Be aware: How often do you find yourself having an ‘in the moment’ realization? Anyone? That’s what I thought. During any time of the day, stop for a second and look around you. Be mindful. Take it all in. There’s a reason that people say life goes by fast, more often than not people do not stop just to take it all in. Give that gift to yourself; you deserve it.
Do what makes you happy: Sometimes this confuses people, hence why I included ‘actually.’ For me, I enjoy sitting outside in great weather with a book in my hand. Sometimes I want to spend time with people I love. I enjoy doing these things, it interests me and puts me in a great mood. Find something that makes you smile and improves your mood, and try to do/be around that every day. Even just five minutes of doing something that you love will enhance your mood.
Be grateful: This is not something we often remember to do, so let me make this manageable for you: set a time for yourself to be grateful. For me, I like to do this right before I fall asleep, I think of everything that I am thankful for and say my thanks for my friends, my family, my yummy dinner, etc., it could be as simple as that cup of coffee you had this morning. Being grateful does lead you to happiness, you may not notice right away, but the more grateful you are; the happier you become.
When given choices, go with the one that makes you happier: This seems so simple, right? Apparently not because most of the time people think right past this and have other thoughts such as; which one is easier, which is more will make me stand out, etc., But do you ever just stop and think, ‘but which one makes me happier?’
Help someone out: Whether it’s opening the door for somebody or texting a friend who is going through something makes everyone feel better, it’s a win-win situation. Not only that, but one author, Martin Seligman, in his book Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being, and professor from University of Pennsylvania suggests;
“…we scientists have found that doing a kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise we have tested.”