81 Strategies For Happiness

General

Live Life as Adventure.

 Live your life as if you were writing an action/adventure story and you were starring as the main character.  If you keep your “plot” exciting and interesting, your chances of enjoying life will tend to be much higher.  Purposefully go out and find adventures, explore new places and learn new things.  Live a life that you would be proud to tell your grandchildren about.  Remember, you’re the writer!  Everything you do is up to you.  You don’t always have to follow all of the rules.  Many of the most powerful and successful people in history weren’t afraid to break a few the rules some of the time.  This is summed up very nicely in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speech posted on YouTube by Travis Fisher: Six Secrets To Success.

Always Be Competitive.  

Being competitive can be fun!  You’ll never be bored with your life, that’s for sure.  Set high (but realistic) standards for yourself, commit to personal growth and self-improvement.  Tell friends and family about your goals so that they can motivate you and hold you accountable.  Don’t pretend like you know everything, there is always something new to learn!  There is one thing that the greatest geniuses of all time will tell you… and that is that the man who thinks he knows everything is truly a fool.  Being competitive can also help you stay motivated to continuously improve yourself.  I would highly recommend harnessing a powerful competitive instinct in yourself and when you have many glorious victories, be sure to win gracefully.  Although it is extremely fun to win, there are a lot of sore losers out there, so best to be nice.

Be an Explorer.  

Never limit yourself.  Always be up for exploration, whether it means trying new foods, learning about different cultures, exploring new landscapes or just pouncing on an appealing opportunity.  Explore until you feel yourself leaving your comfort zone, because that is really when all of your best breakthroughs will happen.  Be creative and never face the world with a closed mind.

Complete Happiness Does Not Exist!  

Most importantly, remember that it is impossible to obtain perfect happiness all the time.  While it is certainly possible to be happy most of the time, you will face situations in which your emotions will be tested.  If you focus on achieving complete happiness, you will ironically end up being unhappy.  Instead, focus on finding a balanced level of happiness that you are most comfortable with.

Psychical/Mental Health:

Take Time to Adapt To Change.  

One of the biggest mistakes that prevent people from becoming happier is that they do not give themselves enough time to adapt to change.  Change, even if it is a shift to something better, can be a scary thing.  Mentally prepare yourself to move from the state of unhappiness to happiness.  Take one step at a time and work at a pace that you find comfortable.  Never rush; otherwise you may end up becoming overwhelmed!   Just do a few things at a time and make them a habit.

Avoid the TV.  

Watching TV can be fun on occasion, but did you know that if you watch too much TV, you might find it more difficult to engage in a conversation with somebody?  Limit your TV time to only when you specifically want to watch something.  This way, you can focus more on other things, like talking with other people—a great way to feel happy.  

Be an Optimist.

 Is your glass half empty or half full?  When you are faced with a negative circumstance, approach it with optimism.  If you’re pessimistic, the situation will still not change, so try to look at it in the best way possible.  Research shows that optimism can prevent heart issues, cause a reduction in stress, boost your immune system, and lower your chances of having a stroke.

Believe in Yourself.  

If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?  It is important to have 100% full-faith in yourself and your life.  If you rely on other people to make yourself feel happy, you may easily freak out when those people are no longer in your life.  As long as you believe in yourself, you will always know that things are going to be ok.

Don’t Be A Narcissist.  

While it is important to fully believe in yourself, don’t go overboard and become narcissistic.  When you think like this, you will be much more likely to beat yourself up over mistakes or take constructive criticism too personally.  It can also cause people to view you in a negative light.  When you act like a narcissist, it can make you appear arrogant and unfriendly.

Don’t Fear Age.  

You may be under the misconception that older adults are not as happy as young people.  However, research specifically shows that happiness is completely unrelated to age.  There are some people out there pushing 90 who are still happy in life while some young people are just completely miserable.  It’s like the old saying, “age is just a number!”

Avoid Being Overprotective of Others.  

