Create Your Own Happiness

By Sharon Dillard January 2017

The New Year is a great time for a ‘fresh start’ with new goals, but the key is not to let your accomplishment or (lack thereof) of these goals dictate your overall happiness. Work on learning how to create your own happiness – it will serve you better throughout your entire year.

Focus on Your Outlook on Life. Happy people generally don’t rely on outside sources and influences to determine their own self-worth and sense of well-being. The happiest people I know usually have a better grasp of understanding and how they react to a situation. They look for internal sources of positivity and good energy, rather than waiting for ‘life’ to provide them with happiness.

Take a Step Back when Stressing. It’s easy to get caught in a downward spiral of stress when a problem arises. One thing that helps me is to ask myself, “Will this be causing me this much stress a month from now?” It never fails to help calm me down and provide some perspective to the problem. We’ll never be able to completely avoid the stress the world throws at us, but how we cope with it daily plays a huge role in shaping our overall happiness.

Cut Off Negative People. Your surroundings impact you tremendously. If you spend time with positive people, you are more likely to be positive. So, do you best to cut out the naysayers in your life. This is a lot easier said than done; everyone, even your lifetime family and friends, can go through rough patches. Don’t be too quick to pull the trigger and chop these people off, but if you realize their negativity is more the norm, rather than the exception, it might be time to consider distancing yourself from them. It might be hard, but remember – you have just as much responsibility to take care of yourself as you do anyone else.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others. It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and think, “They’ve got it made. I wish I had what they have.” Whenever you find yourself thinking these negative thoughts, remember – we compare our behind-the-scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel. It’s almost impossible to find true happiness based only on comparisons.

Train Regularly. It’s much harder to judge and feel bad about yourself after a workout. Plus, physical training releases endorphins! Even something as simple as taking a brisk walk with a pet or going for a leisure bike ride really pays off. I cannot stress the importance of taking care of your body enough. If you take steps toward getting fit and being happy with yourself physically, you will be astonished at how much more cheerful you’ll be every single day.

Plan Time to Relax. Positive people realize that relaxation – taking time to slow down, set aside plans and goals, and simply loosening up – is key. Everyone relaxes differently; for you it could mean spending time with friends and family enjoying good food and other social activities. Or, it could mean being by yourself reading a book. Either way, you need to take time to enjoy life and give yourself a break from all its stresses.

Spend Time Outside. Nature is one of the best and oldest healers we have; it clears the mind and relaxes the body. Take a second to admire the beauty of our planet. It’s a great way to recharge your positivity battery!

Accept the Things You Cannot Change. Positive people embrace reality as a way to learn and grow. Whenever they experience disappointment, failure, or set backs, they work hard to get back up. They don’t give up. That doesn’t mean they ignore or minimize negative emotions; they just do their absolute best to remind themselves these emotions and feelings are temporary.

This is a brand new, fresh and shiny 2017 we’re all heading into. Remember to take time and focus on creating your own happiness. Take a step back when stressing; do your best to surround yourself with positive people; don’t compare yourself to others; take care of your body and mind; and accept there are some things you can’t change. Just sayin’.

Published: New Mexico Apartment News Magazine – January/February issue 2017