For many, finding a happier life has been a real struggle most often because most people do not know how to find it. There is the constant barrage of commercials offering products that promise to make people happy, but material goods does not really provide the comfort needed after the newness wears away.

Over the centuries, people have turned to religion, philosophy and the wise words of ancestors for clues about how to become happier in life. However, as with most things the answers are actually simpler than they are being made out to be. Most people are happy thanks to the choices they make and the activities in which they participate.

“Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever.” Peter Hagerty

Here are 10 simple ways that you can live happier and feel healthier as a result. While there are many other ways to find happiness, the ten listed here have proven to be quite effective for most people.

Take Care of Yourself

Your mind and body are really one, so taking care of you by eating right and exercising is a great first step towards finding happiness. To walk every day can help lift the spirits and make you feel more energized as a result. While you don’t have to become an Olympic-level athlete, being more active and eating good, healthy foods, getting away from your sedentary lifestyle and going outdoors. Finally, getting enough sleep each night is also paramount to becoming happier by being healthier.

Learn New Things

Learning does not just boost the intellect as it also provides a boost to your wellbeing which in turn helps you find happiness. When you learn something new, there is a sense of accomplishment that you feel and your self esteem goes up as well. You do not have to complete a college course or learn a new trade, but instead you can learn to play an instrument, a new language, or just play a new sport that will increase your happiness and provide you with more good memories.

Look Around

If you ever wondered what more there is to life, all you have to do is look around. Everywhere you look there are a myriad of things happening from people going places to nature changing all around. All it takes is for you to take notice for just a few minutes a day. In fact, there is plenty going on in your life that can provide a little perspective and bring some happiness to your life. From just noticing the sights around you to trying new things, there are many ways to find happier living

Be Kind to Others

You can show your feelings towards others by being helpful in their daily lives. It doesn’t take much of a commitment and even just a couple of minutes of your day spent helping others will help you find your own happiness while improving your health. To give not only provides happiness for you and those you assist, but it helps create a better world for everyone. Just a few acts of kindness each day from helping someone with their groceries to giving your spare change or even making someone smile will help you find happiness.

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” Denis Waitley

Create More Connections with People

Being connected with others is what helps boost the spirits and helps your wellbeing. People who have strong relationships with others live longer, healthier and happier lives. From friends and family to co-workers and those you see on a regular basis as part of your daily life, broadening out your social network brings in new friends and interests while finding that sense of belonging. This is where happiness resides, in finding connections with others.

Be Positive

This may be the hardest way to find happiness as it can be difficult to stay positive when you are feeling down. Remember that things change and where you are at today is not necessarily where you will be tomorrow if you take a positive approach and reach out. To be positive will not only help you do better with day to day tasks, but also broaden your outlook on life and even improve your physical wellbeing. So, by looking at things as half-full rather than half-empty, you can make a powerful impact on your own happiness.

“No matter what the situation, remind yourself “I have a choice.” – Deepak Chopra

Create Goals

Happiness is momentary unless you create goals that will help you look to the future. This means finding something that will challenge, excite and enliven you as you take the steps necessary to achieve it. Naturally, you should choose goals that are achievable such as writing the great American novel or reaching a particular fitness level. So, it must be something challenging enough to get you excited while being realistic enough that you can reach it in a reasonable amount of time.

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” Andrew Carnegie

Be Resilient

There are times when you will experience a setback, loss or failure in your life. It is how we respond to bad times that helps determine our wellbeing. While people cannot choose what happens to them, they can make the choice in how to respond. While it is never easy, it is true that resilience is a life skill that can be learned and can help people lead themselves back to a happier state of mind.

Be Comfortable with Yourself

No matter how hard you try, you’ll never be perfect. However, it is important to keep trying while having a realistic view of yourself. This means being the best of what you can be while getting the most out of life. Accepting who you are with all the flaws that it brings mean being kinder to the person you have become and increasing the happiness in your life.

Giving Gifts

One of the best ways to boost your own mood is by giving a gift to someone else. Few things in life bring more joy than giving gifts that bring smiles to the faces around you. You can choose from many great gifts such as gift baskets, silk flowers, essential oils, watches and the like to boost the mood of those around you and provide a gift for yourself in seeing the joy on their face.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill

Happier living starts when you pick up the habits of those who lead happier lives. The good news is that you can start right now and many of these methods will not cost you a dime, yet they will provide wonderful returns that you will enjoy for the rest of your life.

“Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy, and happiness to ourselves and others.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

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