Contents
- 1. Understand and accept what you can control and what you can’t
- 2. Learn to be a good partner, friend, relative
- 3. Understand what makes you truly happy
- 4. Understand the difference between social media and real life
- 5. Regularly do what you like
- 6. Consume new, uncharacteristic information for you
- 7. Learn to be content with what you have
It seems that a better life is yet to come. Therefore, you need not think about yourself today, work hard and not sleep at night. After all, it will pay off later, right? Actually it is not. To become happier, a couple of simple actions are enough.
A lot of books, articles and YouTube videos make us think that our life – as it is now – is not good enough. And that if we work harder and earn more, we can make it much better.
This is generally not bad, if not for one “but”: each of us dreams of happiness. Career and financial stability are important, but these are only external factors. There are other things, or rather ways that change our inner state and self-awareness faster and better. We tell you which ones.
1. Understand and accept what you can control and what you can’t
Most people can’t enjoy life because they worry about things they can’t control. And, on the contrary, it lets go what it could actually control. For example, we believe that we are “unlucky in love” and have been dating various abusive partners for years. We ignore the red flags, remain the victim, and allow ourselves to be hurt again and again.
But it is up to us to make the right choice. The choice to no longer be a victim. Deal with your problems – on your own or with the support of a specialist. And break off the relationship every time it seems that the situation is repeating itself – and so on until you meet a loving, understanding and caring partner. The one you deserve.
2. Learn to be a good partner, friend, relative
We learn to communicate with others from our parents and by their example. It is not surprising that gaps remain in our “education” – which, however, we are able to fill.
You can learn to put your thoughts and feelings into words, listen to others, and resolve disagreements in a peaceful way, even if before it seemed that it was simply “not given” to you. You can start talking about your desires openly and respecting the needs of a loved one. Do not run away from difficult conversations and topics, do not gloss over problems.
In the long run, all this will strengthen your ties with others, and therefore, make your life better.
3. Understand what makes you truly happy
A simple but effective exercise is to make a specific list of such things. Just do not limit yourself to the banal “walk” or “read” – dig deeper. Perhaps you love watching raindrops run down the glass in your country house. Or bury your nose in your cat’s warm fur belly. Or read short stories with a non-banal denouement.
Compiling such a list can take days or even weeks, but it’s worth it. Keep it and take it out on your darkest days to know how to cheer yourself up and bring back a sense of joy in life.
Most likely, you go to one or more social networks every day. What is more likely – do it several times a day. In this case, your task is to protect your mental health. How? Remembering the main thing: what you see is hardly true.
In social networks, we observe only one facet of someone else’s life – ideal, retouched, glossy. We do not know at what price these shots were given to a person. What he or she really looks like, “no filters”. What problems do they face.
As you know, “comparison is the thief of joy.” If you can’t completely abandon it yet, try to at least question everything you see.
5. Regularly do what you like
If you have already found an activity that brings you joy, please do not give it up. Even if it seems that this is a waste of time, does not bring money, is somehow undignified and there are more important things to do. Carve out at least some time for your hobby, passion or other activity, whether it is writing or coloring mandalas.
Firstly, this is a piece of happiness in your life, and you should not refuse it. Secondly, persistence is the key to success.
6. Consume new, uncharacteristic information for you
Travel. Read articles and books on topics that previously did not interest you. Connect with people from other social groups and with different backgrounds. Learn new skills. Try to understand those with whom you strongly disagree. All this helps to broaden one’s horizons and learn to accept this world in all its diversity.
7. Learn to be content with what you have
For some reason, many of us are sure that in order to experience happiness, you need to do something, achieve something: “I’ll earn / build a career / get married / have a baby – and then …”. But the truth is that all this may not happen. Does this mean that we should deprive ourselves of hope for happiness? Not at all.
In the pursuit of happiness, we forget to enjoy the little things (and more significant things) that can be found in our every day. To fix this, do another exercise: make a list of what you truly appreciate in your life and are grateful for. Start with something big and big—family and friends, for example—and then move on to less obvious things.
Refer to this list when you feel empty and lonely, when it seems that you have not yet achieved anything to become happy. If the feeling of joy from life barely flickers in you, support it artificially, throw up firewood, and one day it will surely flare up into a powerful, even, beautiful flame.