Being happy is a goal we all want to achieve, but we have different ideas about how to reach it.
It’s easy to think of happiness as an outcome, but learning to feel good despite our circumstances is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
It is true that sometimes circumstances may not be the most favorable for feeling good, however, there are certain actions that we can put into practice to improve our attitude towards life.
In this article, you’ll discover 18 small actions that will help you be happier and feel good every day. Start transforming your inner and outer self today!
What does it mean to be happy?
Happiness is a complex and difficult word to define, especially because the path to happiness is different for each of us.
According to the dictionary of the Royal Academy, happiness is a “state of pleasant spiritual and physical satisfaction”.
And you’ll agree with me that this state varies depending on the person.
What I need to be happy and feel good is to dedicate my life to developing a job that I love and that helps other people transform their lives.
Others find happiness in living isolated in the middle of a forest.
Others live by traveling.
As you can see, what it means to be happy is a question that has infinite answers.
Furthermore, happiness depends on many factors.
And that’s precisely why happiness isn’t a destination, but a journey.
And it’s the journey itself that makes you feel good and happy each day.
That is to say: Happiness consists of making small decisions day by day, which translate into actions to live a happier life.
Or to put it another way: happiness is a journey without a destination.
Being happy: The great myth of Happiness and Success
Although the concept of success can be as subjective as that of happiness, let’s start from the premise that we understand success as professional recognition and a healthy bank account.
That said, are you one of those people who think that your happiness depends on your success?
Does money buy happiness?
If you believe it, I’m sorry to tell you it’s a lie. A myth.
In fact, in many cases, success not only does not lead to happiness, but it does the opposite.
It’s not that money isn’t important. It certainly is. In the world we live in, it’s essential.
But that doesn’t mean it’s what you need to be happier. It will make you happy up to a point: the point where it gives you the security you need.
Therefore, money provides psychological peace of mind but not happiness.
Note that after €100k/year, money only solves problems (which isn’t bad), but it doesn’t significantly contribute to people’s happiness.
Think of those images of penniless children playing happily in the favelas. Or of those others in Africa, whose smiles never fade even without running water.
On the contrary, think of those other cases of famous millionaires who end their lives (or try to) because they feel empty and alone.
Actor Robin Williams and Marilyn Monroe committed suicide. Angelina Jolie, Tina Turner, and Princess Diana attempted suicide. I’m sure you know many more examples.
Did any of them lack money? Not at all.
Were they unsuccessful? Nope. Quite the opposite.
They were universally recognized icons, admired by millions of people.
So why were they unable to be happy while children without resources were?
Why is it that some people who have a lot can’t feel good and be happy, while others with austere lives experience fulfillment?
Let’s see what science says about it.
I want to be happy – Heard! Here are the findings of the largest study in history on happiness
I invite you to watch the TED Talk by Robert Waldinger, the director of this more than 75-year research on what makes people happy, conducted at Harvard, over multiple generations of people, very different at a socio-economic-demographic level, in the Boston, Massachusetts area.
Here’s a summary of the conclusions:
#1. – The study reveals that close personal relationships, more than money, fame, and success, are what make people happy throughout their lives. Bonds with loved ones (family, partner, or friends) protect people from dissatisfaction, delay mental and physical decline, and promote a longer and happier life, much more so than belonging to a high social class, having a high IQ, or even having good genes.
#2 – Happiness spreads when you activate the 3 C’s in your life.
- Contribute: help others, share, and collaborate.
- Grow: on a personal and professional level.
- Take care: of yourself first, of your loved ones, of your important relationships.
How to learn to be happy?
If you’ve ever wondered how to be happier every day, keep reading, because you’re going to discover that being happy is easy.
Because it only depends on one thing: yourself.
Happiness is a decision, a habit. Not a goal.
I told you at the beginning: happiness is not a destination.
The process is what’s important.
The trip, if you want.
Happiness is also a decision.
A state of being, existing, and seeing life.
Happiness is not made up of epic moments, but rather it is built on the possibility of living simple moments with your loved ones.
Everyday life, the details, the nuances.
Happiness hides behind a gesture, a look, a hug, a smile.
It’s about helping when you can.
Be kind.
Do not judge.
Listen to and understand others.
Do good.
Ultimately, being happy depends on how you face life each day and how you choose to relate to yourself and the world.
Don’t look for things to be happy: make the decision and determination to be happy.
Choose to be happy, and then figure out how to be happy.
If we each have a different definition of happiness, it is logical to conclude that there are different ways to be happy.
Therefore, to be happy again, feel good mentally and be joyful, you must find your own path.
Therefore, try to design a happy life for yourself first.
Have you ever wondered what happiness truly means to you?
Think about it for a moment.
Imagine your ideal life. The perfect life. How is?
Visualize it in your mind in as much detail as possible.
Where do you live? What is your lifestyle like? What do you work at? What is your daily routine like from the moment you wake up until you go to bed?
