Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every day, as soon as we wake, we have the opportunity to create something magical. No matter what transpires with outward forces, the only thing that really matters is your attitude toward your own world. You have the power to create or extinguish your own happiness.
It starts with a positive thought that steadily grows to a natural disposition. It will further flourish and breed happiness in others because positivity is highly contagious. Simply choose to be happy, starting today. Here are 13 ways to accomplish this:
1. Set An Intention When You Wake
When your eyes open to the light of a new day, take a moment to set an intention. What do you want from the day? What do you want to feel?
Better yet, offer your intention to someone else who needs it. There’s no need to stop dreaming just because you woke up.
2. Let Go Of The Petty Things
Today, let menial matters bounce off of you like water does oil. Traffic? Revel in the view. Someone cut you off? Understand that you don’t know what is happening in the other person’s life.
Late? Make the most of the time that's left. Lost something? Appreciate what you have. If you worry about trifling matters, then you’re only losing time during which great things can happen.
3. Smile At Everyone You Meet
Share your happiness with others and pass your smile around. You never know how your smile might affect someone else’s day or how much another person might need it. In the end, if you’ve spent your day smiling, what could possibly be wrong with that?
4. Appreciate The Little Things
Enjoy the toasted smell of your coffee in the morning. Relish in your morning shower. Take pleasure in choosing your outfit and applying your makeup. Interact in friendly conversation. Appreciate the moments that pass by and all of the moments before it.
Revel in the simple fact that you’re alive and the whole world is at your fingertips, if you choose to reach for it.
5. Treat Yourself
Gift yourself with something. It can be anything from a piece of candy to taking the lunch break you generally skip. It can be anything as small as letting yourself eat breakfast at the table instead of the car or buying yourself the shoes you’ve been stalking online.
Simply offer yourself something you normally don’t for the sheer indulgence of it.
6. Surround Yourself With Happy People
As I mentioned, happiness is contagious. If you surround yourself with happy people, you won’t have a choice but to join in with the positive vibes. Enjoy the moments together and share in the joy that is life.
7. Say Thank You
Appreciate those around you. Thank your mom for always asking if you’re eating. Even if it always annoys you, you know it’s simply because she cares. Thank your friends for always being willing to take on any adventure. Thank the toll operator. Thank your boss. Thank the security guard.
Gratitude will only strengthen your heart and possibly make someone else’s day.
8. Self-Appreciation
Don’t merely appreciate others, but also express gratitude toward yourself. Recognize your recent accomplishments and believe in the fact that you have many more to come. Stand tall with confidence, knowing that you are the best version of yourself.
9. Check Something Off Of Your List
Checking things off of a list has proven to increase endorphins. So, get something done today that you’ve been putting off for too long. Surely, starting the venture will require a little push, but the relief that you’ll feel once it’s off of your list will be worth the glass of wine you drink to celebrate.
10. Compliment Someone
We know that everyone appreciates compliments. Share your good nature with a coworker, friend or stranger. Offer some saccharine words and smile at the thought of gifting someone else with one.
11. Try Something New
It’s been suggested that you should do something that scares you every day — or at least try something new. Try a new routine or new radio station. Take a new route to work or try that crazy thing on the menu you swore you’d never order. Eventually, attack your bucket list with full force.
12. Make Time For Exercise
Exercise is the best way to relieve stress, release endorphins and improve your appearance. Exercise should be part of your daily routine, as the positives are never-ending.
Try a hot yoga class and allow yourself to be amazed by the positive energy you feel afterward, as well as the physical and mental changes you will feel in time.
13. List The Things For Which You’re Grateful Before Bed
Now that you’ve had this happy and wonderful day, don’t let it go to waste. Before your REM cycle whisks you off into the imaginary, make a mental list of the things that made you happy today. It doesn’t matter how big or small, the mere existence of these things is what really matters.
Doing just a handful of the above could push your attitude toward genuine bliss. The happier of a person you are, the harder it will be for negativity to shake you. The happier you are, the stronger you shall become. When you are happy, you will inspire others to be happy, as well.
Who doesn’t want to live in a happy world?
It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living. — F. Scott Fitzgerald
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