7 things to do today to be happy

Happiness doesn’t have to be elusive. Often it begins simply with choosing to be happy. Here are 7 things you can start doing today to be happy.

1. Decide to be happy.

Make a decision today to be happy. Then start doing things that will make you happy. Stop settling for what others expect of you and start taking care of what really matters to you. Have the tenacity to break through the barrier of fear and truly chase the things that matter to you.

Above all, don’t just decide. Really decide. You’ll know it when you feel it in your gut. You’ve made decisions like this before, where you’ll do whatever it takes to get things done because you’re committed and capable.

Decided. It really is that simple.

2. Practice affirmations daily.

What is the difference between an affirmation and the negative self-talk that is constantly going on in your mind? Nothing.

Affirmations are no different from negative thought patterns that arise when you’re about to do something that scares and excites you.

So start small, with just one affirmation. Recite it at least a hundred times a day for the next week, until you begin to say it reflexively in your mind whenever something comes up that would normally cause you to have negative thoughts.

Above all, make sure you are at least slightly emotionally invested in your affirmations. You will need to feel good about yourself for this affirmation to become your new paradigm. You might even find yourself in disbelief the first few days or weeks you start reciting it.

As long as you can get to the point where you start to believe it and feel good about it, you’re on the right track.

3. Practice gratitude daily.

Start being grateful for what you have rather than what you lack. When you practice gratitude, you put your mind in a different vibration.

Gratitude reframes our mind and begins to help us see what is possible and what is abundant rather than what is impossible and rare.

Above all, even practice gratitude for the things you don’t have but want. When you start thinking on this wavelength, invariably your mind will start finding creative ways to help you get what you really want.

4. Meditate daily.

I have to admit that affirmations are difficult when you start. A big part of the challenge is simply lack of belief and investment. Being in a positive mindset is such a change when you have lived your whole life in lack and scarcity. So it takes some time for your affirmations to take shape.

However, you can help yourself by practicing meditation. Not only does meditation sharpen your focus, but it also calms the mind and helps you become impartial and non-judgmental about the random thoughts that enter your mind. I heard somewhere that we have around 30,000 to 50,000 thoughts a day! Imagine trying to control all of this.

Here’s something that will surprise you about these thoughts: Many of them occur on the unconscious level! By being able to dismiss these thoughts without judgment, you stop feeling bad about things.

5. Stop blaming others and start being more proactive.

Happy and successful people learned a long time ago that ultimately the only person they can blame and subsequently change is themselves.

Everything they have in their life is a result of themselves, the good and the bad. When you realize that you are ultimately the only one to blame for your circumstances, you also realize that only you have the power to change those circumstances.

There’s another word for blaming other people and the environment for your problems: It’s called victim mentality. And here’s something that will shock you about victim mentality. It basically comes from low self-esteem and self-hatred.

6. Take time for yourself.

Although life is best lived in service to others, you must ultimately make time for yourself. You eventually have to face the music.

By taking time for yourself, you learn to know yourself better. Do things that make you happy. Work on your affirmations. Every day, write down ten things you are grateful for. Meditate to help you focus and be more successful at reciting your affirmations.

7. Start a Healing Journal.

When you have time to yourself, consider writing in a Healing Journal. Simply put, you write down the things that bother you. When you are able to put your thoughts into words clearly and concisely, you can define exactly what is bothering you.

After you run and evacuate, start another section in your journal called Healing. In this section, discuss some of the things you can do to begin the healing process. This could include verbalizing your problems, thinking about how different people perceive the problem and possible solutions, talking to a friend, writing later to unburden yourself (believe it or not, this one actually helps you let go over time), or perhaps go for a hike or do something physical to help free you from these thoughts.

Conclusion

So, start doing these 7 things today to be happy. First, make the decision – really make the decision – to be happy. When you feel it in your gut, you know you’ve really decided. Then, practice affirmations and gratitude daily. If you need to, write your affirmations on a small card and carry it in your pocket so that every time you put your hands in your pocket you will feel it and take it out to read it.

Then stop playing the victim and start taking responsibility for the things that have happened to you in your life. Only you have the power to change things. Take some time for yourself and start a healing journal to help you resolve some of the past issues that are keeping you from being happy.

So you see. Happiness is a decision you have to make. Then you need to start doing things to get closer to that happiness.

Originally posted 2019-12-21 06:20:25 .