How to Live a Happier Life: 3 Quick Things You Can Do Today

How to Live a Happier Life: 3 Quick Things You Can Do Today

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.’
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”
Helen Keller

Happiness must not always come from big things and events. It can come from smaller, daily habits too.

So today I’d simply like to share 3 quick tips and habits that help me to live a happier life.

1. Start by setting a low bar for happiness.

When you wake up in the morning tell yourself: “Set a low bar for happiness today.”

When I tell myself this and try to keep it in mind during the day I appreciate things more.

The food, my work, the weather, the small events of the day becomes not everyday stuff but something I feel happy to have.

The small things or what may be something one takes for granted becomes something I now often pause for a moment or two to take in and appreciate.

But if I become happier in my everyday life for the smaller things does that mean that I become unmotivated to keep working towards the bigger things?

Not in my experience.

This way of looking at my life instead fuels me with more energy and inspiration, life becomes lighter and I feel less inner resistance as I explore and work towards both small and bigger things.

I recommend to give this one a try and to see how it works for you.

And to use a reminder on your phone or on paper so you’ll more easily keep that low bar at the forefront of your mind.

2. Help someone out.

Helping someone out is one of simplest but also one of the most powerful things one can do to live a happy life.

How can you help someone out? By giving them value in some form.

Here are a handful of ideas for how to do that.

Offering some practical help.

With for example work, moving houses or cooking dinner.

Giving some good advice.

People may not always want advice but if they ask then give your best advice based on your experience.

Hugs.

The comfort of one hug or more can make the other person’s situation at least a bit better.

Encourage someone.

There is much discouragement in the world. So instead, be an exception and encourage people to believe in themselves and what they want to do.

Just listen.

Sometimes people don’t want any help. They just want to vent or for someone to listen as they figure things out and release pent up emotions.

It may not seem like much but it can be an immense help for someone who needs it. So be there fully – don’t sit there thinking about something else – and listen.

Put things into perspective.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in a problem and to make a mountain out of a molehill. But you can help out by adding your perspective.

The two of you can talk about it, perhaps laugh about it and even find the hidden opportunity within the problem that in one person’s head may have almost seemed like the sky was falling.

And remember to pat yourself on the back and appreciate yourself for helping someone out. Do not brush it off or make it smaller than it is.

Pause and take a moment to quietly reflect on how you did something good.

3. Be kind to yourself.

Being kind to yourself is a very helpful thing for healthy self-esteem and for living a happier life.

There are of course many ways to be kinder to yourself, but here are three good ones that I’ve found to be powerful.

Change your input to things that are kind and constructive.

Destructive messages from the people around you or from people further away such as media, advertising and society in general does not help you to be kind to yourself.

So, bit by bit, replace them with other daily and weekly input.

It could be the encouragement of friends and family and the help from someone close who has been in a situation that you are in now.

It could be practical personal development books and blogs that help you out with real solutions to the challenges you face and the goals you want to achieve.

Or it could be to spend more time in nature and in silence to relax and recharge yourself.

Compare yourself to yourself.

Comparing what you have and your results to what other people have and have accomplished can really kill your motivation and keep your self-esteem at a low level.

There are always people ahead of you.

So focus on you.

On what you have accomplished. And on how you can and have improved your results.

This is important because it’s a great motivator to see how much you have improved and how far you have come.

Give yourself a break.

I sometimes hear that you should always be positive or always be winning or working towards your goal. That may sound inspirational in theory.

But reality is not ideal or perfect and neither are you and I.

Life gets in the way sometimes. You may get in your own way. And sometimes you simply don’t have the energy or the courage or the time to do something.

And that’s OK.

Instead of trying to live up to some perfect image that other people and/or you may press upon you, choose to set human standards for yourself.

Choose to give yourself a break when things don’t go as you may have wished and choose to cut yourself some slack.

 

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About the Author

Henrik Edberg is the creator of the Positivity Blog and has written weekly articles here since 2006. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Gothenburg and has been featured on Lifehacker, HuffPost and Paulo Coelho’s blog. Click here to learn more…

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Thanks a million. You are a “great carpenter” hiting the nail on its right head.

  • NANCY

    THANKS FOR ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT WE NEED AND GIVE

  • Love this! It is so important to be kind to yourself. Give yourself a break and a pat on the back! You deserve it.

  • Preeti

    Ladies and gentlemen, friends and fellow dreamers, I stand before you today to ignite the fire within your souls, to awaken the dormant potential that lies within each and every one of you.

    Life is not meant to be a mere existence; it is a precious gift, an opportunity to create, to achieve, to inspire and to leave a lasting impact. You are not here by coincidence, but by a deliberate design of the universe.

    In this journey called life, you will face countless obstacles, doubts, and fears. But I am here to remind you that these obstacles are not roadblocks, but stepping stones towards your ultimate greatness.

    Remember, success is not determined by the absence of challenges, but in how you choose to face them. It is in those difficult moments that you must dig deep, find courage, and persevere. Never forget that diamonds are created under immense pressure.

    Failure is not an option, my friends. It is an inevitable part of the path to success. Every great achiever, every influential leader, every revolutionary mind, has tasted failure, but they refused to let it define them. Instead, they used it as fuel to propel them forward, to learn, to grow, and to become unstoppable forces.

    You have an innate power inside you, waiting to be unleashed. The power of belief. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Believe that you are capable of greatness beyond measure. Believe that your dreams are not merely wishes, but a roadmap to your destiny.

    Do not allow others to diminish your worth or your dreams. Surround yourself with those who lift you higher, who inspire you to reach for the stars. Positive energy attracts positive outcomes. Surround yourself with dreamers, doers, and believers, for they will be the wind beneath your wings.

    Remember, the way to the top is not a solitary climb, but a collective effort. Lift others as you rise, for success is sweeter when shared. Be a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration, and a force for good in a world that needs it more than ever.

    So, my friends, as you leave here today, embrace the challenges that come your way. Face them head-on with unwavering determination, knowing that every step forward brings you closer to your dreams.

    Believe in yourself and know that greatness is within your grasp. Let your light shine so brightly that others cannot help but be inspired. The world is waiting for you, waiting for your contribution, waiting for your unique voice to be heard.

    You have the power to make a difference. This is your time. This is your moment. Embrace it, live it, and let nothing and no one stand in your way.

    Go forth, my friends, and show the world what you’re made of. The best is yet to come!