Happiness is…
The experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile – according to professor Sonja Lyubomirsky.
A happy life is impossible without a happy mind. Naturally.
And although it sounds simplistic: happiness is a choice. That’s the whole secret!
So how can you become a happiness magnet? What can you do when life sucks?
The following tips will show you how to choose happiness – even when it’s hard.
12 tips for a happy mind, happy life!
- Happy mind tips for your thoughts
- Happy mind activities
- Happy mind tips for better relationships
- Happy mind – happy life quotes
In personal development, if you improve by just one percent every day, you’ll get 37 times better in a year.
And the same can be true for your happiness levels.
We all crave a fulfilling, meaningful life.
Yet, you don’t just wake up one morning bursting with happiness.
Getting happier takes practice.
Don’t obsess, though. Positivity at all costs is toxic.
Some days suck. And that’s okay.
So let’s dive into our first tips for a happier life…
Happy Mind, Happy Life: Tips About Your Thoughts
This first category offers you tips for a happier mindset.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” – Marcus Aurelius
1. Learn to love yourself
You can’t be happy if you’re judging yourself. Self-compassion and self-love are crucial.
“Self-esteem is as important to our well-being as legs are to a table. It is essential for physical and mental health and for happiness.” – Louise Hart
If only self-esteem were easy. Instead, we obsess over our imperfections.
Would you judge your friend with the same “flaws” as you?
No!
You like your friends for their qualities. So focus on your strengths to build your self-esteem.
The more you love yourself, the more joy you radiate.
And that affects your attitude – and everyone around you.
To love yourself is to understand that you don’t need to be perfect to be good
Happy mind = happy life.
2. Don’t worry about the small stuff
Overthinking is not only exhausting. It’s a joy killer.
Who wants to waste hours imagining potential disasters?
And it’s all for nothing.
I mean, think about it (pun intended).
Will you get a prize for predicting all the ways things could go wrong?
The more problems you imagine, the more you convince yourself not to take any chances.
So you hold back.
The key to a happier life is to stop overthinking…
If we think happy thoughts, we will be happy. If we think miserable thoughts, we will be miserable
Dale Carnegie
3. Let go of your baggage
You can’t live a happy life if you constantly feel miserable about your past.
Your brain can’t tell the difference between actual events and your imagination.
When you relive the injustices of your past, your mind believes they’re happening now.
Try to forget how hurt, angry, or ashamed you feel…
As your past loses its intensity, it gets easier to focus on positive things.
4. See “la vie en rose”
You automatically feel happier if you expect good things to happen.
The trouble is…
Your brain’s wired to be an overprotective pessimist.
Its only mission is to keep you safe (and alive).
So it doesn’t like to take chances.
Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you
Mary Lou Retton
A little optimism can go a long way.
What’s the worst that could happen?
Please don’t answer… That was a trick question.
Thinking happy thoughts literally creates a positive chemical change in the brain which stimulates both positive physical and psychological benefits.
Deepak Chopra
Happy mind…happy life.
5. Live in the moment
You don’t want to be stuck in the past – or worry about the future.
The only time is now. Each new moment offers you a choice. So choose to be happy.
“What about the rest of your life?”
John Green
She shrugged. “What about it?”
“Aren’t you worried about, like, forever?”
“Forever is composed of nows,” she said.
You can only control this exact moment. And so, be present and focus on happy thoughts.
That’s how living in the moment makes your life lighter and happier.
Happy Mind, Happy Life: Tips About Activities
These next tips look at 4 healthy habits to improve your quality of life.
Even small changes make a huge difference. So pick the activity that makes you happiest.
6. Meditate
It’s impossible to be happy when you’re stressed, overthinking, or judging yourself.
Most of your thoughts have nothing to do with your present moment.
So you need to calm and clear your mind. And meditating helps you with that.
Regular meditation reduces the negative chatter in your head.
Imagine being free from this nagging voice – and the positive impact that would have on your well-being.
Also, meditating is flexible. You can practice during your morning routine or throughout the day.
A happy mind is the secret to a happy life.
7. Exercise for a happy life
How do you feel about exercising?
Some people use physical activity to boost their happiness.
And they will have a terrible day if they can’t exercise.
Studies show that physical activity isn’t just good for your body, but also improves your life satisfaction and happiness.
But don’t start training for a marathon just yet.
More exercise doesn’t automatically mean more happiness.
30 minutes of movement are enough to produce good-feeling endorphins (aka the happiness hormones).
And if all else fails, at least you’ll be glad when your exercise session is over… which is still a good reason to get moving.
8. Practice Gratitude
What if you woke up today with only the things you were grateful for yesterday?
Another fantastic tip to be happy is to start your day feeling grateful.
But here’s the deal…
For this gratitude practice to work, you must feel love for the positive things, people, and events in your life.
You can’t just rattle off an emotionless list.
The more you get into the feeling, the more positive experiences you’ll remember.
And the happier you’ll be (“Counting blessings versus burdens” study).