It is natural to want to protect your loved ones from getting in trouble, making mistakes and experiencing harm.  However, the more overprotective you are of others, the more worried you will be yourself, making it more difficult to be happy.  Remind yourself that, no matter what, there is a risk involved with everything—and more often than not, the benefits of the situation will outweigh the risks.

Avoid Thinking “What-If”.  

Although thinking “what-if” questions can sometimes be fun and are good for creativity, thinking about those types of questions excessively can lead to over-thinking, which can cause your mind to flood with (mostly) negative emotions and outcomes.  For example, if you’re not confident in yourself and you don’t apply to a great college thinking, “what if I am not good enough to get in?”, then obviously you won’t, because you won’t have sent in the application.  Accept things as they are in the current moment and never doubt the positive things about yourself.

Exercise.  

Exercise is a staple of self-improvement and is especially great for boosting your happiness levels.  Research has proven that exercising can be great for both your physical and mental health as it can reduce your stress levels, boost your immune system, strengthen your heart and lungs, and make you feel great overall.  What’s a better feeling than looking great, feeling great and living a long, healthy life?  If you truly want to be happy, you’re going to have to have health as one of your top priorities. Since many custom designed mouth guards are available, we believe that communication and education are extremely important to a dental care. 

Don’t Think of Things That Bother You.  

Although this tip is simple, many people overlook it.  If something is bothering you and it’s not a major disturbance, simply ignore it!  If it’s something that you can’t change or if it’s silly, just forgive and forget.  

Eat Fruit Once a Day.  

Studies show that if you eat fruit, you will likely feel good about your health, which can ultimately lead you to feel happy with yourself.  Further research has proven that fruit is great for both physical and mental health, so keep some fruit in your house for a nice snack.  Apples, oranges, bananas and berries are great fruits to snack on. If you happen to smoke then quit it or try e cig and check out best selling e juice flavors, I promise you do not regret it.

Don’t Take Blame.  

If something in your life goes wrong, you probably start thinking of how you contributed to the failure.  When you do this, it can bring on unnecessary feelings of unhappiness.  Remind yourself that you simply cannot control some things that go wrong.  While you cannot control circumstances, you can often control the way you react to them.

Sleep Well.  

How’s your sleep schedule?  Getting enough sleep at night is directly correlated to happiness.  The average adult should get around eight hours of sleep per 24 hours.  When you lack the proper amount of rest, your mood can swing back and forth.  Researchers have also linked a lack of sleep to various physical problems including heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.

Smile.  

In 1989, psychologist Robert Zajonc discovered that smiling is linked to happiness.  It is important to note that faking a smile will probably not lead to feelings of genuine happiness—try to smile at a random person walking down the street, smile at things that you can appreciate and most importantly, smile at yourself.  When people see a smile on your face, it makes you much more approachable, so it can also boost the strengths of your relationships.  You can also smile at yourself in a mirror.  There was a famous study done on clinically depressed patients who were told to just smile in a mirror for five minutes straight.  The results were that all of them felt much happier and much less depressed after doing so.

Listen to Music.  

Different genres of music can connect with you on different levels.  When you listen to your favorite song, it can usually take you to a stress-free world.  One study on music and mood found that 92% of those who listened to their favorite music were put in a happier mood.  The most common feelings they reported feeling were happiness and excitement.  Put some effort into collecting your favorite music.  One of my favorite things to do is to take all my favorite songs and combine them all together on a favorites list.  I have about six of these lists and they are great fun to listen to!

Reminisce.  

Taking a trip down memory lane can actually be helpful in boosting your levels of happiness.  Research shows that when you think about your best memories for just 20 minutes, it can help you feel happier when you think about your life in present-day.  Not only can reminiscing serve as your motivation for staying happy, but it can also help you feel like your life has a meaning.  You should also definitely record or journal all the great moments of your life.  It is always great fun to go back and look at all of your favorite pictures, watch your favorite videos and read your favorite journal entries.

Don’t Dwell on Impossible Things.  

