This post, How To Be Happy In Life, was originally published in 2019 and has been completely updated in October 2022.
Are you trying to figure out how to be happy in life?
Do you feel like if you just had a little more money, that one person in your life, or that perfect job you’d be happier?
Maybe you already have some of those things but you still feel like you’re struggling to figure out how to be happy in life.
There are lots of things that get factored into a happy life.
And everyone’s definition is different!
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First, let’s talk about something that is unpopular.
You won’t always be happy
The fact that life is not always going to be happy?
And, to be honest, it shouldn’t be.
One of the hardest things I’ve learned is that without the bad days you can’t appreciate the good days.
I know, I know.
I’ll be honest, I still dislike that saying.
Unfortunately, it’s true!
Once you understand and accept this, you will be that much closer to finding out how to be happy in life!
Happiness is up to you
Second, happiness is up to you.
You determine whether you’re going to have a good day or let it be a bad day.
When someone does something to upset you, you get to decide whether you’re going to let it get you down or if you’re going to push through and not let it affect you completely.
I read a great thing a while ago.
It suggested that if you had, let’s say, $200 in your wallet and somehow lost $10, you wouldn’t throw out the remaining $190, would you?
So, if something doesn’t go right in your day, do you throw out the rest of the day just because of that one moment?
Related Book: Happier
And remember how I mentioned earlier that everyone’s definition is different?
Follow your own path
It’s not easy, especially if your definition is different from your parents/family members.
But trying to follow your own path and doing what makes you happy is important!
Follow your own path and be happy!
Write things down
If you want to know how to be happy in life, then write down the things that make you happy!
Take time every day to write down a few things that made you happy that day.
Use this “10 things that make me happy” card to write down a master list.
The more you think about it, the more it will be something you focus on and before you know it, it will be so natural to think of happy things.
Let it be internal
What do I mean by letting it be internal?
I mean that your happiness shouldn’t be reliant on external things.
Because, as we all know, external things change.
The weather changes.
People move.
Life changes.
You on the other hand, yes, will also change as you grow but you are you.
Things you can do, be, and have are the things to focus on.
Although you’ll see on my own list, that I don’t completely hold to this and that’s o.k.
My List
These are in no specific order, it’s just how they came to mind 🙂
- my son
- my family
- travel
- food
- football
- season
- fall
- Christmas
- chocolate chip cookie sundaes
- dancing
What’s on your list? Please share with us in the comments below so we can all be happier 🙂 Thanks!
