“Find meaning. Distinguish melancholy from sadness. Go out for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a romantic walk in the park, spring at its most spectacular moment, flowers and smells and outstanding poetical imagery smoothly transferring you into another world. It doesn’t have to be a walk during which you’ll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter. Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself. Find meaning or don’t find meaning but ‘steal’ some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn’t make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be.”
11 Changes to Make for a Happier Life
What is the key to being truly happy in life? Is it the amount of money we have, the things that we own, where we go, what we do? Really, what is it…and where do we find it? In 23 years of trying to answer that question, I have finally figured out that it lies in myself. As it does for everyone else. It’s still a lesson that I am constantly learning but I feel more at peace to know that I am in control of my happiness and I get to decide when it comes and when it goes. I am in full control.
However, there are many days when it is still hard to be happy, even when we realize that it comes from within ourselves. No matter what we do, we don’t always feel the joy that we are searching for, that specific happiness. What we don’t realize is that maybe it’s because we need to make some changes in our lifestyle, which is why I decided to write this post! These are my 11 ways that you can change your environment to where you find yourself enjoying your days and feeling more fulfilled.
Detox. Usually (at least in my case) if we are feeling unhappy, it is stemming from something that is wrong in our lives. So my best advice? Detox, detox, detox. Detoxifying your mind, your body, your relationships, your friends. Don’t be afraid to cut negative and toxic aspects from your life.
Add More Color. A simple way to add more happiness to your life is to add more color. You can do this by adding a bright colored decoration to your living room or bedroom. Buying a new bright colored piece of clothing. Adding new colors can help you to feel refreshed and it’s an easy to change your environment without using too much effort.
Change of Scenery. If you are completely unhappy with your current environment, you should consider creating a change of space. You could consider starting a new job, moving to a new apartment or house, or moving to a new city or country!
Sweat It Out. We have heard it all of our lives–exercise releases endorphins that cause us to feel happy and more relaxed. As much as I didn’t want to admit it when I was younger because I hated the gym and running, I can’t go too long now without a good sweat sesh. If I don’t workout for a couple of days, I get really irritated and my mood drops. For me, all it takes is a quick hour at the gym to help make a bad day into a good day. Lace up your running shoes or pick up the weights for an easy mood boost!
Get Involved. Sometimes one of the best ways to feel happier is to give back to your community and get involved with something that has a purpose. Helping those who are less fortunate is a great way to stay humble and make a difference in someone else’s life and your own.
Minimize. Did you know that clutter around your home can be causing you unwanted stress? Well, it’s true. Clutter creates a very busy space and it does not mix well with our attentive minds. Clutter causes distractions and negativity for us, even if we don’t realize it. To avoid clutter, I like to try and constantly be throwing away useless things into the trash or donating old clothes and goods to clothing bins or charities. I try to do this with every seasonal change throughout the year or every 6 months at LEAST.
Pay for Experiences, Not Things. This comes hand-in-hand with minimalism. If we spend our money on creating memories and supplying our minds and souls with new life experiences it will serve us far much longer than material items.
Show Your Emotions. The reason you’re feeling sad or unhappy may be because you’re loaded up with emotions. We live in a society that tells us that crying is weak so we learn to hold it in and keep it to ourselves, but this is not good, especially for our mental health. So I encourage you to do whatever it takes to express your emotions.
Find Your Tribe. Whether we want to believe it or not, we all have some relationships or friendships in our lives that just aren’t good for us. This isn’t saying that they are necessarily bad people, but maybe they aren’t helping us to get to where we need to be. Find friends that create a strong base for you. Intend to find people that are like-minded, equally as passionate, and have similar interests or hobbies. Friends that are equally driven and motivated help us to reach our full potential because they are encouraging us to get better and to set goals for ourselves.
Journal. One of my favorites. The best medicine to start feeling happy again may be just to organize your thoughts on a piece of paper and really think about the root of what is causing your unhappiness. After you have found it, the world is in your hands.
Give Gratitude. Last, but definitely not least, GIVE GRATITUDE. Be thankful for this life and what you have. We all have so much to be thankful for and taking time to appreciate what we have is key to living a happier life because it helps us to see how much positivity is all around us rather than choosing to focus on the negative.
If you are feeling unhappy with your life, I definitely encourage taking some much needed alone time so that you can figure out what is causing it and maybe one of my remedies can help you. Never forget that taking a little bit of “me time” isn’t selfish, but in fact necessary to living a happy life. Don’t ever let anything or anyone make you think that it is wrong to put yourself first
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