If something is truly impossible and you can’t change the circumstance, just move on.  It is pointless to waste your time and energy on things that you just cannot change.  Instead, move on to things that you can change and as always, try to find something positive in the negative.  History is full of successful people who overcame incredible hardships to live happy and productive lives!  For a perfect example of this, check out this YouTube video by Tom Corson-Knowles: The Motivational Speaker With No Arms And No Legs.

Breathe in Pleasant Smells.  

Scents can be powerful.  Research has shown that aromatherapy can help relieve anxiety, heighten your mental clarity, and even help you become more motivated—all of which contribute to happiness.  You can try aromatherapy by simply buying some fresh flowers or you can buy an oil diffuser and experiment with different scents.

Forgive.  

When somebody close to you does bad things, it is only natural to feel hurt.  Many people tend to hold grudges against those who hurt them for years or decades after the fact.  Grudges are usually unhelpful and they can’t change what happened in the past.  Find it in your heart to forgive—after all, nobody is perfect.  I have found that you don’t even have to tell the person that you’ve forgiven them—doing it in your heart seems to work well enough.  You’ll feel an incredible weight off your shoulders and you’ll be able to move on in life and appreciate all the other great things in the world.  For true happiness, this is another major skill that you’re going to really have to focus on and master!

Ignore Your Stereotype.  

Stereotypes cause people to feel obligated to conform to a certain image.  For example, men are often primed to act “tough” and women are often primed to act “soft.”  However, feeling that you have to conform to your stereotype can prevent you from being yourself.  Ignore your stereotype, forget about what people think of you, and just be yourself.  You will feel happier, more comfortable and more confident in your abilities.  You need to do what makes you happy in this life, not what other people tell you to do.

Avoid What Upsets You.  

When you know what upsets you, simply avoid it!  Get to know your feelings and emotions.  When you feel that you start to think about something that upsets you, shift your thoughts or chant affirmations until you start thinking of happy things.  Remember, that events are temporary—so if something upsets you in the moment, it will not last forever.  Work on training your brain on how to quickly move on from upsetting thoughts and feelings.

Career and Business Life:

Love What You Do.  

When it comes to your career, do what you love or love what you do.  While it may be harder for some people to do what they love as a career, never give up trying to break into the industry that you are most passionate about.  Even if you’re not crazy about your job, try to brainstorm some positive things about it.  You’re bound to find something!  Review your list of ideas to remind yourself of the good things about your job.  The more you love what you do, the more you will want to go to work every day.  If you don’t like working for someone else, try researching a business you can run.  I am sure you heard this before, and I have to many times before.  It took me twenty years to find my perfect career, so don’t get discouraged and never give up.  The earlier you can find the career that you enjoy and are passionate about, the happier and wealthier you will be!

Read.  

Keep up on your reading.  Reading about topics you love can help you break into an industry that you want to work in.  The more you educate yourself, the better the chances that you have at doing what you love.  Read about your current job and see if you can come up with some new ideas to implement.  Being able to solve a problem at your workplace can make you feel like you’re on top of the world.  Also, continue to read motivational and inspirational material.  You need to keep those batteries charged to truly be living a happy and successful life!

Take Control of Your Job.  

Even if you’re not in a managerial position, don’t be afraid to speak up or take control of a situation.  When you do that, it can make you feel more powerful and important.  Other people will likely build respect for you and your self-confidence can rise.  It can also make you look like a great candidate for a raise and what might make you happier than some more money in your paycheck each week?  (Note, money doesn’t buy long-term happiness, but it sure doesn’t hurt!)

Take Responsibility.  

If something goes wrong and it’s because of something you did or didn’t do, take responsibility for it.  Even if you made a mistake, you’ll feel good about yourself knowing that you didn’t try to pawn the error off on someone else.  Taking responsibility for something also makes you more trustworthy, reliable and respectable.

Take Feedback Seriously.  

When your boss or co-workers give you feedback, even if it’s constructive criticism, take it seriously!  Any time you can improve upon yourself, then do it.  The more you improve, the more your co-workers and bosses will notice.  You’ll feel great about yourself knowing that you’ve made awesome strides and you will be coming to work much happier and with more confidence.

