10 ways to get happy - Part I

Life has its ups and downs. Downs can be a good thing to keep you humble and appreciate the things you have in life. But  from time to time we all tend to overindulge ourselves and get upset or unsatisfied. I know I do. But I also know the true state of happiness is hard to get, yet everybody seeks it. So these are my quick tips I learnt over the years.  I have to admit, these tips require constant work in order to maintain. It is a lifetime exercise. But I think, it's definitely not a quick fix and can bring you a longterm state of happiness.

1. Stop over thinking

First thing first. Stop over thinking! Too many people live their lives in their heads and by that are not actually participating in life. "What did she or he say? What did they mean by acting like that? Is it okay if I do that? What might people think? If I had done that, then I would have done this and that by now?!" Just stop these thoughts that are leading to no solution. These thoughts are poison to your way to happiness. You might be already afraid of taking an action. These thoughts only hinder you in taking the action and nourish your fears. It also doesn't help to live in the past and reminisce. It just leads you into taking no action. It can be good to reflect your situation and you want to be proactive about it. But over thinking leads you to be your worst enemy!

2. Accepting

That leads to the next thing: accepting! Accepting what you can't change, accepting what is in the past, accepting differences, accepting people. Asking and being upset about things we know we can't change is again a one way road with no end. Sometimes you find your peace of mind, when you just accept the situation, because accepting also means closure. Whereas, not accepting can mean that you are acting arrogant, especially when other people are involved. People handle situations differently to the way you do. Embrace the differences, you might learn something.

3. Cut out the bad things in your life

If something is truly harming your happiness, you should cut it out. There is a crucial difference about accepting things in the past, and letting yourself being put down by bad things in your life.  Whether it is people, a job, an unhealthy relationship or anything else that makes you feel bad about yourself. It's just not worth it and will only leave you unsatisfied. A cleanse is always worth the fight and sometimes you just have to let it go. Because with every new beginning there is a new chance.

4. Appreciating the little things

From time to time we have to step back and appreciate the little things in life. I have the feeling that we as human beings adapt really quickly to the standard of living we have. Another feature of being humans is that we tend to get lost in details and don't see the bigger picture anymore. Regardless, of how much or little you have in life, there will always be at least one thing you can be thankful for. This little thing will make the difference.

5. Live in the moment

It sounds easier than it is, but actually this is really hard and needs a lot of practice. I have to admit, I'm a huge planner and I just love to make plans for the future (travels or activities I would like to do or plans concerning my studies and so on). Besides this, there is always something that has to be organised or taken care of. So I have this feeling that there is always something going on in my mind, especially if you add the habit of over thinking.

When this happens, I have to stop and remind myself: Enjoy the moment! The past is in the past, the future is in the stars. At one point I realized the only thing I really own is this precious moment I have right now.

Stay tuned for the next 5 tips ...

xo, MadVoyage