10 Ways To Become Happier

Striving to become happier is something that everyone works toward. We only get to live once so why not make it a genuinely happy one? Here are some suggestions to experience more joy in our lives.

1) Dress Up

I have a friend who likes to dress up whenever she feels down. I thought this is quite strange at first as this seems to be counter-intuitive. Over the years, I find that dressing up does have the effect of lifting my mood, simply by making me feel better when I see myself in the mirror! Vibrant prints or bright colors like the dress featured in this post is perfect for that mood enhancing outcome.

2) Indulge in a Favorite Snack or Item

I definitely do not advocate over-eating but I believe that indulging in a favorite food item such as ice-cream or chocolate once in a while is reasonable and only humane :). Comfort food is great for making anyone happier quickly but just make sure not to binge!

If there is an item that you really love and have been dreaming of getting it for a while, why not treat yourself and consider purchasing it? If budget is an issue, plan to save up for the item or cut back on your other expenses. It will be a happy occasion for sure when you finally buy the item of your dreams!

3) Hang Out With Positive People

Positive people tend to rub off their positivism or happiness on others around them so it is only common sense to spend time with such people! If you are feeling down, hanging out with people who are always happy will surely make you laugh soon enough!

4) Pen Your Thoughts Down

If you love to express your thoughts through words, a good way to relieve stress and feel happier is to pen them down in a diary. Blogging or posting on social media are alternatives if you are open to sharing your thoughts with others. The positive comments or encouragements you receive from the online community can definitely help you feel happier.

5) Get Close To Nature or Other Beautiful Things

Personally, I love immersing in nature or an aesthetically beautiful environment as I find these experiences really calming and even therapeutic. Hence, I believe that getting close to the beauty of nature is always enjoyable and mood lifting, with perhaps the exception of when the weather is bad! If you prefer to stay in an indoor environment, it is still possible to surround yourself with beautiful things, like window shopping at a mall or doing floral arrangements / gardening in the comfort of your own home.

6) Help or Forgive

Helping a person in need can be very fulfilling as the ability to influence someone’s life in a positive way is especially precious and can be seen as a happy occasion. If you really enjoy helping others, you can consider volunteering as suggested in my previous post here.

Holding grudges or anger in your heart is definitely going to remove happiness from your life as you are allowing negative feelings or the mean people in your life to have control over your emotional state. Therefore, the earlier you are able let go of the hatred, the happier you will become. A way to do this is to guide or direct your thinking toward the future instead of looking back. Whatever has happened in the past cannot be undone so just move on and forgive past mistakes or injustices. This is one of the best ways to build a strong mental fortitude and become a truly happy person.

7) Be Grateful

Instead of wallowing in self-pity and lament on the things that we do not have, it is much more gratifying to be thankful for the things that we already own! Personally, I find that learning to be mindful of not takings things for granted is extremely useful in making me grateful and happy. For more tips on how to become grateful, refer to these posts here and here.

8) Exercise

It is no secret that there are many benefits to exercising. Apart from reducing stress, research has also shown that exercise releases “happy” chemicals. To find out more about the benefits of getting fit, read this post here. Personally, I find a 30 to 45 minutes circuit training workout has been beneficial to my overall well-being and mood, so I would definitely recommend this form of exercise.

9) Get a Pet

I don’t own a pet myself but I know of several people who gained a lot of happiness from their beloved pets, particularly dogs. Considering that pets can be really affectionate, it is not surprising that they can be a huge source of happiness for many people. Nevertheless, this form of happiness also comes with responsibilities, so it is important to weigh all the pros and cons of having a pet before getting commited.

10) Cultivate a Spiritual Belief

This may not be for everyone but it works extremely well for me and can work for you too! Personally, to believe that there is a higher God who loves me always despite all my weaknesses is comforting beyond words. Such a belief may, however, take significant time to cultivate depending on individual’s upbringing and understanding. Once cultivated though, this belief is guaranteed to bring happiness to your life!

Thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any more suggestions on how to feel and become happier, do leave your comments below. See you!