It is not uncommon to dream of having another person's looks or movements, or even an easy job or a friend's amazing boyfriend. Whoever you are, you can learn to be happy and have a rewarding life. Take all the time you need to reflect and appreciate your skills and peculiarities. In the meantime, try to build a healthy relationship with your body in order to boost your self-esteem. Focus on the positive aspects of your job, your passions and your lifestyle. Consolidate your relationships to feel more satisfied and confident about yourself.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Loving yourself
Step 1. Identify what makes you unique and wonderful
If you first learn to recognize what you like best about yourself, you will feel more comfortable in your own skin. Start by making a list of the most beautiful and interesting aspects, whether it's your free spirit, your work ethic or even your beautiful hair.
- Find at least ten things you like about yourself. Think about your skills, your achievements or your characteristics.
- Appreciate everything that makes you unique. Maybe you speak four languages, can walk on your hands or are able to make friends with anyone. Not everyone is capable, but you are!
- Rephrase negative thoughts in more positive terms. For example, instead of thinking, "I'm not pretty enough," try saying, "I'm beautiful today!"
Step 2. Be grateful every day
By expressing your gratitude, you will learn to recognize the extraordinary people, things, and opportunities that present themselves to you in life. Get into the habit of thanking those you love every day. Value your opportunities, your strengths, your skills and your successes.
- Keep a gratitude journal in which to write down anything you feel grateful for. It can be about family, friends, home, hobbies, opportunities, and your health. Update it by adding a thank you a day. When you feel sad or nervous, try reading it to cheer yourself up.
- Whether it's the excellent coffee prepared by the barista or your father's willingness, never forget to thank.
Step 3. Laugh
Always leave some room for laughter in your daily life. Even if you're having a hard time, never forget to find a way to have a laugh. You will feel better both immediately and in the long term.
- Be silly. Tell a joke that only you understand, make a silly joke or dance like a crazy man. Why not?
- Laugh at your mistakes. You will be able to play down situations and understand that they are not so tragic.
- Watch a comedy movie or catch a cabaret show. It will make you laugh and could cheer you up.
- Surround yourself with people who love happiness. Laughter is contagious.
Step 4. Accept your flaws
Self-confidence is the key to happiness, but everyone has their own weaknesses. Instead of obsessively thinking about your flaws, accept them. If you want, ask yourself what you can do to improve them.
- List the aspects you would like to correct. Set concrete goals to change for the better. If you're forgetful, get yourself an agenda or download a calendar app. Set the alarm when you have plans and appointments.
- Learn to live with some flaws. It's not a problem if you can never lose your clumsiness. If you stumble, try to laugh at yourself or ignore what happened.
- Be indulgent with yourself. Let's face it: we've all done something we're not proud of. Whatever it is, you should admit that you were wrong and understand why you behaved a certain way, then put this story behind you.
Method 2 of 4: Have a Healthy Body Image
Step 1. Find out what you like about your body
If you are comfortable in your own skin, you are happy with yourself. Observe yourself and value your physical characteristics.
- You may not like your face, but try to find the parts that stand out the most, like your eyes or lips. Remember how beautiful they are every time you look in the mirror.
- Think about the things your body is capable of. Try to like it because it allows you to sing, dance, imagine or jump.
Step 2. Train
Exercise can increase self-confidence and promote a good mood even if it is not aimed at weight loss or muscle strengthening. Simply exercising 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes can boost your energy and self-esteem. Find a sport that suits your needs and play it regularly.
- Activities that involve full awareness, such as yoga and tai chi, can instill calm and help you meditate on the body.
- Team sports, such as soccer and volleyball, are great fun. To the movement they add the social component, which increases the sense of gratification.
- Running, biking, swimming or even a simple walk can help clear your mind and keep you healthy.
Step 3. Eat right to improve your mood
Healthy nutrition can help the mind and body. By finding the right balance between fruits and vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates, you can feel healthier and more in tune with your body.
