7 Little Ways I Stay Happy
Happiness isn’t my ultimate goal in life.
I get more excited about purpose, kindness, and personal growth.
And I know human beings aren’t meant to be happy all the time.
Humans are designed to feel a spectrum of emotions, all of which can help us better understand ourselves, our needs, and our boundaries.
But given the choice, why not more happiness rather than less?
And you do have a choice.
Sure, you can’t control everything that happens to you.
But if you’re entirely honest with yourself, I bet there’s a lot you do to obstruct your own happiness.
And, science says the human brain has a “negativity bias.”
This negativity bias means you’re wired to remember painful situations far more than pleasant ones.
But research shows again and again that you can counteract this negativity bias and orchestrate a happier life by focusing on the positive.
So, if you want to be happy, you have to get a hold of your own mind, and take steps to include more happiness generating activities in your life.
I’ll share seven little ways I intentionally create happiness for myself. I hope this list inspires you to find your own happy-making practices.
1. A Happy Hobby
During the pandemic, I took up adult coloring as a hobby. It helped me to reduce stress, extinguish worry, and practice mindfulness.
But equally important, it made me happy.
I’m not a master colorist, but witnessing the beauty of my creations, both during and at the end of the process, stoked my heart with joy.
A hobby is any activity you choose to do outside of work hours for the purpose of pleasure and relaxation.
According to researchers at the University of California, Merced, multiple studies have found leisure activities have positive outcomes, including happiness:
“Studies have shown a wide range of positive effects of leisure — more leisure engagement is associated with greater positive mood, well-being, or life satisfaction, less negative or depressed mood, less stress and/or more stress-coping, and better cardiovascular health.”
Of course, some hobbies can be frustrating to the utmost degree. Only choose a hobby that truly brings you pleasurable feelings.
Then be sure to make space for it because you deserve a little more happiness.
2. Time in Nature
I’m fortunate to live on the Big Island of Hawaii. I just look out my window and inhale the goodness of nature.
I feel happier living in rural or semi-rural locations.
But even when I lived in the heart of the Castro and worked in downtown San Francisco, I captured special moments provided by Mother Nature deep in my being.
I’ll never forget the extraordinary quality of light that pervaded the atmosphere when I stepped out of my Sutter and Powell office at the end of the day. I took time to bask in that light.
And almost every weekend I made it a point to get out of the city. I went for long walks in nature or simply sat and stared at the vast expanse of sky and sea.
You don’t have to be an extreme backpacker who goes into the wilderness to feel the benefits of nature. Researchers in Finland have found people feel psychologically restored after 15 minutes of sitting outside in a city park or in an actual forest.
Nature feeds my soul. But I understand if nature isn’t for you.
The combination of bugs, critters, and mild discomforts like sitting on a rock can make it less desirable for some. That’s okay. You can find other variables to include in your happiness equation.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” ― John Muir
3. Simplicity
I’m not a minimalist, but keeping my life simple expands my happiness multi-fold.
Simplicity makes more space for happy-inducing activities like walks in nature or reading a good book.
Fewer things means fewer things to go wrong. Wouldn’t that add to anyone’s happiness?
With less time spent on an excess of things or busy-making tasks, I have more time for connection with friends and family.
Simplicity saves me money so I’m not always stressed by looming bills.
I also have time and energy to get the important things done.
“Often it is those who live quietly, modestly, and contentedly with a simple life who are the happiest.”— Joshua Becker
4. Small Acts of Kindness
Making other people happy makes me happy.
Even tiny acts of kindness can lift someone else up.
When I’m out and about, instead of looking down, obsessed in my own thoughts, I glance at others and offer a friendly smile.
I let someone else go first in a waiting line.
I put my change in an animal rescue tin at the end of the grocery checkout or give a few dollars to a needy person standing on a corner with a “help” sign.
It costs so little to do any of these things, but it warms my heart.
I’m not perfect. I sometimes get self-absorbed and butt in line first. But I try my best to alter those habits and practice little acts of kindness instead.
“Practice kindness all day to everybody and you will realize you’re already in heaven now.”—Jack Kerouac
5. Doses of Inspiration
No matter how stressed, distressed, or disenchanted I feel, reading, watching, or listening to inspirational content, always lifts me up.
If I already feel happy, it takes me even higher.
I have a list of favorite podcasts, YouTube channels, and notable Facebook pages, I enjoy regularly. For example:
Elizabeth Gilbert
Brené Brown
Glennon Doyle
#solofemalevanlife
Listening to these speakers is like getting a virtual hug. They normalize whatever I’m feeling and help me feel better.
I’m not addicted. I don’t spend hours and hours, unable to pull myself away. But when I need a happiness boost, I know who to follow.
“Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.”—Scott Barry Kaufman
6. Mindfulness
I practice mindfulness meditation every morning—sometimes for twenty minutes, sometimes for an hour.
My mindfulness practice has shown me that all thoughts and emotions are transitory. I can dwell on a thought or I can let it pass by. Through practicing mindfulness consistently, I’ve seen thoughts and emotions grow smaller, quieter, and more distant.
This extra space between the thought and a potential reaction allows for more choice. I can go with a reaction that will make me feel miserable. Or I can choose happiness and not react.
It’s not always easy to make the better choice. But regular mindfulness practice has made it easier for me.
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”—Viktor Frankl
7. Days Off
I no longer work full-time. But still, by the end of the week, I’ve had enough. Sometimes, I feel like I could burst as Friday ticks around.
My habit has always been to keep going no matter.
But now I listen to my body and stop before I whack out my nervous system or jeopardize my health.
Puttering is one of my favorite “activities” on days off.
Puttering doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means to act aimlessly, idly, and in a random fashion. I slowly wander around the house and attend to whatever catches my eye—those small tasks that never seem to get done like changing a light bulb, repositioning a picture, or rearranging a shelf.
In between the low energy tasks, I’ll flip through a magazine, daydream, or soak in the sun.
Puttering gives my brain a break.
But you don’t have to love puttering like I do. There are endless ways to relax and rejuvenate on a day off. Grab your surfboard, strum your guitar, or savor the results of a new recipe.
Everyone needs days off. Don’t miss yours.
Closing Thoughts
Occasionally, happiness happens by chance—you get a promotion, a prospective sweetheart proposes a date, or you find the perfect outfit for a special event. Woo-hoo!
But as the Dalai Lama has said, and science agrees, happiness is not ready made. It depends on your actions. If you want to be happy more often than not you have to consciously choose happiness generating activities and sprinkle them throughout your days.
I’ve shared seven little ways I stay happy. Now, it’s your turn. What are seven little ways you can stay happy? Are you making them a regular part of your life?
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[Photo by Adam Kontor on Pexels]
Thank you for your presence, I know your time is precious! Don’t forget to sign up for Wild Arisings, my twice monthly letters from the heart filled with insights, inspiration, and ideas to help you connect with and live from your truest self.
You might also like to check out my Living with Ease course or visit my Self-Care Shop. May you be happy, well, and safe – always. With love, Sandra
