Ten Effective Ways To Find Happiness in Your Life

It’s a fact that some people are happier than others. In a large American research studying what determines people’s happiness, the result was that genetics control your happiness up to 50 percent. But researchers agreed that you have the power over yourself. So, it is possible to learn to be happy by mimicking happy people’s behaviors. Much of it is also in our heads, people who are positive and see opportunities instead of problems are happier than those who worry and are negative. Things like self-esteem, living in the present moment and breaking negative thinking patterns are also important. Money, status and an expensive closet do not make you happier. For any person to attain happiness, he/she must start working on their inner feelings and way of thinking, no matter what their lives look like right now.

10 secrets that you can easily apply in your life:

Think Positive

In principle, all happiness researches conducted show that people who are satisfied with their lives are happier than those who are dissatisfied with their lives. This is not just about what life has to offer you, but also about how you look at your life. Professor Ruut Veenhoven, who is responsible for the world database of happiness, said that we have every reason to look positive at our lives. After 30 years of success, Veenhoven has seen that we have never been happier than now. Greater equality, material welfare and employment are believed to be behind such greater level of happiness. “Happy people are better citizens”, Veenhoven said earlier in the newspaper Metro.

Be Generous!

Researches show that you can be happier by helping others. Being generous to people in your surroundings has positive effects. Further, contributing to a better world boosts your happiness. The researcher Bengt Brüldes says that according to an increasing number of studies, we are good at giving and being generous. We can start by being more helpful to those in our environment or contributing to a charity that shares our values.

Live in the present moment!

One of the most difficult challenges for many of us is that we can live happily only in the future. Usually, we think that a promotion, house or weight loss will make us happier. However, mindfulness has proven to be an effective way of learning to live in the present moment. “The reason we do not live in the present is that we are fully occupied by our thoughts. There is nothing wrong with it, we need our thoughts, learn from our mistakes and plan for the future, but we also need to train ourselves to be in the present because we know it lowers stress and increases our well-being, “says the Swedish psychologist Titti Holmer.

 
Have A Goal!

Knowing that your life is moving in the right direction is important. The feeling of striving for something can make us happy as we feel we are developing. Set goals for your professional or personal development. Focus on what kind of person you want to be and what improvements you want to make in your personality. If you feel negative, you can strive to become more positive. In addition, setting a goal will make you more conscious of your actions; and this in turn will make you happier.

 
Remember your happy moments!

If life feels sad, it can be valuable to remind yourself of good things you have in your life. Also, think back on things that you’ve been through and made you happy. The power of thought should not be underestimated, and it is about exercising the ability to look at life in a positive way. “Remind yourself of the happiness that has been. Note three positive things every day. It makes you more capable of having a positive view of life,” says the Swedish psychologist Titti Holmer.

Laugh a lot!

It is usually said that laughter is like jogging for the heart. Laughter also leads to muscle vibration that gives the body deeper relaxation. When you smile and laugh a lot, it also affects your mood and you become happier! In addition, laughing a lot will make others see you as a positive and appealing person. If you are spreading positive energy, you will receive a positive response.

Move your body!

Those who have active leisure are happier than those who are sedentary. Exercise is also used as a cure for depression. The positive effect is, among other things, that the body’s own happiness hormones, which are endorphins, are excreted during exercise. Further, workout also strengthens self-confidence and distracts you from negative thoughts. Training also improves sleep and your overall health, which makes you feel more excited and healthier. There is no particular exercise form that is best for your happiness; just do things that you think are fun.

Stay close to people you like!

Researches have repeatedly shown that close relationships are important to our happiness. In relations, quality is more important than quantity. Don’t care about the number of friends you have, instead it’s important to have high quality strong relations. Socializing with people who are positive will make you happier. It is also important that you feel that the relationship is rewarding and developing. Those who live in a relationship are generally happier than those living alone.

Practice to have more control over your thoughts!

Here too, mindfulness or meditation can be a valuable tool. Being aware of negative thinking patterns and breaking them will make you happier in the long run. Psychologist Titti Holmer talks about two ways to live in the present moment and become more aware.

1. Practice deep breathing. Take three to ten slow deep breaths with your stomach. Shift the focus to the moment by breathing. It also relaxes the body and reduces stress.

2. Practice your sense of presence. Shift your focus to the present by using your senses: How does it smell? How does it taste? How does it look? How does it feel in your body? This is also an effective way to deepen and prolong moments of happiness.

Meditate!

In a stressful everyday life with much on the agenda, it’s easy to think about the thoughts without notice. Sometimes, we worry about small things, or we continue at high pace without noticing what the body wants to tell us. Meditating can feel difficult at first, but it is a nice break in everyday life where the body and the brain get relaxed. Psychologist Titti Holmer recommends that we devote 5 to 60 minutes a day for meditation. “Focus your attention on your breath. When you start thinking about something else, just note it and return to focus on the breath,” she says.