Come Through On Serious Commitments.  

When you agree to take on a large project, make sure you are serious about it.  Being in charge of an important task can help instill a sense of trust and responsibility in yourself.  Put your best efforts into it and do a great job.  The end result will likely to make you feel confident and happy.  Don’t take on a responsibility unless you are serious about it—otherwise, you may end up getting stressed out over it.  It is always a great feeling to know that you are respected and someone that people can count on!

Avoid Negative Co-Workers.  

All too often, people complain about their jobs and fail to see the positives.  Negativity can be highly contagious.  One bad apple spoils the bunch, as the old saying goes.  Don’t let other people’s negativity take away from your happiness!  Simply avoid any co-workers who might not be happy with their job.  Use the time they are using to complain to accomplish something great.  This world is full of negative, energy draining, whining and excuse making people.  Do yourself a favor and find some positive groups of people who are uplifting and supportive.  Just keep on trying until you have three or more good buddies that you can talk to and be supportive of.

Always Look For Another Job.  

Even if you are happy with your current job, always keep your eyes peeled.  You never know if you will stumble upon a better opportunity that can challenge you and help you make more money.  If you have been in your job for a long time and you haven’t really moved up, you risk getting bored.  Also, it’s always a good idea to have some back-up jobs in mind in case you suddenly find yourself out of a job one day.  You won’t have to worry as much knowing that you have other options.

Keep Your Problems at Home.  

One way to have happy days at your job is to keep your problems at home.  Don’t let anything that is bothering you outside of work follow you there.  Instead, focus on your work and how much you can accomplish.  Most of the time, you’ll easily forget about the problems that you’re having outside of work.  It can also be considered a form of negativity, so you don’t want to spread negative feelings to your co-workers, either.  

Be Organized.  

If you are surrounded by clutter in your workspace or home, it can be difficult to concentrate on your most important tasks.  When you’re organized, you’ll have more time to focus on your important tasks and you’ll know where everything is.  Don’t waste your time and energy trying to organize yourself as you go—take that weight away from your shoulders beforehand and schedule a block of time to get it all done at once.  You will likely feel much happier throughout the day and it may help you be more “Zen” and productive in your projects.

Move Around All Day.  

Sitting or standing in one place for hours can be boring and frustrating.  If your job allows it, try to move around.  Work different stations if possible or do small tasks in between your main task.  This can help break up the day and you won’t find yourself lost in boredom.  It can really make your day a little brighter.  If you have more freedom in your job, then be sure to take great stretch.  And whatever you do, use good posture!  Just by doing this and keeping a strong core, will be much happier as you age!

Take Breaks.  

When at work or at home, take breaks from your main task.  This can help your mind relax and you can regain more productivity.  Research shows that if you take a five minute break in every thirty minute period, you will be much more effective at accomplishing your tasks and goals.  Take a break, have a healthy snack or meal, laugh a little, stretch and then go back to your main task feeling happy and refreshed.

Be Proud of Your Work.  

You put time, energy, and effort into your work, so be proud of it!  Take a step back, look at your completed project and breathe in the sweet taste of victory!  Knowing that you take pride in your work can help you feel much more satisfied with both yourself and your job.  Feeling pride is a great way to boost your levels of happiness.  It often serves as your motivation to keep being proud.  It can also inspire your co-workers to take pride in their work too, thus creating a happy workplace environment.

Find a Mentor.  

No matter what you do for a living, find a mentor—someone who has been in your shoes before.  If you find a person who is willing to mentor you, he or she can teach you ways to be successful and productive, which can ultimately make you great at your job.  The better you are at your job, the happier and more satisfied you are likely to be.  If you have a close/strong relationship with your mentor, that can also help you feel happier.  If you can’t find someone in person, or don’t want to hire a coach, then look for a famous person in history who you would like t0 role model and copy.

Respect Yourself , Your Co-Workers And The People In Your Life.  

