As humans, our brains aren’t meant to keep us happy, they’re meant to keep us alive. That’s why it’s up to each of us to create our own happiness, and why I’m sharing my 4 ways to be instantly happier with you today!
Sometimes all it takes is a single moment to change everything. Like the moment when my parents texted me and my siblings from Las Vegas, where they were attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the night of October 1st, saying that there was a shooting, but that they were safe.
I saw the text the following morning, and soon after realized that the shooting turned out to be MUCH larger than I could have ever imagined, as many of us did. I was instantly SO incredibly grateful that they were okay.
The little worries from my life drifted away, and I was instantly brought back to what’s most important. My heart goes out to those that weren’t nearly as fortunate, I won’t even pretend to understand what that sort of loss feels like.
I do know, however, just how EASY it is to get caught up in the things that don’t really matter.
How EASY it is to play the comparison game.
How EASY it is to focus on everything that we don’t have.
It’s the moments that truly DO matter that always bring me right back to what’s important, and help me to realize that I want to spend my time here on earth as happy and as fulfilled as I possibly can. It’s the challenging experiences that I’ve been through that have created the positive mindset that I have today. I fully recognize that tomorrow, or even the next moment, is not promised to any of us.
While I don’t know anyone who’s happy ALL the time, I do have some simple tips that I use to drag myself out of the place of unhappiness, and back into the bright light of joy. It doesn’t have to take any sort of tragic event to bring you back into a place of gratitude.
To me, positivity doesn’t mean pretending that life is always sunshine and rainbows. It means recognizing the situation for what it is, but also NOT making it any bigger than it is (us humans are REALLY good at that last part). This means allowing yourself the time to experience and truly feel whatever emotions come up, but not letting yourself get stuck there.
It’s because of all of this that today I’m sharing my biggest tips for 4 ways to be instantly happier! They may seem simple, but I know from my own experience that they can really make a HUGE impact.
4 Ways To Be Instantly Happier:
1. Just Smile
Stay with me here, and try not to roll your eyes at this one just because it seems way too simple. If you’re unhappy right now, I’m gonna guess that you’re not smiling. Turn that frown upside down and put on the biggest smile that you’ve got! Now watch your mood begin to shift.
As I’ve learned, you won’t always be able to control what happens to you, but you can ALWAYS control how you respond. Once you actually do this you’ll find that it’s really difficult to be upset while you’re smiling!
2. Focus On What You Do Have
Often when you’re unhappy it’s because you’re focusing on everything that you lack, not all that you have. Our crafty human brains aren’t meant to make us happy, they’re meant to keep us ALIVE. Happiness is up to each of us to create for ourselves.
While gratitude journals are great, and I’ve kept them on and off throughout the years, something simple that you can do right now is to think of one thing that you’re incredibly grateful for. Really imagine whatever it is and soak in how it feels to have that in your life. Maybe it’s a person, a thing, a place…whatever it may be, really focus all of your energy on it for at least a minute. I bet you’re feeling a little happier already. 😉
3. Do Something For Someone Else
Whenever I’m in a funk, I make an effort to do something for someone else, without expecting anything in return. Giving to someone else feels SO good, and it gets the focus off of myself (which is what suffering/unhappiness is really about).
I love doing random acts of kindness, whether it’s leaving a ‘You Matter’ card randomly for someone to find it, or buying coffee for the person behind me in line…these are the simple things that instantly make my day brighter.
Doing something for someone else doesn’t need to cost you anything financially, after all, our time is the most precious gift that we have to give.
4. Do Something For YOU
You may be someone who already does so much for everyone else around you, and it’s easy to forget to do something for YOU too. There’s a reason that when you board a flight, they tell you that in case of emergency, to put your mask on first, and then put your child’s mask on after.
You literally cannot pour from an empty cup.
While I absolutely LOVE the work that I do and I’m incredibly passionate about helping others, my work is 100% about giving to everyone else, so it’s super important that I take the time to take care of myself too.
My husband is often the one to remind me to make sure that I’m having fun in every area of my work, so sometimes my self-care is as simple as going to a coffee shop to change up my work scene, or treating myself to a massage or ice cream (gluten-free cookies and cream ice cream from Straus Creamery is my current favorite treat…SO GOOD).
Regardless of what it is, make sure your cup is full so that you can perform and give at your best.
What’s your best tip for finding happiness again when you’re in a funk? Comment below and let me know!
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