Even though happiness looks different to each of us, one thing is for sure: We all want to be happy.

What does happiness mean to you?

If someone were to ask you to define happiness, what would you say? I would define happiness as feeling optimistic, inspired, present and loved. Please understand that no one feels “happy” all of the time… We are human beings with complex emotions. We ride a roller coaster of emotions on a daily basis. There are good days and there are bad days. However, by practicing some simple habits, we can flip the script on our bad days. We can better our lives, feel better about ourselves and feel joyful… we can lead a happier existence and encourage others to do the same.

Here is a list of 12 Ways to be Happier!

_________________________________________________________________________

Practice Gratitude

This is my number ONE thing that you can do if you want to feel happier. Feeling grateful changes our thoughts and actions… it transforms our lives by putting things into perspective. It turns “not enough” into “plenty”, pessimism and comparison into faith and appreciation. So, how do you feel more grateful? Well, you can start by taking notice of all the good in your life: your health, your loved ones, opportunity, and the beauty of nature. For more ideas check out: 5 Ways to Be More Grateful

• 

• 

• 

RELATED: We Should All Be Thankful For… and 10 Gratitude Quotes That Will Inspire You To Be More Grateful

Live in the Present

We all like to revisit good moments from our past. The funny thing is that for some reason, the past always seems better than it was because our brain naturally tends to remember the good. So we think “Man, those were the good ol’ days!” If we aren’t doing that, we most likely are stressing about the future… The meetings, deadlines and plans of tomorrow. But, if we are constantly reflecting on the past and stressing about the future, what happens to the present moment? We lose it and time is too precious to lose. Think of it this way: We are creating the “Good Ol’ Days” that we will rememeber tomorrow, TODAY. We have to live in the “now” and appreciate every moment that is given to us… We must ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

Laugh

Try not to take life too seriously! Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you’re feeling upset, watch a funny movie, share an inside joke with a friend or go to a comedy show… do anything that will make you smile!

Quit Comparing

Comparison is the thief of joy. With social media being as popular as it is right now, it seems as though everyone is obsessed with posting beautiful photos to their Instagram feed or Facebook profile. It is hard NOT to compare your life to someone else’s! Here is a reminder : SOCIAL MEDIA ISN’T REAL LIFE! It is a highlight reel of someone’s life. We post only what we want to share… We post the best parts of their lives. However, we are all human and have bad days, even if our Instafeed looks like perfection. The key is to “Be kind because everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” Let’s cheer each other on and celebrate each other’s victories instead of comparing our lives and wondering why we don’t have what another person has. We are all unique with different strengths and challenges, so let’s appreciate each other (minus comparison). Let’s be a positive force in this world and spread encouragement. “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

Care For Yourself

Self Care is important to your physical and mental well being. Treat yourself kindly and take some time to pamper yourself. Meditate to ease your mind. Exercise to feel strong and empowered. Have a spa night to relax. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so take good care of yourself.

RELATED: Avocado, Honey & Coconut Oil Beauty Mask DIY

Surround Yourself with Love

This could mean the people that mean the most to you or the hobbies that make your heart smile. Find your tribe and your passion and devote as much time as possible to those things.

• 

• 

Forgive Others Quickly

Don’t let an argument or disagreement steal your happiness. Try to give people the benefit of the doubt, forgive, and move forward.

Help Others

When you help others, you will also be helping yourself. Volunteering connects you with like minded individuals and can put in to perspective how lucky you are to have the things that you do have. Your health, a roof over your head, a job, and the ability to help change someone’s life.

Set Goals

Life is about living and learning. A good way to add more purpose to your life is to continuously set goals for yourself. When we feel like life has purpose, we want to stay motivated to achieve our goals. The goals can be big or small, doesn’t matter. The main idea is that your goals give you something to work towards. Stay curious and keep learning. Stretch your mind and happily work hard towards each of your goals.

Be Optimistic

Being optimistic means facing life with a positive mindset. Thinking “on the bright side” lowers your stress response to help you face challenges and conflicts. It can take a little bit of effort to retrain your brain to look for the silver lining in every situation, but being optimistic can change your life for the better and make you a happier person! Instead of worrying what can go wrong, try to think about what can go right. When you focus on good things, life brings more good things to you.

Take Responsibility

We all have THIS one life. How you spend your time is up to YOU! You are more than your past. You are more than your circumstances. You are strong and capable and YOU HAVE THE POWER to make your life in to anything that you want it to be.

Choose to Be Happy

Wake up everyday and decide that you are going to do everything in your power to make today a good day!

______________________________________________________________

Even though we may have different definitions of happiness, We ALL want to be happy! By trying to be more grateful, living in the present moment, and looking in the bright side of a situation, we can increase the joy in our own lives and encourage others to pursue a life of happiness, too!

Please comment below how YOU describe happiness and what are some things that YOU do to increase your happiness. Spread joy!