How To Be Happy In Life In 5 Simple Steps

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” Buddha

We all want to be happy in our day to day life. We all want to have a positive state of mind and just generally feel ‘good’. But how does one find it? How do we become happy? Well, like anything worthwhile, it takes a little effort, but maybe not as much as you think.

How To Be Happy In Life In 5 Simple Steps

1- Take good care of your body.

We only have one body and in order for us to be happy, our body needs to be happy too! If your body is exhausted from eating crappy foods and not getting enough exercise, then you are going to have a tough time feeling happy. Make sure you are nourishing your body with healthy, nutritious food, getting plenty of sleep and drinking lots of water. Spending time in nature is also super important, especially these days, when we all seem to be spending a little too much time using electronics.

2- Let go of the past.

When we continuously think about the past, we remove ourselves from the present moment, and it is in the present moment that happiness lives. So in order to be happy where you are RIGHT NOW, you need to let go of the past. We must forgive the people who we are convinced have hurt us terribly, and we must cease telling ourselves the ‘poor me’ story. The past has nothing to offer you except misery should you choose to live there.

3- Practice gratitude.

One of the simplest and most immediate ways to be happy is to focus on all of the good that currently exists in your life. Having an attitude of gratitude keeps you in a high vibrational state, and by focusing on the positive aspects of your life; you automatically cancel out fear and worry. Simply write down 3 things you are grateful for every day, and you will become a happier person.

4- Be mindful.

As well as avoiding telling stories in our heads about the past, we also need to learn how to be exactly where we are, in the present moment. One way to do this is by practicing meditation and mindfulness. Being mindful means accepting exactly where you are and how you feel in any moment without judgement. If you can learn to bring your awareness into the present moment, you will feel a great sense of peace and happiness. And when your mind wanders off again, as it will, all you need to do is gently bring yourself back to the here and now.

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” Thich Nhat Hanh

5- Bring meaning to your life.

What would it look like if you were to wake up every day as if it were on purpose, instead of just by luck? Would you feel differently? Would you act differently?

I am going to take a chance and say yes, you would. The best way to feel happy is to help others feel happy. Wake up every day and decide that you are going to be the reason somebody smiles. When you focus your energy on other people and helping them, you help yourself by default. When we feel depressed, chances are we are thinking too much “me” and not enough “you”. Put yourself into service- for your family, your friends or your community.