Finding Your Happiness

Be Part of Something Bigger Than Yourself

Living a life that has meaning and purpose is a surefire way to find happiness. A purpose driven life brings about a sense of fulfillment and can leave one feeling more in control. In general, people with a purpose get more out of their daily experiences than those who just go through life blindly seeking meaningless happiness.

Having a purpose can have a very different meaning for different people, it is all a very personal experience. For some, purpose comes from being a parent, or a committed partner. For others, it can come from volunteering at animal shelters or foster programs. Others may find purpose in being part of their religious community, or pursuing a career that makes a difference in the world. It’s all about being part of something that is bigger than just you.

Make Personal Connections With Others

If you currently live a life of solitude, your first step on the road to happiness may be to get out and make some personal connections with others. The connections that you have with other people can be the core of happiness in your life. In general, individual who have strong relationships with others, as well as a broad social network, tend to live longer, healthier and happier lives than those who live a solitary life. Developing and maintaining relationships with others is important to your wellbeing. Some research studies even suggest that not having close connections with others can be detrimental to your health. A strong social support network appears to decrease the risk of obesity and heart disease, boost the immune system and reduce the risk of age-related mental decline.

Be Active

There is no denying that the mind-body connection is there, and it is strong. Taking care of your physical needs is not only good for your physical health, but it is beneficial for your mental state. When you get up and get active, your brain releases feel-good hormones that increase your happiness and create an overall sense of well-being. It can significantly help to reduce negative emotions and depression, and it releases endorphins that instantly elevate your mood.

Learn Something New

When you take up a new hobby or pick up an educational book, you are activating the learning center in your brain. When you learn something new, you are exposed to new thoughts and ideas, which keeps your brain engaged at a healthy level. The self-confidence that is derived from newfound knowledge can also booster positive feelings and increase happiness. Learning new things doesn’t mean enrolling in structured programs or classes. It can be as simple as reading a book, picking up a guitar, taking up a sport or being involved in new activities with friends.

Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself. In fact, trying to improve certain aspects of your personality can be beneficial in many ways. The problem comes in when people view themselves as always needing to improve, preventing them from ever being truly happy with who they are. When you focus on the negative and spend most of your time going over your flaws, you lose sight of your positive attributes. Everyone is a work in progress. To be happy, you need to focus on the positive traits that you have and try to expand on them, so they can encompass other areas of your personality. Instead of comparing yourself to the mother of 4 next door who seems to have it all figured out, focus on your best parenting qualities and take pride in them. You can continue to work on areas of your life that need improvement, just don’t lose focus on the positive attributes that you already have. Learn to love you for you, and the rest will fall into place.