If you don’t do this visualization exercise and don’t stop to reflect on what happiness means to you… you will hardly be able to be happy in life.
However, designing your life of happiness is not enough.
You have to build that vision you’ve had of your perfect life.
And to do that, you need to overcome your fears.
Happiness is also a path of self-improvement, nonconformity, and a desire for inner growth.
Remember: happiness is not a destination.
You can build anything you want, as long as you build it with your own effort, little by little.
Don’t rush. Enjoy the journey. Avoid impatience.
It may take a lifetime to build this vision.
Think of the Eiffel Tower or a cathedral. How were they built?
Stone by stone. Step by step.
So try to be happy before you finish your own personal Sagrada Familia. 😀
Keep in mind that happiness is also about balance.
It is the harmony between the personal and professional spheres.
What does this mean? Well, it means that without being happy professionally, you won’t be truly happy in life.
So feeling good about your job contributes quite a bit (or a lot) to your overall happiness.
A job that frustrates, overwhelms, and limits you can be as toxic to happiness as a dull personal life where dissatisfaction has taken hold.
Remember: two levels: personal and professional. Both in harmony. That is, the right amount of each so that they complement each other and merge perfectly into your idea of what happiness is.
So, to be happy, it’s not enough to work at something you like, or even love. In fact, if you overdo it professionally, your personal life will likely make you pay a heavy price.
This is, in fact, one of the main problems that many digital entrepreneurs face.
Okay, we know that there are different ideas about how to live happily, and that everyone should find happiness in their own way.
But is there a recipe that helps you feel good in life and live happily?
Once again, let science speak and tell you the ingredients for cooking up a good dish of happiness.
Yes, there are tricks to being happy that you can apply in your life starting today.
Here are the 18 best tips for being happy
Do you remember the conclusions of the study on happiness?
Do you remember that we talked about the 3 C’s?
Let’s look in detail at what science says about the importance of contributing, growing, and caring to know what to do to be happy.
C for Contribute
#1 – Decide to be an actor, not a victim
Take action. Take responsibility for your life, stop licking your wounds, and stop complaining.
When faced with adversity or a problem you hide behind excuses, look for someone to blame and find external culprits, you fall into complacency and move away from happiness.
Happiness is an attitude. So pay attention to your actions and reactions to worries, challenges, or problems every day.
#2 – Accompany and help others
Do you want to be happier? Empathize, share, and collaborate altruistically.
Put your ego aside and dedicate yourself to the dreams of others.
It is proven that getting involved with other people and helping them achieve their goals will make you feel better about yourself and be happier.
#3 – Do something good for someone
Closely related to the previous advice.
Doing good and having good deeds with others has a double positive effect on you: it generates well-being and, that good feeling with yourself, makes your brain release endorphins, the hormones of pleasure.
Furthermore, when you act correctly your conscience is clear and, among other things, you will sleep better (something essential to feeling good and being happy, as you will see later).
#4 – Save the planet
Could you be happy in a polluted, smelly, dirty, and destroyed world? I don’t think it’s possible.
Think of oceans full of plastic, cities with unbreathable atmospheres, wildfires…
What emotions does it awaken in you? Negative, right?
Happiness needs a healthy environment to flourish. That’s why protecting the environment helps you be happier.
Furthermore, caring for the planet means caring for animals and plants. It also means ensuring a good place for future generations. It means thinking of more than just yourself. It means doing something good. And remember what happens when we do good.
#5 – Give without expecting anything in return
“Givers get,” as the Americans say.
Give for pleasure, give without measuring, give because it comes from within, give because that’s who you are and that’s how you feel.
When you give from the heart and without expecting anything in return, you avoid disappointment and frustration. The result? It’s easier to be happy. 😉
C for Growing
#6 – Identify your Holy Family
Why is it important and useful to define your ideal future life to be happier? To work 365 days a year without rushing or stress.
It’s a compass when you’re going through periods of doubt. To better put your short-term results into perspective, which will probably not be as good as you expected.
To build your legacy instead of being swept away by the whirlwind of life. To stay focused.
Come on, let’s create your Holy Family. To do this, follow these steps:
Picture yourself 25 years from now and describe a typical day in your life. The more detailed you are, the better, because what isn’t written down is lost. However, don’t go into as much detail as you would in your 10-year vision. But try to define a clear framework.
#7 – Plan your goals to achieve them
If you want to build something great in your life, you have no other option than to learn to take a large and unmanageable task and learn to cut it into small pieces to move forward towards the goal.
Divide and conquer.
But how can we create really big things without the risk of getting overwhelmed or worried about reaching the top? Planning.
When you want to create something huge, it is essential that you have the ability to understand the sequence of actions you need to take.
The main idea is to chop it up and create a sequence.
Once we have the big piece, the other pieces are completely irrelevant. You need to focus all your energy on fulfilling each element of that piece. And that way you can fill in all the pieces.
