No matter what age, occupation, or location, nearly everyone wants to know how to be happy in life. It’s an age-old question with multiple age-old answers. So what is the key to happiness? Is it having a lot of friends, being financially secure, or achieving great things?
The answer is both simple and complicated: it’s different for everyone. Just as each individual has different DNA, different fingerprints, different opinions, and different emotions, each person experiences happiness differently. What makes one person happy may not work for someone else.
The good news is that there are a number of ways to find happiness. Here are some tips on how to be happy in life, based on extensive research findings.
1. Focus on your goals
It is no secret that some of the happiest people are also the most successful. It should come as no surprise, then, that one of the best ways to be happy in life is to focus on your goals.
Of course, it is not enough to simply have goals. You need to have a plan for achieving those goals, and you need to be committed to that plan. But if you can focus your attention on what you want to achieve, you will be much more likely to achieve it.
2. Interact with positive people
In addition to focusing on your goals, another important way to be happy in life is to interact with positive people. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with, so it stands to reason that surrounding yourself with positive, successful people will make you more likely to be happy and successful yourself.
3. Develop meaningful relationships
Another important key to happiness is to develop meaningful relationships. Whether it is with a romantic partner, family, friends, or co-workers, humans are social creatures and we need to feel connected to others. When we feel like we belong and are loved, we are much happier.
4. Be aware of negative emotions and thoughts
Be aware of your negative emotions and thoughts. Notice when you are feeling down or upset and try to identify the source of those feelings. If you can identify the source, you can then take steps to change the situation. If you can't change the situation, try to change your perspective.
5. Choose optimism
It has been proven time and time again that optimists are happier than pessimists. When you choose to look on the bright side, you are training your brain to focus on the positive. Over time, this will become easier and more natural.
6. Be grateful
Gratitude has been shown to be one of the most important ingredients for happiness. Make it a habit to list things that you are grateful for each day. This can be anything from your health to your job to your family and friends.
7. Laugh a lot
Laughter is good for the soul. It has been shown to reduce stress, improve your mood, and even boost your immune system. Make time to laugh every day, even if it's just at yourself.
8. Practice forgiveness
Forgiveness entails letting go of resentment or vengeance toward an offender and making peace with what happened so you can move on with your life; it doesn’t necessarily mean reconciling with that person. Because forgiveness can be a daunting challenge.
The process of forgiveness takes time and should only be initiated when you feel ready and have had time to grieve the wrong that was done to you. Research suggests that practicing forgiveness can not only strengthen relationships but also reduce toxic feelings of stress and anger and boost happiness and optimism.
