When we think of living a happy, fulfilling life, it’s hard not to fantasize. Maybe you think of laying by the pool and working from your laptop while drinking Mai Tais, or traveling around the world on exotic adventures, or having a ton of kids or a fantastic romantic relationship.
But happiness isn’t realized from a lifestyle or a career, and it’s not a destination. It’s much more nuanced and requires effort – in other words, daily cultivation and intent. It requires you to play an active role in creating it for yourself.
It’s easy to stress out about all that we want, what we’ve not yet accomplished, or how wrong things might be going. But happiness is much more present than a goal: it is available every moment to us. We just have to make an effort to embrace it in our lives.
Here are five easy things you can do to increase happiness now:
Get moving.
Hiking and running are my two favorite things. They help jumpstart my day, and provide me with a sense of accomplishment. When I run that extra half mile, or make it to the top of the trail, it gets my day going on a positive note. I’m more prepared to face challenges, because I’m practicing handling them one step at a time through exercising.
Declutter.
The success of Mari Kondo’s method and the rise of Tiny Houses (thanks HGTV) isn’t a fluke. People want to minimize, to shed what they don’t need in their lives. The physical act of clearing space also helps clear your mind – there is a scientific link. So clean out your closet, make room in the kitchen pantry, and clear out your desk and see if you don’t feel lighter.
Try something new.
When I get depressed, I like to take myself out of my current setting, whether it’s going for a hike on a different trail, exploring a new neighborhood, or signing up for a new class. Being a student keeps your mind and perspective fresh, which is a key to happiness.
Start a gratitude journal.
As a publicist, I approach each day with a list of challenges and what could possibly go wrong, so I could plan how to address potential problems. This was a cause of endless stress and dissatisfaction in my life (for obvious reasons). So I had to make a point to shift my perspective from problem-solving to a more peaceful mind. This was hard. What worked best for me was starting each day with gratitude – I’d write down five things I was grateful for that day, from my morning coffee to a story I’d just landed at work. (Developing this practice has caused a shift in my thinking over time, but it’s important to keep it going…)
Forgive.
Ok, I snuck this one in even though it’s not so easy. Forgiveness requires a lot from us, but it’s also the one thing that allows happiness in. When we are holding on to past hurt and resentment, we are allowing those feelings to take control, to rob us of our present potential for happiness. So really, forgiveness is not about the other person – it’s about freeing yourself to be happy.
So be free.
XO,
Kelly
About Kelly Seal
Kelly is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, CA. She blogs about dating, relationships, personal growth and what "healthy living" means to her. You can follow her on Google+, Twitter @kellyseal or through her website www.kellyseal.com.
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