- Foods rich in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids lift your spirits and make you feel happier. They include bread and brown rice, fish, green leafy vegetables, and nuts.
- Cook at home instead of buying prepackaged foods. This way you can make healthier choices and feel more satisfied with what you eat.
- It's okay if you indulge in a burger or ice cream from time to time, but you may feel more tired and sluggish if you consume too much of greasy or processed foods.
Step 4. Choose clothing that flatters you and puts you at ease
What you wear has a huge impact on how you look. If you wear clothes that are dirty, feel bad or don't fit your body size, they can affect your mood and self-esteem. Choose a clothing style that reflects your personality.
- Go for comfortable clothes. Avoid wearing clothes that are too large or small.
- Choose some element that you particularly like. Your favorite jeans, a nice handmade sweater or a trendy scarf can really make you feel good in your skin.
- Jewelery, belts, scarves and shoes complete the outfit. If you're missing that extra touch, try adding an accessory.
Method 3 of 4: Lead a Happy Life
Step 1. Focus on the positive aspects of your job
Of course, some tasks are frustrating or even boring, but think about the best things, whether it's interacting with customers, learning new things, or having the opportunity to travel periodically.
- If problems arise, reconsider your attitude in the workplace. Personalize your space with photographs or plants. Don't accept other projects if you are already very busy.
- Take the time to get to know and appreciate your colleagues. You may think you have nothing in common with them, but if you put some extra effort into being friendly, you'll be happy to wake up for work in the morning.
- Value what the job offers you. On the most difficult days, remember that it gives you the opportunity to put food on the table.
Step 2. Cultivate your passions
Interests outside of work give you a goal in daily life, thus helping you to become a more balanced and interesting person. If you don't currently have any hobbies, you might:
- Develop your artistic streak. Try writing a poem, composing lyrics for a song, or painting a picture. You don't have to be good at it, but trying can be a lot of fun.
- Learning a foreign language. It will make you feel more educated and may help you find a better job.
- Practicing a team sport. Not only will it allow you to train, but it will also give you the opportunity to make new friends.
- Take an evening course. Study something that interests you, such as computer science, home improvement, or ancient mythology.
Step 3. Adopt profitable habits
If you mark your daily life following a certain order, you can organize yourself so that the days go by quickly. If at certain times you feel stressed, in a hurry or you are bored, try shuffling the cards. Change your routine until you find the solution that fits your needs.
- Don't be in a hurry in the morning. Find the time you need to have a healthy breakfast, read the paper, and get to the office a few minutes earlier. Pack your clothes the night before or plan what you need to eat for lunch earlier in the week.
- Even if you are very busy, take some time for yourself. Read a good book during your lunch break, watch your favorite show before bed, or wake up earlier to meditate.
- Fill up with energy. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to get your body used to it. You will feel more rested in the morning.
Step 4. Try new experiences
Experiences, not material things, are the key to happiness. By experiencing new adventures you can step out of your comfort zone and build many unique and inspiring memories.
- Visit the surroundings of your city and go in search of places surrounded by nature. Go hiking, rafting or try rock climbing.
- Spend a weekend in a nearby town, in the mountains or by the sea. Set aside a week each year to take a longer trip that allows you to see your family again or visit a new place, like Paris or the Norwegian fjords.
- Attend concerts, museum openings or new film screenings. This way you can mentally open yourself up to new experiences in the city.
Step 5. Make the space you live in clean and comfortable
The sense of protection, well-being and tranquility in one's living space can be crucial to a happy life. Decorate your home in a way that gives you joy and vitality.
- Set in order. Put everything in its place and don't add too much furniture in one room. An open and bright home allows you to have a space in which to feel happy.
- By filling your home with photos of the people you love, souvenirs from your favorite holidays or paintings of the places you love, you will always have something that reminds you to be happy.
