How to Be Happy in Life

Let's Learn How to Have a Happy Life

After "Why are we here?" this is probably life's biggest existential question. Unfortunately, there isn't a definitive answer. That's because the idea of a happy life is purely subjective.

What does a happy life mean to you? Perhaps it's making a s**tload of money. Maybe it's finding the perfect work-life balance that allows you to enjoy a content life while maintaining the income to fund it.

For some people, being happy is a simple matter of physical and mental health. Have you ever wondered why some people can live in a tent or clapped-out caravan and not have a care in the world? These people have discovered the secret of their own happiness.

Once you start treating your happiness as an objective—a dream to aspire to—you can start putting plans in place to achieve it. For someone who thrives on being at one with nature, those plans may require little more than a tent, some basic possessions, and a modest income each month. For others, those plans might involve starting a business or investing to create generational wealth.

The Definition of Happiness

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, happiness means "a state of pleasurable contentment of mind; deep pleasure in or contentment with one's circumstances".

But that's not the only definition provided by the OED.

"Good fortune or good luck in life generally or in a particular affair; success, prosperity."

"An instance or cause of good fortune. Frequently in plural (in later use often as part of a stylized formula for wishing good fortune)."

"An instance or source of pleasure or contentment."

"Successful or felicitous aptitude, fitness, suitability, or appropriateness; felicity."

The same words and ideas keep appearing: contentment, pleasure, fortune, fitness, etc. Is happiness the attainment and preservation of physical health? Is it the achievement of a happier life? And if so, is a "happier life" a fixed goal, or does its meaning change the moment you achieve it?

What's clear is that there is no single definition of happiness that applies to everyone equally. Even the most esteemed mental health professionals have trouble defining the term.

Happiness is, obviously, a state of mind—your mind. But what made you happy yesterday may not make you happy tomorrow. All you can do is pursue the things in life you love, nurture your most cherished relationships, and look after your physical and mental health.

Of course, if it were this easy, the entire world would be a melting pot of happiness. But circumstances change. The world is constantly shifting beneath our feet. Our idea of happiness evolves as the Earth revolves. Our psychological well-being isn't a goal—it's an ongoing project. And when we take our eyes off the ball, the consequences can be far-reaching.

Money Isn't a Dirty Word When It Comes to Learning How to Be Happy in Life

One thing we must address before going any further is the idea that money can't make you happy. That is, broadly speaking, probably true. The Beatles wrote a song about the idea that money can't buy love. But what money CAN buy is peace of mind.

If you're not convinced about the importance of money and its role in happiness, try living without it for two months. Try not paying your employees for two months. There is no doubt about it; having money—and the security and freedom it provides—is an integral contributing factor to your overall well-being.

Let's take a look at five key contributing factors to happiness. While it's pretty clear that defining happiness is a highly subjective issue, discussing the various issues that contribute to happiness isn't.

Five Key Contributors to Your Overall Happiness: And How to Be Happy in Life By Improving Them (including mental and physical health)

Only you can define your version of happiness. Whether you want to excel in your profession or earn your fortune, you'll stand a better chance of success if you take a holistic approach and maintain a positive outlook as much as you can. To give you a headstart, here are a few tips on how to be happier in life—based on four key areas.

Relationships

The relationships you enjoy in every sphere of your life will play a pivotal role in your ability to be happy.

80% of your happines and unhappines will come from relationships with other people. The people you surround yourself with will determice your level of happines and success. Surround yourself with positive, motivated people who will lift you up and support your goals and dreams. The right relationships will help you soar to new heights.

Invest in People - But Choose Your Relationships Wisely

We always talk about investing in financial products, but we should also be taking the time to invest in the people closest to us.

You can't hope to have a good life on your own. They say, "No man is an island". You can't be happy at home if you don't make the time to show random acts of love, affection, and gratitude. You can't succeed in the work environment if you don't take the time to mentor your subordinates and network with the people most likely to make things happen for you.

Be aware, however, that many people will not have your best interests at heart. And that's fine. In many cases, you'll be able to pursue a 'quid pro quo' arrangement whereby you do someone a favour, and they do one for you in return.

Compliment People

Practice gratitude wherever and whenever you can. Don't be insincere or go overboard, however. When someone is kind to you, does you a favour, or is simply present when you need them, make the time to show your appreciation.

Regardless of what's going on in your own life, expressing gratitude and complimenting people can make you feel better about yourself as a human being.