Respecting yourself and the people in your life can often create a happier life.  Try to eliminate any drama in your life, as drama is usually only good for draining your energy rather than charging it.  Getting caught up in drama and other people’s issues can often distract you from what really matters the most—working hard towards your own success.  

Earn What You Are Worth.  

If you commit yourself toward continuous improvement, knowledge, and education, make sure that you are getting something out of it.  Don’t sit around at your 9 to 5 job making the same rate of pay if you can go somewhere else with your new qualifications and make more money.  Always remind yourself that you are worthy of making more money because that can often serve as your motivation for self-improvement.  If you stay at your current job but you’re overqualified, it can be very easy to slide into unhappiness.  Always keep your eyes peeled for open doors and new opportunities.  Grab them as soon as you can—don’t be afraid to take a risk!  As everyone knows, “Fortune favors the Brave.”

Family, Friendships, Relationships:

Make Lots of Friends.  

Having friends can be very powerful for happiness.  People like to feel important as well as part of a whole.  Having a few close relationships in your life can help you become 4x’s as happy because you will likely feel great about yourself, knowing that you can form relationships with other people.  It is a sad statistic that the average American has less than 1 good friend in their life.  Put a little effort into making some good, trustworthy and close friends.

Pick Friends Over Money.  

Money alone cannot bring you happiness, but the number of friends you have can.  Research backs this thought up, noting that those who have more friends are likely to be 70% happier on average.  Of course, you don’t need hundreds of friends—focus on finding a handful of really good ones.  If you are very successful, it is always nice to treat your friends to a nice celebration to show them that you care.

Tell Your Loved Ones That You Love Them.  

The best way to build a relationship is to use mutual appreciation as a foundation.  Some people don’t tell their loved ones how much they care about them because it makes them feel vulnerable.  However, the best way to be successful at your relationships is to continuously build them.  Watch An Experiment in Gratitude to see this effect in action.

Don’t Compare Your Relationships To Those Of Others.  

Remember, every relationship is different.  The relationship that you have with your parents, siblings, friends and significant others is unique to your life.  Appreciate all of the great aspects of your own relationship!  You will find yourself much more satisfied with your personal relationships.

Find Common Interests with Your Loved Ones.  

Sharing common interests with your loved ones can help you get really happy.  What’s better than sharing a fun experience with the people that you love?  Whether you and your loved ones enjoy getting together for karaoke, the big game, biking, or just spending time together, odds are you will find yourself with a higher level of life satisfaction.

Laugh.  

I am sure you have heard the old saying that “laughter is the best medicine.”  Well, it just might be!  Research shows that many adults link humor and happiness together.  Take a moment and laugh at yourself or with others.  Read joke books.  Share those jokes with your loved one and spread the laughter!  With enough practice, people will love to be around you and you’ll feel great knowing that you can lighten the lives of others. 

Spend Time With Family.  

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be challenging to make time for your family.  However, family is a strong value among many people.  Spending time with your family is great for laughing, smiling, getting to know each other, reliving fond memories and for ultimate support.  Your family should always be there for you, so don’t forget to be there for them, too.  Research shows that spending time with your family can strengthen your relationships, especially between parents and children.  The better your relationships are with those who are closest to you, the happier you are likely to feel.

Be a Supportive Friend.  

When your friend is in need of some comfort or emotional support, do whatever it takes to be there for them.  You’ll feel good about yourself knowing that you can help out a loved one.  It can also bring you and your friend closer, which is great for feeling happier.  There are a lot of people who were there for you when things are going good, but it’s when things are going bad that you know who your true friends are.

Address Loved Ones When They Annoy You.  

All too often, you may ignore a loved one or pretend to agree with them when they are doing/saying things that make you uncomfortable.  Agreeing with others just to please them can often make you feel mad or under-appreciated.  Calmly address your loved one and explain why they are upsetting you and try to work out a solution.  Odds are it will take a great weight off your shoulder and you will feel less stressed.  Research shows that those who believe that they can freely raise concerns to their loved ones are 40% more likely to be happy.  