- Raise the spirit by painting the walls with light and bright colors, such as light blue, lavender or yellow.
Step 6. Change your routine or lifestyle if it doesn't suit you
If you are not happy with some aspects of your life, you have the option to change them. Turn the page and create something new.
- If you hate your job so much that you feel stressed and anxious, now is the time to find another one.
- You've probably been enthusiastically preparing for marathons for the past 10 years, but suddenly you're tired of having to go through a tough workout. Find your motivation by devising a new way to train or pass the time.
- If you feel trapped, bored, or isolated from the rest of the world, consider moving or traveling to a new place.
Method 4 of 4: Consolidate Your Social Relationships
Step 1. Find positive and encouraging friends
In the long run, a network of intimate and fraternal friendships allows you to be happy with yourself. Having the right friends can improve your self-esteem, make you feel indispensable, and build self-confidence.
- Value your old friendships. Grow them with frequent dating, emails, phone calls or video calls.
- If you've met someone you hooked up with right away, don't be afraid to invite them over for a coffee to get to know them better.
- Get rid of toxic friendships. If you have a friend who makes you feel guilty or is able to put you in a bad mood every time you meet, maybe it's time to get rid of them.
Step 2. Appreciate your family
Generally speaking, no one knows us better or has been closer to us than a sibling or parent. Whether you are away from college, overseas, or still living with your parents, you need to appreciate your family in order to be happy with yourself.
- If you have a good relationship with your parents, take the time to talk to them and say how much you love them. Don't forget to thank them!
- Respect your brothers. Even if you sometimes get the impression that you live on different planets, there is an unbreakable bond that unites you because you grew up together under the same roof.
- If relationships with your family members aren't idyllic, consider the people who have become your family in life. individual and do not hesitate to communicate all your affection.
Step 3. Make your contribution to the community
The sense of community that can arise within a neighborhood, a city, a religious association, a school or another group generates a feeling of common belonging to something greater that allows you to establish lasting relationships and find interesting activities.
- Introduce yourself to the neighbors. By attending them, not only will you feel more involved in the life of the community you live in, but you may also build a strong bond of friendship.
- Attend citizen meetings, join a reading group, attend concerts by local musicians, volunteer on park cleaning days, or attend any other cultural or political event you are passionate about.
- Volunteering can be very rewarding and allows you to get to know the members of your community. Look for associations that bring forward the causes you believe in. You could raise money for the homeless or help the poorest families.
Step 4. Nurture your romantic bonds
Love can be very fulfilling, but make sure your relationships are built on love, trust, and communication. If they are based on toxic relationship dynamics they can cause stress and unhappiness.
- If you have a great person by your side, build a relationship based on mutual communication. Make sure you are both satisfied and happy with your relationship.
- If you are single and date a lot of people, have fun. While it can be disheartening to switch between partners, don't get discouraged. You can find the right person by keeping a positive attitude.
- If you are single and not looking for anyone, that's okay! If you find yourself at a point in life where you don't want to hang out with anyone, be happy with the way you are and the decisions you make.
Step 5. Learn to forgive
If you hold a grudge or are stuck in the past, you will never be able to fully enjoy your relationships. The only way to get on with life is to learn to forgive the people you love for the mistakes they have made.
- If someone has hurt you deeply, try to look at the situation from their point of view. Maybe he hurt you in good faith or didn't have a clear idea.
- Learn to accept an apology. If a friend, mother, or partner is genuinely sorry about something, learn to accept their apology. Try to move on in the best way possible.
- If it's your fault, don't hesitate to apologize.
Advice
- At least once a day do something you enjoy, whether it's listening to your favorite song or dancing in your underwear in the bedroom.
- Try to help others. To improve our self-esteem and understand how lucky we are, there is nothing better than lending a hand to someone.
- Don't compare yourself to other people. You risk only to be disheartened. Instead of thinking about what others have, focus on what makes you unique.
