How To Improve Your Mood And Be More Happy
Think of happiness as a muscle. You have to work on it (the happy muscle) in order for it to grow and become stronger. It’s important to exercise, pun intended, habits every day to encourage good feelings like empowerment, accomplishment, confidence and altogether happiness.
In this article I’ll list some actionable steps you can do each day to achieve feelings of happiness, help improve your mood and start feeling better then you ever knew you could.
Remember happiness is not something you look for, like it’s hiding someplace and remains elusive to even the most accomplished detective. It is already inside you, all you need is to nurture it, make stronger and flex that sucker every day.
Here are 12 ways you can instantly change your mood for better and feel happier then ever!
When you wake up choose to be happy
How we begin our day plays a significant role in how our day passes and ends. Soon as you wake up, with an alarm or otherwise, pause, do a big stretch from your shoulders to your toes, take a big breath in, smile to yourself and think of what a blessing it is to be safe, alive, and free. Choose to be happy. Tell yourself you are over and over, every day, all day long.
Do things that make you happy
If there are things you like doing, hobbies you enjoy, spending time with someone who always makes you feel good, do them every day as often as you can. Even just something small like making a perfect cup of coffee and enjoying is slowly is one. Taking a hot shower and singing at th top of your lungs or walking in the park in the afternoon.
We spend an enormous amount of our time helping others, giving our energy outward. It’s extremely important we do what lights our heart up and gives us enjoyment to fill our cup back up so we have energy to do what WE want to do.
If what makes you happy is creating art or something similar, when we spend time creating, it’s a gentle reminder our unique talents and individuality, the special part of human character. Nurture that. It’s what gives us purpose too. Play truly inspires and elicits joy.
Make a list of things you want to accomplish
Making a list of to-dos or tasks you need to complete, no matter how small they may be, then crossing them off one by one instantly makes us feel a sense of accomplishment. Maybe do it for the day or week or month. Sometimes nothing looks better then a list that’s done.
Get up and move, make activity a priority
Physical movement causes our body to release the good feeling hormones and chemicals in our body. We literally can’t escape it. Get up and do something, physically, go for a walk outside, start a new exercise program, follow a low-impact pilates or yoga video at home.
Exercise is almost more important for mental health then physical so this might be your time to look into the many avenues of fitness. We litterly change our brains chemistry by physical stress and exertion. This is also a great opportunity to build self confidence.
Laugh at yourself when you do something stupid or make a mistake
We are all human and part of life is messing up or falling on our face (quite literally). If you mess up or say something stupid or anything related, laugh it off, shrug it off and go on about your day. Not a single person in this world hasn’t done something stupid or messed up, no one is better then you, and you are not below anyone. You can take that to your grave.
Don’t dwell on mistakes
I am very hard on myself for making a mistake and constantly apologizing for it then continue to beat myself up, thinking how awful I am. It’s a terrible habit and one I’m currently trying to kick. That feeling of shame becomes applified the more we focus on it. Don’t. It’s not always necessary to apologize but when it is, make sure its sincere then move on. Period.
Start a gratitude journal
Write down every day what you are grateful for. When we constantly focus on the things we don’t have or shortcomings we forget what we have that are in fact things we can be grateful for. Just the ability to think, see, hear and walk are some basics. This act is also one strongly encouraged by therapists and counselors when we are depressed and science proves expressing gratitude’s ability to promote the good chemicals in our brain to release and increase.
Think positive thoughts
Get in the habit of focusing only on positive thoughts oppossed to negative ones. In one of his books, which I strongly suggest you read “Hardcore Self Help: F**k Depression”, author Robert Duff describes bad thoughts like weeds, the more you let them live inside your brain, the bigger they become and multiply. Grasp those nasty things and uproot them. Here is a phenomenol list of positive quotes, they truly shape our lives.
Look at pictures to remind yourself of good times and memories
Hang up pictures around your house, make one your phone’s wallpaper, carry photos in your wallet or purse, put them in your car or post them up at work. Candid photos of family and smiling friends, a promotion at work, a beautiful sunset, your new puppy, that time on a vacation, you and your best friend, or kissing the love of your life. Constantly remind yourself of good times and fond memories that brought you joy.
Smile every moment you think to
This is another action, like exercise, that causes (literally forces) our brain to release the good feeling chemicals. Smile to yourself, in the mirror every time you brush your teeth, when you see a happy dog, when you see the barista you visit every day, just smile at everything. Maybe not in inappropriate situations (obviously) but you get my drift. Added bonus, the face naturally firms up when we flex our smile muscles. So do it often. Make it a habit.
Consider meditation
Meditation was around when man crawled from the dirt. It is a very old practice and for very good reasons. Not only when we meditate do we quiet the mind but we open pathways for better thoughts and feelings like joy and peace. Remember day dreaming as a kid? Staring off into space with a kind of a blank mind. It’s sort of like that. I only began this practice a year ago and I can’t even begin to describe the change it inspired in me. Try it. Even if you can only stand to do 2 or 3 minutes to start. Alot a chunk in your morning to begin the habit. I started with 10 minutes and have worked my way to almost an hour. It really is life-altering.
Know that other people’s happiness is not your job and their problems are not yours
Most everything we experience and what happens to us is out of our control including other people’s feelings and actions so it helps to look at and recieve everything with a light heart as often as possible. Until you are ready to take on or oppose someone’s views or actions, when it’s appropriate or necessary for whatever reason, step away from the negativity so the situation doesn’t over-shadow or hinder what good mood you may have. Focus on you right now and keep in mind how we handle or react to life’s upsets and suprises is the only thing we have control over and unless the situation needs fixed, walk away.
Final thoughts,
If we live with happiness in our soul, regardless of circumstances, it encourages us to look on the bright side and not get down. Find and practice saying affirmations that stir up the courage and confidence to tackle things with a good, happy heart. Read or listen to books or podcasts about happiness. The more you try, no matter the doubts you have or the terrible life circumstances you may experience, a constant state of happiness is possible through building stronger belief that you have it already and no one or no thing can take it away from you.
Read this article “How To Love Yourself Fiercely: 9 Best Ways To Love Yourself Again” by Afam Uche. She has many more great articles on turning focus inward to help improve yourself.