-Mayah Taylor, MA

Happiness. What does it look like? Everyone’s personal happiness will look different. What makes one person happy might not be true for someone else. How do you find it? Happiness takes work and is something that you can build for yourself. In this blog, Life Cycle Counseling shares with you helpful life hacks for finding happiness in your own personal life.

Life Hacks for Finding Happiness

Gratitude

Take some time out and think of everything that is in your life. Think of all the people in your life that have helped you along the way. Recognize all the good things that come your way and appreciate them.  Don’t just focus on the big things. The little things can also surprise us like the smell of rain on pavement, or when you get that last bagel at your favorite bakery! Keep a gratitude journal where you write on a daily or weekly basis everything you are thankful for. Showing gratitude is a great way to focus on all the positives and to rid yourself of negative energy.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a good way to experience the world around you in a new way and focus more on the experience. It also fosters more engagement with the things and people around you. Try practicing being mindfully aware by going on a nature walk, doing a chore around the house, or when you are working on a project take some time to use your senses. While you are engaged in an activity think about what you can see, hear, touch or taste. Also think about what is happening on the inside of your body as well. What thoughts are you having? What emotions are you feeling? Mindfulness can help us be healthier, less affected by stress, more relaxed, improve our relationships with others, feel happier, and feel satisfied with our lives.

Get to Know What Makes You Happy

A key factor to finding your own personal happiness is learning and understanding what makes you happy. Take time to imagine your best self. What does that look like for you? Take note of all your strengths and positive qualities. Gain better insight into your personal skills that you can use to create and build your own happiness. Lean on your strengths and your qualities. Remember you are in control of your happiness. Find out what sets your soul on fire! Then, make it a habit. Not only will it focus your attention on all the fantastic things in your life, but it will become muscle memory and your routines (day and night) will consist of not thinking about the future! Your happiness is whatever you make it. Remember to make it meaningful and tailor it to who you are.

Want more life hacks this 2018?

Check out our life hacks series:

Life Hacks for Better Communication

Life Hacks for the Newly Sober

Life Hacks: What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?