Top Ten Ways to Lead a Happier Life
Living in today’s society is not the easiest task; being happy in today’s society is not much easier. With all that occurs in life, it is hard for people to grasp what it means to be happy. Some people spend all their life trying to become a billionaire, but in the end, are still unable to find happiness. This is a complied list of thoughts and mindsets that will help one lead a happier life.
- Let go of materialistic thoughts - This concept is a lot easier to have a grasp on than most would think. Not only does this save you quite a few bucks, it gives you time to focus on what money cannot buy: family, friends, and time. Rather than spending your time and money on the next generation iPad, spend it on a nice evening out with your family. Remind yourself this the next time you are itching to replace your perfectly functioning TV with that new sixty-two inch flat screen.
- Find an outlet - Whether you are a student, working, or even retired, everyone needs a break sometimes. This does not mean that you have to be interested in painting or something of that sort. An outlet can be a diary or even a daily walk in the park; it just needs to be an activity where you can just be worry free. However, remember that there is a difference between enjoying the latest movie and rotting in front of the TV.
- Watch your diet and exercise - Being on a diet simply means to eat. The media has skewered the meaning of this word, so do not think that you need to live off of salads for the rest of your life. Frankly, that would not make most people happy anyway. Moreover, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help you live a happier life. In time, taking care of your body will give you more energy and a little more spring in your step. Contrary to what people choose to believe, eating fast food regularly can bring your mood down. So try to keep a healthy body; it is one of the few things all the money in the world cannot buy.
- Don’t stress the small things - The small details don’t always matter, so don’t freak out if something did not play out EXACTLY as planed. This is not to say that small details never matter, just remember to look at the big picture from time to time.
- Ask yourself: Will this matter five years from now? - Really ask yourself this when you are stressed. Remember this the next time you decide to spend four hours complaining about what your co-worker did or did not do. Chances are, it will not matter to you in five years and you should not be wasting your time and energy on such negative thoughts.
- Accept what you cannot change - As humans, not every situation in our life is within our power to change, so learn to accept it. If you can do something about it, do it. If you cannot do something about it, don’t worry; everything always has a way of working itself out in the end.
- Surround yourself with positive people - Whether we like it or not, the people around us shape who we are. So if there are people who bring you down, find people who will encourage and support you. It is not easy to get rid of these people from your life, but if you were an apple, would you really want a rotten one next to you?
- Look on the bright side - This is not to say that you should become an optimist, but you should. If you are constantly focusing on the negative, there is no time for you to enjoy all that life has to offer. Even if you are going through dark times, know that they end.
- Do not beat yourself up - If you do something wrong, suffer the consequences, complain about it, learn from it, then forgive yourself. There is no use in punishing yourself forever. Time waits for no one, so move on.
- Forget about other people - If you are only trying to do things for the sake of others, don’t. You have to realize that before you can help others, you have to help yourself. It’s okay to be a little selfish sometimes, just don’t over do it.
- Jinny