This gratitude practice is so powerful that many people keep a gratitude journal.
And if you have no idea what to write, these FREE Ninja Journaling Prompts get you started.
Help, I need examples for happy thoughts!
So, here are a few exercises to make you happier:
- Describe your favorite place on earth!
- Who inspires you and why?
- What does your perfect day look like?
- What’s your favorite thing to do?
- Think of an act of kindness you saw recently!
- Think of 3 things you are looking forward to this week…
The more you think about positive things, the happier you become.
9. Define your vision and goals
Having a purpose and a plan makes you happy.
“People who could identify a goal they were pursuing were 19 percent more likely to feel satisfied with their lives and 26 percent more likely to feel positive about themselves.” — Krueger 1998 cited by David Niven Ph.D.
So this happy tip challenges you to define your life’s vision.
Once you know what you want, you can set inspiring goals.
Are you ready to discover your vision and learn how to set the right goals for you?
AVOID THE TOP GOAL-SETTING MISTAKES
Feeling stuck? Join our FREE email course to uncover the top 7 goal mistakes that sabotage your success!
Happy Mind, Happy Life: Tips About Other People
Humans are social beings. That’s why your relationships greatly influence your mental and physical health.
Spending quality time with the people you love benefits your well-being.
10. Stop comparing yourself to others
Want a simple tip to be happier?
Never compare yourself to others.
Comparison only leads to frustration…
“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is that we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel” – Steven Furtick
Imagine getting so discouraged by your “missing” success that you give up.
I recently heard of 2 multi-million dollar business owners who were broke for the first 4 years.
Today, they own 8-figure businesses. So, comparing yourself to them now can make you feel like a failure.
Make sure to focus on yourself
We often obsess over results, but your process is more important than the outcome.
Process leads to progress. And that will lead to results one day.
Think about it…
You can only control your effort and your attitude.
Be proud of yourself for working on your goals and celebrate your progress.
This not only makes you happier, but it also keeps you motivated!
11. Give back
One fantastic way to feel happy is to do good for others.
You could support a local nonprofit or take a gap year abroad.
But it doesn’t have to be a big commitment.
Doing something nice for others makes us feel good!
So how can you help someone today?
Help
- a family member
- a friend
- a neighbor
- a stranger
- a good cause
You could
- cook for them
- do their grocery shopping
- clean or clear their garden
- help out at an animal shelter
- donate money
- “donate” your skills (IT, Marketing, Teaching, Finance, Legal…)
Simply spend time with people in need.
And the best part?
Making someone’s day better makes you feel useful and happy.
12. Spend quality time with happy people
This happy tip is almost a cheat code. Humans are social animals.
A long-term Harvard Study of Adult Development proves that meaningful relationships are essential for your happiness.
When you spend time with positive people, their energy naturally rubs off on you.
But remember…
You are responsible for your happiness. It is no one’s job to make you happy.
If your friends lift you up, you’re very lucky.
And that’s something to write on your gratitude list from tip #8!
Happy Mind, Happy Life – What’s next?
That’s it for your happy life tips.
You see, getting happier is not complicated.
But you can’t run on autopilot.
Add little things to your day that make you happy.
Like coffee, cake, and cat videos…
You now know the best mini-strategies with the highest impact on your happiness.
The mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness
Buddha
Try to be mindful, focus on happy thoughts, and enjoy the little moments in life.
Happiness is a state of mind.
And again, don’t underestimate the power of having a plan and working on your goals!
AVOID THE TOP GOAL-SETTING MISTAKES
Feeling stuck? Join our FREE email course to uncover the top 7 goal mistakes that sabotage your success!
To a happier life full of happy thoughts,
Improve yourself. Improve your life!
PS: Share your thoughts and your happy life tips in the comments.
What to read next!
Bonus: Inspirational quotes for a happy mind and happy life
Let’s end our tips to be happy with a selection of great quotes to make you feel good.
“Mind-wandering is an excellent predictor of people’s happiness. In fact, how often our minds leave the present and where they tend to go is a better predictor of our happiness than the activities in which we are engaged.” – Matt Killingsworth Ph.D.
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness
Carl Jung
It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it
Dale Carnegie
“The secret of happiness is freedom, the secret of freedom is courage.” – Carrie Jones
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future” – Earl Nightingale
If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else
Chinese Proverb
“How simple it is to see that we can only be happy now, and there will never be a time when it is not now.” – Gerald Jampolsky
On the whole, the happiest people seem to be those who have no particular cause for being happy except that they are so
William R. Inge
The secret to happiness quotes
“Think happy thoughts and they will shine from your face like sun beams” – Roald Dahl
You can’t be happy unless you’re unhappy sometimes
Lauren Oliver
“In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy” – Albert Clarke
I think the key to life is just being a happy person, and happiness will bring you success
Diego Val
“The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.” – Martha Washington
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Aw, this was an extremely good post. It takes a few minutes and actual effort to create a top notch article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.