They say that it's better to give than receive. And there's a lot of truth in that. Think about giving and receiving Christmas presents. How many times has seeing the reaction of a loved one after receiving your gift felt better than opening your own gift? Complimenting people can, counterintuitively, make you feel good about yourself. So, go on! Make someone's day.

Be a Good Friend

Real friends are very hard to come by in life. In fact, a lot of people go through life without a real, true friend. So, if you happen to have one, be there. Not just when things are great between you both, but also when things are tough.

Real friends argue. Why? Because they're not afraid to tell one another the truth. But they tell the truths we need to hear but don't necessarily want to hear. This is a precious thing. This kind of bond doesn't come around often. And if you have any hope of long-term happiness, you must work hard at maintaining and nurturing your authentic friendships.

Offer Emotional Support

You can't solve everyone's problems for them. Sometimes, you simply have to be there...to listen...to show understanding and sympathy.

Being there emotionally for people—whether it's at work or at home—is a surefire way to develop deeper, mutually beneficial relationships built on trust. And when friendships benefit both parties, reap the rewards.

Ask for Help

Your general well-being relies on the relationships you enjoy at work and at home—whether you like it or not. And although it may not always feel like it, the people who are genuinely worth your time want to help when you're in need. Dealing with life's ups is easy, even when you're on your own. But dealing with life's downs often requires support.

Physical and Mental Health

Having a more positive outlook in a general sense is part of being happy. But mental health issues such as depression, chronic stress, and anxiety can ruin your chances of long-term, sustainable happiness. Taking the following steps should help reduce stress and regulate some of the stress hormones responsible for mental health issues.

Tackle Sleep Deprivation

If you don't get enough sleep, everything in life becomes more difficult—from getting out of bed in the morning to completing even the simplest tasks.

A lot of sleep deprivation is related to a bad sleep routine, so make sure you go to bed and get up at similar times every day. Wind down several hours before you turn in, and regardless of what time you nod off, force yourself out of bed at the same time every morning. You might feel very tired for the rest of your day, but you'll reap the rewards of a more stable sleep routine in the long run.

Implementing the following steps will also help you to sleep more soundly at night.

Get Regular Exercise

Exercise expends excess calories, gets your key muscles and joints moving, maintains a healthy cardiovascular system, and gives you more energy.

You don't have to hit the gym for two hours every day, though. A brisk 30-minute walk every day is often enough. Some people set a target of 10,000 to 20,000 steps per day. The most important thing is you work up a sweat and get slightly out of breath for at least 20 minutes every 24 hours. Anything else is a bonus.

Regular exercise coupled with healthy eating has also been shown to improve psychological health and sleep patterns.

Manage Stress Levels

Only you know the best ways to reduce stress. You might like to read, listen to music, or simply spend time with friends. Meditating or surrounding yourself with green space might do the trick.

The key here is to spot the warning signs of excess stress before they run riot and take remedial action you know will work. Self-awareness is important here, which is why you may need the services of a life coach.

Of course, managing your stress levels isn't a ticket to happiness on its own, but you can't hope to be happy if you're perpetually stressed.

Keep a Journal

Keeping a journal and including details of your feelings, emotions, and triggers can help you process the issues and challenges you're dealing with. This is also a good way to "talk" to someone about your psychological health issues if you don't have the time or opportunity to speak with a coach, counsellor, friend, or relative.

Don't Compare Yourself to Others

You can't judge your own dreams based on the dreams of other people. Similarly, you can't judge your strengths and weaknesses on those of the people closest to you. We all have different skills, aptitudes, and motivations. Find yours, and forget about everyone else's.

Instead of reading other people's stories, start telling your own! Become the author of your own life, and your happiness levels should soar.

In short, learn to not give a f**k about what other people think of you. Walk your own path.

Declutter

Evidence suggests that clean, uncluttered environments help keep us calmer, happier, and more in control of our emotions. If you don't use "stuff" around you, discard it, put it away, or give it away.

Decluttering your life starts at home, particularly in the areas you spend most time in. But it also includes your desk! Clear it of anything you don't need at hand every day. You'll be surprised at how liberating the process can be!

Eat Healthily

You are what you eat, as the saying goes. And there's a lot of truth in that. Our bodies are efficient, powerful machines that need the right, high-quality fuel to perform optimally. Give your body anything less than it needs, and you'll quickly feel the adverse effects—whether they're related to tiredness, weakness, or a general malaise.

But the quality of your food also affects the quality of your mental well-being. While following a healthy, well-balanced diet won't solve all your problems, it will give you a solid foundation to make other changes. Eat lots of whole foods, fibre, antioxidants, proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Give your brain the food it needs for good health.

