
9. Be open to change
Change is inevitable in everyone’s lives and it will always interfere with your plans. Being scared of things changing is going to make you miserable and it will not allow you to live to your fullest potential.
Embracing change and the new things it brings might be scary at first. Being open to accepting each new situation will help you stay happy and motivated and will remind you of how far you have come. Change can be a good thing as long as you are open to seeing in a positive manner every time it happens.
10. Find it in your heart to forgive
Last but not least, another small thing that will contribute to finding your own happiness is having the courage to forgive. Staying mad at people and situations is only going to hold you back and this will not help you grow as a person.
“Your personal happiness depends on how you treat others and by forgiving those that wronged you; you are being the bigger person. Find it in your heart to forgive and your path to happiness will be clearer than ever before”, advises Bridgette Hernandez, a social media expert and blog writer for ClassyEssay.
Developing a positive outlook on life
At the end of the day, the way you approach everything that happens around you is going to contribute to your overall happiness in life. Being optimistic and having low expectations will help you adjust and tackle every problem that comes your way with a calm mind.
All the steps mentioned earlier will help you develop a more positive outlook on life and this will help you become happier in the long run. Which of these tips are you looking forward to implementing in your life?
Kristin Savage is a writer and editor for Studyker and WriteScout. She has a strong passion for providing her audience with guidance on various matters and she often creates guest content for platforms such as Subjecto in order to cover different topics for everyone’s interests and needs. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks and writing for her personal blog, FlyWriting.
