Life is filled with struggles. That much is known. We all have gone through, are going through, and will go through something. But despite all the struggles, many still find moments to be happy. We often wonder how they can do that- being happy even though there are insurmountable challenges in front of them.
Today, we will discuss how happiness can be a choice, provided that you make the practical decisions to enforce it.
Choose and Work for It
Happiness doesn’t come simply because you decided to be happy one day. If it were so, then many people wouldn’t have to suffer depression or anxiety. The reality is that we need to make actionable decisions– decisions that will affect our day-to-day life for the better. Practicality is the secret here, as happiness is inevitably tied to our health and wellness.
Health and wellness are often discussed as something scientific, and it is. But its overall effect on us as human beings transcends far more than just health. It can make us feel better, process our emotions better, and be content with our life. Let’s look at some practical steps you can take to be happy despite the challenges you face.
Be Kinder to Yourself
First and foremost, you have to stop being hard on yourself. Learn to be kind to yourself first, and everything else will fall into place. Kindness to one’s self means allowing yourself to make mistakes, just as all humans do. Mistakes happen, and you’re no less of a person for having made them. Whenever you did something that you don’t particularly like or feel like you could have done better, always tell yourself, “it’s okay,” because it is okay.
Build Your Life the W
ay You Want It
Part of reframing your perspective on life is to put your foot down and build the life you want. Do away with wishful thinking and start investing in a better future by taking actual, achievable, and realistic steps to get there. This goes for people of all walks of life because everyone deserves to be happy, and everyone deserves another chance of rebuilding their life back up.
This may mean moving on from past trauma by learning to look forward to future activities or overhauling your diet due to health reasons. This can even mean taking natural supplements if you have high uric acid levels. You should take real actions and become the person you want to be.
Maintain Good Sleeping Routine
You can’t change your life if you always wake up feeling negative and groggy in the morning, always wanting to go back to sleep. A practical step you can take is to ensure you have good quality sleep.
Keep a sleeping routine; have a ritual before you sleep, like brushing your teeth, then read a book, then sleep. And when you wake up, do it in reverse, read a book for a few minutes, then brush your teeth and be on with your day. Having a morning routine is half the battle, as you would have already accomplished a lot the moment you step out of your room.
Start Exercising
Exercising doesn’t just make us healthier; it also releases happy hormones in our brain. That’s why many people say they feel better after an exercise. If you’re not exercising consistently, start integrating that into your lifestyle. Start jogging first, perhaps with a friend or your pets. It doesn’t have to be an extreme exercise, as long as you get to sweat and move your muscles. You’ll find that physical exertion also leads to better stress management.
Learn to Laugh
We’ve all heard of the saying “laughter is the best medicine,” and there might be some truth to that. Laughter can help boost the immune system as it increases our antibodies and immune cells. Similar to exercising, it also naturally releases endorphins, more commonly known as the happy hormone.
A sense of humor is something that everyone must learn to hone and cherish. If we can laugh about the absurdities in our life, we can take on anything! Sometimes, all it takes is to chuckle about a problem, and you’ll feel empowered to face it.
Have a Support Network
Doing this alone can be very difficult. That’s why a support network can help you do more than you can alone. Talk to friends or family, express your desire to become better, to do better. You might discover that they’re more than willing to help you out. After all, nobody goes through life alone.
Being happy is a choice. But it’s only a choice if you take practical steps to achieve it. Hopefully, through the steps provided here, you come closer to your happiness.