Join a Club.  

Think about your interests and see if there is a local club you can join.  When you meet other people with the same interests, your chances of forming a strong relationship increase.  It can help you become comfortable around others, feel less lonely and be more in control of your life.

Help Somebody Who Needs It.  

When you give, it is a win-win situation, because both you and the others involved will feel good.  Look around and help out anybody who needs it.  It can be something as simple as helping a senior citizen find something at the store or helping a student with their homework.  Doing this can help you feel friendlier, more connected to others and you may even feel more like a leader.

Don’t Harshly Criticize Loved Ones.  

When you harshly criticize a loved one, it can rock feelings, because people rely on their closet loved ones to be our support.  Therefore, harsh words can leave deep cuts.  Though it can be tempting to criticize, accept your loved ones for who they are and think about their great traits.  In a situation where you truly feel that you have to say something, try to come across as gently and as loving as possible.

Get to Know Your Neighbors.  

These days, not many people make an attempt to know their neighbors.  However, this is an untapped source of friendship, comfort and security.  Invite your neighbor over for a cup of coffee or just go over and strike up a conversation with them.  You’ll be more likely to feel good about yourself and less stressed, knowing that you have someone in the neighborhood you can rely on in times of need.

Don’t Envy Other’s Relationships.  

These days, it can be tough not to envy somebody else’s relationship.  After all, so many people make their relationships look absolutely perfect via social media.  When you see things like that, it can often cause you to want the same type of relationship.  Keep in mind that no relationship is fully perfect.  Try to focus on the good points in your relationship and don’t worry about the bad—everyone experiences those.  Research shows that comparing your relationships can cause you to be 26% less happy.

Make Others Feel Needed.  

Making others feel needed is also a win-win situation.  You love it when people make you feel needed, right?  Pay it forward and do the same for somebody else.  When you feel important, it often motivates you to be at your best.  When you are in the position of helping somebody feel important, it can also help you feel good about yourself, knowing that you’ve made a difference.

Personal Development:

Find your Life’s Purpose.  

When you have an idea of what your life’s purpose is, you are less likely to feel depressed, disappointed, and empty.  In chapter 3, you will have the opportunity to participate in an exercise that will help you find your own life’s purpose.  For now, check out this YouTube video on How To Find Your Life Purpose and Live It Now by Noah Hammond.   

Accept Failure.  

Don’t be afraid to fail! When you fail at something, it is tempting to dwell on it and think negatively.  However, people who are happy tend to view their mistakes in a positive light.  If you fail at something, don’t look at it like a failure—instead, look at it in a positive way—you now know that something won’t work out, so move on and try something new.  The best way to embrace your failures is to learn from them.  The most successful people throughout history have overcome incredible failures, time and time again, before reaching their great success.  Believe in yourself and never give up!

Be Careful Who You Compare Yourself Too.  

When you compare yourself to somebody who is less fortunate than you are, you will likely feel grateful for what you have and happy with where you are in life.  However, if you choose to compare yourself to people who have things that you want, you can easily get caught up in envy.  That being said, it is important to have role models whom you can look up too—just be careful not to get caught up in jealousy and focus more on reaching your goal of being more like that person.

Set Goals.  

Besides fear, one of the leading causes of misery is a lack of goals.  Set goals for yourself, but don’t just think of them—write them down.  Research has found that you are twice as likely to achieve goals that you write down.  For maximum happiness, set goals in these categories: health, relationships, career, and personal development.  Also, it is a great idea to start off each goal with the phrase: “I will easily…”  For example: “I will easily choose the top three strategies from this book for making myself happy and turn them into habits.”

Align Your Goals.  

A car that is in bad need of alignment doesn’t go straight—it usually moves in a slanted direction.  Your life is similar.  When your goals are aligned with each other, your chances of moving straight ahead will increase and your happiness levels will likely go up.  Keep your goals consistent, in alignments with each other, productive and positive.

