Sometimes we get stuck in a rut and we become unhappy. We feel like everything, especially happiness is beyond our control, when in reality– happiness is something we create.
As someone who has a case of full blown depression (and refuses to take medication for it) every day living can be a struggle. There are times when I feel completely overwhelmed with unhappiness and believe it’s because of my surroundings. What I have to remind myself of regularly is that I’m the one who is in control, no matter how others are acting towards me and no matter what life throws my way.
So depressed or not, here are some ways you can create happiness in your own life.
Create Happiness in Your Own Life
Have a Purpose
Having a purpose in life gives you something to strive for. It gives you a reason to pop up out of bed and take on the world. Your purpose can be a multitude of things as long as you feel it is something you can live for, for a long time. Your purpose may change too, and that’s okay. You might start out with your purpose being to use your voice for adversity, to save abandoned animals, or to create beauty through art or fashion. Maybe later you decide your purpose is to live a life of fitness, to be a role model for others, or to invent new technology. Whatever your purpose is, find it and use it as a way to fulfill yourself.
Have Goals
This can be a double-edged sword because while you can feel happy that you’re on your way to a goal, you can also become miserable that you feel so far away. Having goal is slightly different from having a purpose. A purpose is more of an overall blanket while your goals are more like mini marathons. When you have goals and smash them, happiness is inevitable.
Tip: Create smaller goals to work as stepping stones towards the bigger goals. It’s easier to measure progress this way, and less discouraging, because you can count them as accomplishments.
Make a Manifest List
Write a list of the things you want to make happen. Then start seeing them as a list of things you are going to make happen. Put the list somewhere you can see it every day; this will keep it in the forefront of your mind and you’ll consciously (and subconsciously) take steps to make them happen. Telling yourself over and over that you’re going to accomplish something will set you on the path to achievement.
Make a Vision Board
What’s more powerful than reading a list? Seeing what you want in front of you. Creating a vision board may seem cheesy, but when you are faced with what you want the most day in and day out, it’s a very powerful driver.
Take a moment every day to look at your vision board and picture yourself having the things you want the most.
Take Time to Laugh
Smiling and laughter releases endorphins that you can’t help but feel, so take some time out daily for a laugh. I’m not telling you to force yourself to laugh or smile for no reason, because sometimes smiling for no reason at all can almost be physically painful. But, one of the things I like to do each day is take a few minutes to watch a funny video on YouTube or scroll down my favorite humor accounts on Instagram. Sometimes all it takes is a cat meme to add a little sunshine to my day.
Make a Gratitude List
Happiness isn’t only about having and obtaining things, it’s really about being grateful for what you already have. It’s easy to be unhappy with our lives when we think about all the things we want, but I think the way society has programmed us we’ll always want more.
Every day you wake up make a list of things you are grateful for in your life. Some days are going to be more difficult than others, but there should always be a few things you can put down, even if it’s just the roof over your head, or your body being in good health. Whenever you feel yourself frustrated or discouraged by not having the things you want or not accomplishing what you’d like to, be grateful for what you have and the things you’ve already accomplished. When you’re grateful, being happy is inevitable.
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When it comes to being happy, we attract what we put out into the Universe. Just by practicing positivity in our daily lives, we can manifest the kind of happiness we truly deserve.
Image credit: Shutterstock
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