Practice Deep Breathing Exercises

Breathing rhythmically and deeply on a regular basis calms you down; it's one of Mother Nature's weapons to fight stress and anxiety. And this is backed up by research. Practice mindfulness at least once a day by putting everything to one side and focusing on nothing except your breathing.

Limit Your Alcohol Intake

While you might often feel like a "stiff drink" during a hectic and stressful and hectic day, any short-term benefits will eventually be replaced by unwanted side effects. Rather than ease anxiety, alcohol increases it. Unfortunately, too many people self-medicate with alcohol on a regular basis, which affects both their mental and physical wellness. You can't hope to be happy if you're regulating your moods by consuming alcohol.

Financial Security

More money doesn't mean more happiness. You can't buy better health. But money IS a factor in your overall happiness. That's just a fact of life. It's very difficult—if not impossible—to be truly happy in life if you're broke. Why? Because you're constantly working and living with the spectre of money worries over your head.

How can you focus all your efforts on making healthy choices and nurturing good relationships if you're constantly worried about next month's electricity bill or making your mortgage payments and keeping a roof over your head?

Have a Dream

Every dream requires money. Maybe not loads of it, but at the very least a consistent and reliable supply of it. So, decide what your vision for life is, and keep that at the forefront of your mind whenever you don't feel like going to work or driving your business forward.

Create a Plan

Create a long-term strategy or plan to ensure you're always working towards your ultimate dream in life. This will keep you on the right path, motivate you when things get tough, and ensure nothing is left to chance. Of course, you may need to change direction, as life isn't a linear path. However, the most important thing is that you have a purpose and a plan to pursue your version of happiness.

Use Setbacks as Learning Experiences

When it comes to big events, there are always things to learn. Not just the positive ones, but also the setbacks and failures. In your pursuit of financial security and the happiness it provides, never let a failure pass you by without examining it and exploring ways to avoid it happening again. There's often a lot more to be learned from setbacks than from successes.

Get Advice from a Money Coach

A money or career coach can give you a range of practical tips on how to interact and think about money. A financial coach doesn't help you with investment products and retirement plans, however; they help you build a healthier relationship with money. They instil the good habits and best practices that can help you make money, rather than simply earning it.

Don't Lose Sight of Why You Make Money

Why are you getting out of bed every morning and going to work instead of spending every spare minute of the day with the people you love? You want a better life for yourself and your loved ones, or you want to maintain the quality of life you've worked hard to achieve. When you feel like the sacrifices you're making aren't worth it, focus on the bigger picture.

Professional Fulfilment

You can't be truly happy in your life unless there's a balance between the personal and the professional. One can't exist without the other. So, it's not enough to get more sleep, improve your relationships, and earn more money. You have to be reasonably happy or content with your professional life, and that might take some work—perhaps with the assistance of a business coach.

Learn How to Prioritise Tasks

You won't be able to do everything all of the time—particularly if you're micro-managing your business or work responsibilities. Don't fall into the trap of prioritising the tasks with the closest deadlines. Prioritise according to the value each task delivers.

Work out what's important and what's not. Figure out what has to be done today, and what can be delayed until tomorrow. Work smarter, not harder. Time management begins with prioritisation.

Do Something You're Good At

If you're good at something, the chances are you'll be able to make good money doing it. It will also raise your self-esteem—something that's crucial to general happiness.

A famous Japanese proverb goes something like this:

"It's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war."

Find your inner warrior and unleash it when the odds are stacked in your favour.

Do Something You Love

If you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life. What's your passion in life? If possible, make it your career. If that's not possible, do whatever you can to make your job enjoyable and rewarding. Embrace Failures as Learning Opportunities

Have a Dream

This might be the last point on the list, but it's where your journey towards happiness should begin. Dream big. Dream ambitious. Don't be afraid to fail. Yes, falling short of your dream can be painful, but at least you'll know you gave it everything. Without a dream, how can you possibly gauge what happiness looks like to you?

You're Not Alone in Your Pursuit of Happiness

Getting some fresh air, upping your physical activity, and improving your self-care will only get you so far. We all need a little help from our friends at times.

If you want the insights and advice of an experienced life and confidence coach, contact Jake Smolarek today to book an initial discovery meeting. Jake found true happiness, and he can help you find yours. Through a series of actionable tips, processes, life coaching tools, and proven systems, he'll help you define your version of happiness and set you on the path to achieving it.