Find Self-Acceptance.  

You are a unique mix of strengths, talents, thoughts and limitations, so it is important to accept yourself for who you are.  Research shows that happy people are more likely to admit and accept their faults while unhappy people tend to use their own faults against themselves.

Remember Your Roots.  

Looking into your family history and celebrating your ethnicity is a great technique for boosting happiness.  That is because it can help instill pride within you, about who you are, who your family is and what you can add to the family legacy.

Think About One Subject Before Bed.  

If you have many thoughts that race around your mind before you go to bed, then that is probably a sign that you are anxious.  Try to limit yourself to thinking of only one subject before bed.  This way, you can fall asleep quicker and more peacefully.  Try and think about yourself waking up full of energy and full of enthusiasm no matter how many hours of sleep you get.

Set Realistic Expectations.  

You’re only human and you can only push yourself so far.  Be sure that your goals and expectations of yourself are realistic; otherwise you may find yourself feeling anger, frustration, or disappointment.  For example, if you’re weak point is math but you have a math-related project that is crucial to your success, don’t expect yourself to ace it the first time around—instead, realistically predict your performance and then plan on how you can improve and set better expectations.

Have an Open Mind.  

The world is always changing so it is important to keep your mind open to new ideas.  Otherwise, you might get left behind.  Limiting yourself to ideas of the past can lead to anger, frustration and less education.  For example, a company that does not get into the trend of using social media because they don’t believe in technology will probably lose out on a lot of business.  

Count Your Blessings.  

It is human nature for you to always want to try and do and be more, but it is also important to step back and count your blessings.  Be grateful and appreciative of what you already have and what you’ve already accomplished.  Think to yourself how lucky you are to have those things and use them as your motivation to keep being successful.

Be Religious/Spiritual.  

Some people find comfort and satisfaction in religion.  You may regard religion as your “answer” for why some things in the world happen the way they do.  Many people rely on their religion and spirituality to give themselves a personalized sense of hope and love.  While not everybody is religious, tapping into your religion or spirituality may be helpful for you in finding happiness.

Follow Up On Your Talk.  

It’s easy to say that you’re going to do something.  The hard part is actually going through with it.  When you go through with your claims, it helps people build trust in you.  The more trusted you feel, the more likely you are to feel happy and satisfied with yourself.  Your reputation is one of the most important things that you have in your life!  If you want long-term success and true happiness, then you are going to have to come through in your duties, responsibilities and promises!  It is truly amazing what a small group of people can do when they all work together and know that they can trust each other to get the job done!

Volunteer Your Time.  

Those who volunteer tend to report feeling great about themselves.  They often feel a sense of purpose, appreciation, and happiness in their lives.  Your community probably has many great volunteer opportunities.  Volunteer your time at a local homeless shelter, tutor under-privileged kids, collect food donations, or do anything that you think would make you feel good!  Give back and the good karma will flow in your life.

Stay Busy.  

When it comes to being happy, whatever you do, keep yourself busy!  Nobody enjoys boredom, which can often lead to over-thinking.  As you know, over-thinking can often lead to negative thoughts and outcomes.  One study found that college students with a busier schedule were happier than those who had less stressful schedule.  Plus, when you know that you’re making the most out of your life by utilizing effectively the hours in the day can give you a great boost of happiness.

Learn Technology.  

If you haven’t been keeping up with technology, you might want to start.  Computers, tablets, smart-phones and everything else that tech companies are coming out with are changing the world.  It is easier than ever to keep in touch with people and technology has opened up doors of opportunities for thousands of people.  If your family is spread out across the world, getting up to date on technology can help you keep in touch with them, which some people may find very satisfying.  I am a big fan of new things and try out all sorts of new gadgets so that I can recommend the best items to my readers.  For example, there is great voice recognition software out there that allows you to type by just speaking with your voice.  I am actually using it right now.  I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking.  But besides that, there is just so many cool things out there that the possibilities are truly limitless, as can be seen in the latest 3-D movies.

Think Concretely.  

