How to be Happy Today: 6 Simple Steps
“Happiness is when you feel good for no reason at all”
I want to share a quick story with you. I grew up with a wonderful, inventive, talented family… BUT they aren’t/weren’t always the happiest people in the world. So many live/lived their days frustrated, stressed, angry and just pure unhappy. Unfortunately, so many in my family still live this way today along with a bunch of other earthlings!
As humans, we have varied emotions and they can change depending on… just about anything! It’s ok to be down at times and not always be some big ray of sunshine, BUT there is a huge difference between an individual who is genuinely happy and one who is generally unhappy.
Have you ever been around a happy person? It’s great isn’t it! They make you feel comfortable. Happy people are easy to be around because their disposition is positive. They seem at peace in their lives, they laugh loads, and are proof that the world isn’t all bad, in fact.. it’s all good. It’s like nothing can dampen their spirits because at their core they have this unyielding happy-fire burning.
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My partner is this way. He’s the happiest person I know, and he gives me courage to appreciate life more. Believe it or not, we are here on this planet, in this physical form, to enjoy life. We are meant to be happy. That’s why it feels so good when we are happy and feels so anti-good when we are not. Is that not something telling us something?!
We can all be happy today with a few simple steps!
I grew up in an environment where happiness was almost a foreign emotion, and while my life isn’t always “monday, tuesday happy days!..,” I’ve learned how to take simple steps that remind me how to be happy and keep it that way!
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6 Simple Steps to be Happy Now
- Smile. Just smile! Practice this when you feel your brow furrowing and your forehead scrunching up. Smile whenever you aren’t smiling to get into the habit. Smiling is something that happens naturally when we are happy, and when we practice this action it sends a signal to our brains that we are happy, which in turn, makes us happy! Want some science to back it up? Check out this article on Scientific American.. and smile while you read.
- Change your Focus. It’s so easy to get bogged down in what’s going wrong, tying yourself in an endless loop of negative thoughts and feelings. Start training yourself! Whenever a negative emotion pops into your head, switch it. If it doesn’t make you feel good, do not focus on it. And if you must, switch that negative to a positive. You can do it! This is your life!
- Appreciate. Wake up in the morning and count your blessings. Rattle off, either aloud or in your head, what you are truly grateful for, and watch how you keep seeing more and more of those blessings in your life. Get into the habit of flowing gratitude instead of pouring out complaints.
- Breathe. Take moments to connect with your breath, you are alive!! You’re here. Take pauses and breathe. Get out of your head as much as you can and just focus on the fact that you are here. Everything is ok.
- Give Back or Pay it Forward. Do for others because it will make you feel good. There is a satisfying feeling that we get from helping others, a feeling that makes us feel good that we are making someone else feel good. The more charitable you are, the happier you will become. Keep it consistent, even if you think you have nothing to give, it costs nothing to be kind.
- Fake it Until you Become it. Have you watched Amy Cuddy’s TedTalk where she profoundly switches the old “fake it until you make it”? In case you missed it, I’ll add the link here, it’s a phenomenal talk and so worth the watch. I spend my days dreaming, pretending (if you will)! Envisioning my life as I want it, talking about it as if it’s already happening, and eventually my wants come into fruition. Whatever you want, including being a happy person, is yours! Fake it until you become it.
Like anything in life, it takes practice, but being happy can be achieved with the simplest of steps. Want more happy help? I’d highly, completely and fully recommend Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting: The Astonishing Power of Positive Feelings by Lynn Grabhorn, it’s one of a kind and it changed my life like no text has ever done before. Please comment below after you read it (or if you have read it already) and let me know your thoughts.
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I’m still on my journey, but I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life, and understanding how to always get back to that happy place means everything to me.
- How do you get to your happy place? Make sure to comment below!
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This is amazing and I am reading this at the perfect time! I want to be happy and starting right now, I am going to practice all 6 of these steps! You are amazing and I really enjoyed reading this! I am going to purchase the book you recommended as well!
That’s incredible to hear! Please, please let me know how you get on in practicing these steps! I have to remind myself to practice these every day as well. Keep it up! Your self is thanking you 🙂
Love it!!! My Fav… Fake it until u become it. Keep it up. I enjoy reading your blogs.
Thanks so much!! I’ll keep posting more content that I hope you’ll enjoy as well 🙂 thanks ?? so much for the comment, Trina
Hi, there what a fantastic article I love your post.
I agree with the pay it forward step, when I help someone I feel so happy.
Sometimes I’d feel happy for no particular reason, I love that but I don’t have control over it, which I had? lol
Keep these posts coming! Anis
Hi Anis,
I will keep these posts up, as I love reading uplifting messages myself. You are so right, it feels incredible to help others. The more we do, the happier the world will become. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the advice. You are correct that hanging around unhappy people to much will have a trickle affect on the next person. And I agree if you practice those steps it will help keep you in good spirits even when down times try to invade on your happiness. Thank you for sharing this.
Hi Ronnie, you are more than welcome. Thank you for your comment! Sometimes we just need a little reminding that everything is really ok 🙂
Aww..This filled me with positivity, right when I needed it. I would surely follow the simple steps you mentioned to ease my mind and to be happy. I’m already feeling happy. Thanks for sharing such an uplifting post.
You are very welcome, Demi! Thank you so much for your comment, it made me very happy to read this just now 🙂 Stay happy!
I love the idea of being happy as much as you can. It not only builds a shield of positive energy around you but also gives you strength to take life challenges.
Great to see that you are trying to spread the message to the world.
Keep it up!
Hey Anubhav,
Thanks so much for your positive comment! I agree, happiness is like a happy shield 🙂
Excellent article. It is nice to here how you remained open to change it after being around so much negative energy. And to find time to share the ways that brought you is inspiring. I think many will gain a lot from this insightful information
Hi Maurice,
Thanks so much for saying that and for reading! I definitely have been helped out along the way and just want offer the valuable things I’ve learned to anyone who might need it as well. Thanks again 🙂 Stay happy
Man…you have so good stuff pouring out of you!!!!!!!!
Your website is very inspiring. As with you, my partner is a very happy person. She lives for the day and her attitude continually rubs off on me. I need to come to your website everyday for this kind of inspiration. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading more.
Wow, thank you so much Hillard for that very kind message 🙂 I will keep pumping out mind, body, spirit inspiration and would be so happy for you to come back over whenever you want any kind of pick me up! Sounds like your partner is like mine, love having those kind of people around!
Something that always works for me if I am feeling down for an extended period of time is cleaning. If I spend time cleaning my apartment, when I finish I always feel better. Maybe it was the focus to accomplish a simple task but it usually has a very satisfying feeling that leaves me feeling much happier.
That’s a fantastic approach! I, too feel happy after cleaning. It is so very satisfying, great tip Kurtis, thank you for adding that!
Great article! I think people get consumed with the drudgery of the day. How many times do you hear people say ‘I can’t function without my coffee’…People get up too early in the morning and scowl and shuffle around. I love that you tell your readers to smile when you get up in the morning. That’s great advice and will start the day off great! Thanks for the great tips on happiness, very much enjoyed.
Your article actually made me smile. I want to be happy and sometimes I allow myself to get down when others around me complain. The tips you included are great reminders to keep the happiness all around. Thanks 🙂