5 Practical Strategies For Being Happier

ways-to-be-happier

A brand-new luxury car, a fabulous home, designer clothing—if only we had these things, we would be happy—only temporarily. True happiness is rooted in our attitude toward life, our daily behavior and how we feel about ourselves.  

We are happier when we achieve the goals that we set for ourselves, feel healthy in body, mind, and spirit, feel empowered to take on all challenges, exhibit mental tenacity and strength, and approach life’s decisions with wisdom.

On life’s journey, we will all face different obstacles and circumstances to either embrace and overcome or stop us in our tracks. Attitude and behavior will often determine the outcome.  We must seek inside ourselves to fuel our own life’s journey. Below are five practical strategies to being happi(er).

5 Practical Strategies For Being Happier 

  • Personal Achievement

Happiness often centers on what we have achieved relative to our expectations. Set goals that challenge limits, yet remain plausible. Just as goal achievement can be a source of extreme happiness, unattainable goals can be a source of extreme misery. You must take action to achieve any goal.  Set small, realistic tasks in support of the larger objective. Baby steps are much easier than large leaps. The accomplishment of the small goals will keep us motivated to strive for the larger purpose.

  • Healthi(er) – Discipline: Body, Mind and Spirit

If we are happy with ourselves, we will exude positivity. Embody the discipline necessary to have a healthier body, mind, and spirit.

Body

Add some physical activity to your daily routine. Walking is wonderful and can be easily incorporated daily. Healthy food choices should be a lifestyle, not a short-term undertaking. Start with proper hydration by drinking lots of water daily.

Mind

Learn to focus and eliminate useless thoughts. The practice of meditation is about training the brain to focus, not eliminating all thoughts. Learning to focus will assist us in arriving at that quiet place in challenging situations.

Spirit

Choose to be polite and respectful, and control the tenor of all interactions with others. We evolve by emulating the behaviors of others. Positive behavior will be replicated if there is a positive response.

  • Empow(er)ed – Knowledge, Confidence, Self-Assurance

We are the sum of our experiences, so experience as much as possible. Strive to embrace varying situations and surroundings. Volunteer, take classes, visit a museum or an exhibit, alone. Practice making small talk. Become comfortable interacting with unfamiliar people. Become well informed about something that interests you. If you find a subject matter interesting, chances are someone else will, too. Confidence is about completely understanding our strengths and weaknesses and capitalizing on our strengths. Having the conviction of our thoughts creates an empowering presence.  When we feel empowered we can conquer all challenges.

  • Strong(er) – Mental Tenacity

Real strength lies in mastering the noise in our head. True strength is the ability to choose our attitude and response in any given set of circumstances.

Don’t take things personally

Unprovoked negative opinions from others are often a projection of how they feel about themselves. Those comments are rooted in their world of unhappiness and self-doubt. Don’t take things that other say personally. Politely listen, sift through the noise for supportive nuggets and possibly an alternative view, and be gracious.

Don’t make assumptions

Don’t make assumptions about the actions of others. Have the courage to ask questions. If clarity is needed, just politely ask. What will be the upside? Peace of mind.

Don’t compare yourself with others

We should not directly compare ourselves to others, but use the accomplishments of others to inspire greatness. We have no idea what others have sacrificed, given up, traded off, paid for or misrepresented to get where they are. Remain focused on personal goals.

  • Wis(er) – Learn to Listen and Reflect

Learn to listen more thoughtfully to the opinions and ideas of others. Appreciate the opportunity the ability to gain insight and to see things from a different perspective. Listen without judgment and only offer an opinion when asked. Disparaging comments are not helpful, as everyone has to walk their own path. We must take personal responsibility for all decisions. Do not blame others for the missteps and mistakes in life. Be prepared for all potential outcomes based on the decisions we make today. With continuous reflection, we can make better decisions to avoid the pitfalls of unhappiness.  

Today’s contributing editor is by Beth Burns, founder of the (er) factor, for more information visit www.erisinher.com, (er) is in her….find your (er) inside®!

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