Thinking concretely is better than thinking abstractly because it will be harder to figure out if you’re making progress on your goals.  Don’t forget to be specific—the more specific you are, the more likely you are to reach your goals.

Spend Time With Animals.  

Animals like dogs and cats and other small pets are a great source of unconditional love.  When animals radiate their love to you, it is easy for you to love them right back.  Research has found that people who have a cherished pet are 22% more likely to feel happy and satisfied in life. When you want to know Who does emotional support dog certification online, go to Online Dogtor. They will provide you the best support for your pets.

Don’t Let Goals Override Morals.  

If you give up your morals to achieve your goals, you may actually end up unhappier than you were originally.  Research shows that if you don’t regard yourself as moral, it will be harder for you to be satisfied in life.  So even if you compromise everything you believe in to achieve your goals, 9 times out of 10 you will not be genuinely happy because your goals trumped your morals.

Try To Accomplish One Thing Per Day.  

Do you ever find yourself thinking “Wow, I can’t believe it’s the end of the month already” or “Where does the time go?”  That’s because life flies by, it especially seems that way as you grow older.  The key is to not let life pass you by.  To feel that you have lived a fulfilling life, try to accomplish one thing per day.  It doesn’t matter how big or small—as long as it’s meaningful to you.  Always keep moving forward.  One of my favorite phrases from Tony Robbins, my mentor, is: “CANI: Constant and never-ending improvement.”  Just keep on getting better every day and happiness will be the end result of all your dedication and hard work.

Be the President of Your Fan Club.  

Your biggest source of motivation and confidence is in you.  You have to be the president of your own fan club to push yourself ahead.  The more you believe in yourself, the more likely you are to pursue your dreams, even if other people aren’t supporting you.  If you believe in yourself, your chances of feeling happier in life can highly increase.

Be the Change You Want To See.  

Ghandi famously said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  In other words, don’t sit around and wait for others to find solutions to problems.  Instead, do it yourself.  This can help you feel great, as it may contribute to finding your life’s purpose or helping other people.  

Carry Around Pen and Pad.  

Good ideas often come when you least expect them to, so carry around a pen and pad to write them down when they come to you.  By doing this, you can feel a better sense of control over your life as well as the sense that you are missing out on less.  It is also a good idea to carry around a mini voice recorder which is also highly convenient and easy to store on a computer for later playback.  One of my favorite things to do is to record the great victories of my life on one of these little recorders, and then put them all together in a folder on my computer so that I can listen to them easily in the future to bring up my spirits and boost my happiness levels.

Realize that Money Does Not Buy Happiness.

While money is needed to keep the world and your life moving, it cannot buy happiness.  Money is important for paying your bills, keeping a roof on your head, clothes on your back and food on your table.  But the excess amount of money made over the point where all your basic necessities are met does not necessarily lead to great happiness.  There have been many great people who have strived their whole life to achieve great wealth and then found themselves unhappy, unhealthy, friendless and overall quite measurable.  Some even kill themselves.  So while I would encourage you to get all the money you can, don’t sacrifice your morals or happiness for it.  Generally, people who have more positive experiences throughout their life tend to be happier despite the amount of money they have.  While money can buy important things, it cannot buy good health, good relationships, or good values.  Make sure that your foundation of life is rooted with these things before you let money influence your emotions.  That being said, sometimes money can buy short-term happiness or give you the resources so that you can purchase the things that will give you the edge of life.  If you get a raise, you will probably feel happy.  If you win $1000, you will probably be happy… but when it comes to the long-term, money doesn’t really tend to make that huge of a difference once all the basic needs of living are met.

Be Grateful.  

Expressing gratitude for something can enrich your soul and help you feel emotions of relief, hope, trust and much more.  Appreciate the things that you have, because other people may not have them.  Let others know that you appreciate them as well.  The more grateful you are, the happier you will likely be.  A great habit is to think of the top ten things that you’re grateful for as soon as you wake up, and then think of all the things that you’re grateful for just before going to bed.