How To Be Happier In Life

1.)   Practice Acknowledgement

Many people do not get enough acknowledgment from their partners, parents, siblings, the server at their favorite restaurant, or even the mailman. Most of us are so focused on our day-to-day that we forget to take a moment to appreciate the good things in life, i.e. those around us.

Like most people, you might be wondering what this has to do with happiness!

Well, think of ten people who have accomplished or done something well in the recent past. Now, imagine approaching one of those people and appreciating them for what it is they did, irrespective of how small or big.

How does the idea of appreciating them make you feel? If you are like most people, chances are you’ll experience positive feelings like a warm sensation, joy, or happy chills.

Ever heard the saying that goes – you get fuller when you feed others? Well, this idiom gains more weight when you learn to appreciate others. The more you offer to others, the more nourished you, and those around you, will end up being.

Want to feel more fulfilled in life? Start acknowledging and appreciating those around you with something as simple as a heartfelt phone call or a simple note or inviting them to a cup of coffee to experience the joy of life.

2.)   Try New Things

Psychology Today defines Hedonic adaptation as the tendency (of us humans) to get used to things after prolonged exposure to them. For instance, if there’s a task that you love and you do it every week, it can become monotonous as time goes by, and soon enough, it’ll no longer make you happy.

However, that doesn’t mean that you put off your boujee Netflix nights.

What you need to do is consider throwing in some fresh, new activities to your schedule. Doing so will add more variety and spontaneity into your life, boosting morale while helping ensure you stay on your toes.

Looking for mood-boosting ideas? Consider:

–         Trying a new cuisine/meal

–         Signing up for an exercise class that you have never done

–         Taking a class on subjects that you have always wanted to learn

–         Exploring a suburb in your town that you have never been to

–         Learning a new language

–         Chatting with a neighbor you rarely talk to

–         Visiting your local library and borrowing some books

3.)   Let Your Rebel Out

Here is the deal, most people do not like to be ordered around or told what to do, which means that most of us have some level of rebellion within us. Sadly, most of our rebellious outlets typically involve self destructive behavior. A good example of this is when you are told that you cannot have a specific type of food, and you instantly want more of it.

If that sounds familiar, then just know it’s your rebellious inner child trying to come out. As an adult, you have the power to upgrade your self-destructive vices into healthier ones that will still make you feel a bit crazy and make you happy.

Here are several ideas for you to consider:

–         Prank call your sibling, dad, or mom

–         Rake a pile of dried leaves and jump in them

–         Come up with a unique personality and introduce yourself to strangers without breaking out of character

–         Play hooky with anything you come across for a day

–         Let loose and dance around your house in PJs like without a care in the world

–         Draw mustaches on posters

–         Go for a photoshoot and make sure all the photos you have taken are goofy

–         Buy a pet, such as a goldfish, without telling your significant other

Feel free to come up with a unique rebel list that you can run to anytime you feel down and out and want to boost your joy and happiness by reconnecting with the inner child in you.

4.)   Make Self-Care a Happiness Habit

Getting trapped in the negative cycle of always catering to the needs of others before yours is quite easy. The problem with this is that you end up setting yourself up for overwhelm, irritability, resentment, and feeling drained and anxious.

It’s about time that you take the time every day to fill your life with some much-deserved self-care.

Turning self-care into a habit is a great happiness and health strategy with long-term benefits. But if it is yet to become a habit, there is no need to worry. All you need to do is set aside thirty minutes each day to re-energize the inner you.

Do not know what to do? Consider trying out one of the following FitOn sessions:

–         Taste of ZUMBA: Shake It

–         Letting Go Meditation with Elise Joan

–         Sweet Stretch with Vytas

–         Peaceful Seated Yoga with Sydney Benner

–         Simple Meditation with Vytas

Visit Claritychi.com for advice for a happier life.

5.)   Do Nothing

There is one challenge most go-getters struggle with, and that is they are never happy with where they are in life. There is always something better and bigger to strive for, and while achieving goals is not a bad thing, most of us end up being disappointed.

We think that once we’ve acquired that luxury bag or a big house or fancy car then will we be happy. In most cases, such items will not satisfy your thirst, they will only leave you feeling unfulfilled. The best thing in life is to embrace your life as it is. Learn to accept your status and situation and stop pressuring yourself.

Let it all go! Do nothing.

And see how wholesome embracing your life wholeheartedly can be! You just might be surprised to see how easy it is for happiness to flood in!