Happiness in four simple steps

The fast pace of life in the 21^st century can make even the happiest of people feel a little stressed. A combination of economic worries, body image pressures and bad news streamed by the media can leave many people with a constant feeling of unease and even depression.

There is a trick to happiness and that is to practice. Every day we must work hard to reinforce our well-being and do things to actively boost our health and mood. Here are four simple steps to help you on your way to achieving happiness:

Step One: Practice gratitude

Many of us spend a lot of time thinking about the things we would like in life – those things we don’t have, and that others do. This can make us feel insufficient, lacking, angry and jealous – all negative feelings that wear us down in the end. One way to avoid these thoughts is to practice gratitude.

You can do this every day, in those moments between activities. Think about something that’s going well in your life. Even if you don’t have all the things you want, think about the things you do have. A roof over your head? A job? A loving partner? They don’t even have to be big things. Often it’s the little things in life that make us happy. Perhaps it’s getting up early enough to see the sun rise, or getting in a quick stroll at lunchtime to catch your breath and get away from it all.

Step Two: Help someone else feel better

Each day we encounter other people, whether friends, family, co-workers or shop assistants. Make a conscious effort to say something positive to someone, or do something kind for someone. Whether it’s complimenting your colleague on their outfit, or making someone a cup of tea. These small things invite positive responses and remind you that sometimes happiness is less about you and more about what you can do for others.

Step Three: Take a break from gadgets

The media is like a drug – it’s incredibly hard to wean yourself off things like the TV, social media and gaming when you’re used to consuming these things on a regular basis. These things profoundly affect us emotionally, even if we don’t realise it. Take a break a do something more constructive. Read a book, go for a jog, learn a new skill – it’s unlikely that you’ll find happiness in your Facebook news feed.

Step Four: Learn a mantra

The final key to happiness might seem a little airy fairy, but it’s been proven to help in a number of cultures and religions. Make up a positive mantra and repeat it to yourself silently a few times a day to reinforce the meaning in your mind. Whenever you find yourself feeling anxious, or wanting to give up, think about your mantra and remind yourself why you say it: because you want to be happy.

Life coaching can help you improve your state of mind so everyday life becomes a little easier. To find out more, please visit our Personal Development page.

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