#8 – Learn or try something new
We have already seen that among the tips for being happier in life, you have to be an actor and not a victim. “Actor” comes from “action.” And that’s precisely what you must do: act.
Try, experiment, learn, be restless, curious. Don’t settle. Be ambitious.
#9 – Cultivate relationships and surround yourself with positive and happy people
“You are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with.” – A quote from businessman, author, and speaker Jim Rohn with which I couldn’t agree more.
Let’s see. If you surround yourself with negative, resigned, conformist people… do you think they will fuel your desire to improve and be better? At all.
If you want to lose weight and get in shape, and you surround yourself with people who exercise daily and have good habits, you will end up adopting good habits and it will be easier for you to achieve your goal.
Similarly, if you want to be happy, surround yourself with positive, optimistic, and happy people. You’ll end up catching their energy.
Do you believe in jinxes? They exist. And now you know why. 😉
#10 – Get to know yourself better and master your thoughts and emotions
Getting to know yourself better will help you accept yourself better, not to demand too much of yourself, not to be too critical of yourself… Don’t raise the bar to infinity.
Getting to know yourself better helps you understand your internal mental and emotional processes. It helps you identify why you think what you think or feel what you feel. And that fosters self-control, inner balance, serenity, and… happiness.
C for Caring
#11 – Sleep better
There are plenty of studies on the subject. Lack of rest directly affects mood, mental and emotional state. You are more prone to contracting illnesses and depression. It directly affects your ability to concentrate, productivity, and performance.
Should I continue? As you can imagine, sleeping soundly and resting is essential for your happiness.
For this, I recommend:
- Avoid exercising in the late afternoon or evening.
- Replace stimulating drinks in the afternoon with non-stimulating ones.
- Avoid screens two hours before going to sleep.
- Keep your bedroom well-ventilated and at a cool temperature.
- Try not to eat a late or heavy dinner. And, if possible, avoid carbohydrates at night.
#12 – Take care of your body by exercising
“These Romans are crazy,” said Obelix. He was wrong. At least about this. You know which famous phrase I’m referring to, right? Exactly: Mens sana in corpore sana.
Science has proven it millions of times. Well, maybe not millions, but many yes.
The important thing: playing sports oxygenates the body, boosts the immune system, clears the mind, and… releases endorphins. Here again are our friendly hormones responsible for pleasure (and happiness).
Obelix could have listened to the Romans a little instead of eating so much wild boar and throwing so many punches 😀
#13 – Eat more mindfully and healthily
Just as important as doing sports is taking care of your diet in order to feel good about yourself and be happy.
Without the right fuel, neither your mind nor your body will function at their full potential. This will limit your abilities and hinder your ability to live happily.
#14 – Talk more with your loved ones
Did you know that one of the biggest regrets before dying is precisely not having spent more time with loved ones?
Even if you’re looking for ways to be happy on your own, the truth is that feeling supported by the important people in your life will help you be happy.
#15 – Appreciate the little things
A wink, a glance, a smile…
Waking up next to the one you love. Go to bed healthy. Sleeping in a bed. Enjoy a meal every day. A hot shower. Feeling the sun on your face. The breeze. The rain. Life.
Is there any greater reason to feel happy than to be alive?
#16 – Value what you have
If you think about it carefully, you’ll realize that you have many reasons to feel grateful every day.
Do you know how I start my day? By looking for 3 things to be thankful for. I always find them. I have plenty of reasons.
Sometimes they are major milestones. Other times, small details. In any case, they enrich me and make me feel fortunate.
#17 – Connect with nature
Your entire body is part of nature. Even if you live in a city… don’t deny it!
Immerse yourself in the mountains, walk through forests, breathe fresh air, enjoy natural landscapes… Immersing yourself in nature and feeling part of it will make you realize that you can be happy with little.
#18 – Live in the present
Learn from the past. The future… will come. And the present… LIVE IT!
The present is the only thing you can control. Seize it, make the most of it, and enjoy it.
If you try to grasp the future, you’ll miss the present. And when you realize it… the present will be the past.
There will never be a better time than NOW. Nor a better day than TODAY.
You will never be younger than you are now. Be aware of it, take advantage of it, and be happy!
Feeling good by default
At this point, if someone asks me how to be happy and feel good, I would summarize the answer in these 4 tips for being happy:
- Know yourself.
- Listen to yourself.
- Align your thoughts with your actions.
- Enjoy and be grateful.
Everything can happen very quickly. Be aware of that.
After this profound reflection on happiness, if you’re looking to be professionally happy as a first step towards feeling good about yourself and enjoying your perfect life, I encourage you to sign up for a free training course where you’ll discover how to turn your talent into a profitable business that allows you to get your first clients in less than 60 days and your first €10,000 in 12 months.
The moment of truth has arrived. Time to make a decision.
Do you want to be happy and live your life on your own terms?