1.You are not grateful. When you wake up, you should tell yourself 3 things you are grateful for and any time you feel unhappy remind yourself of these things.
2.You constantly think about things that make you unhappy. You can’t keep negative thoughts and expect to have a positive life. Next time you start thinking unhappy thoughts, remember something that makes you smile and hold that thought.
3. You are not able to accept what is because you want things to be as you want them to be. Expectation can be a happiness killer because it is inflexible. Sometimes good things happen but people are still unhappy because it wasn’t exactly what they wanted. Lower your expectations and take the good that comes your way.
4. You don’t take the time to be happy; you’re constantly checking your phone or other things for “the next best thing”. Enjoying each moment is like eating ice cream. Savor each spoonful and when it’s gone, you can think about it with vivid detail.
5. You expect perfection or too much from yourself. Nothing and nobody are perfect. So you didn’t get all 45 loads of laundry done before the family dinner...nobody else could either. Give yourself a break and a pat on the back for all the things you do accomplish.
6. You keep toxic people in your life. It doesn’t matter if it is a friend, relative, coworker or someone else. Toxic people suck the happiness and joy out of everything. Whether it’s a friend you’ve had for 20 years or your mother, it is your choice to let them go or keep them. There may be reasons you keep them, but it is still your choice. Try weeding people out one at a time until you feel more comfortable, and then weed out the next drama queen/king.
7. You allow drama in your life. Again, it is your choice whether or not you allow your best friend to walk into your house with her latest “bad boyfriend” tale. You can listen to your mother bring her negative “parenting tips” into your home every time she walks in. What you allow is what will continue. Set some boundaries and stick to them. If they care they will stop bringing negativity and drama into your life.
8. You compare yourself to others. You are not them; they are them. You don’t see everything going on in their life. How many times have you heard about a couple splitting up that you thought had the best relationship in the world? Don’t ever compare or covet, just enjoy yourself and your life.
9. You don’t do enough nice things for yourself, i.e. bath, nails, hair, etc. When was the last time you had a pedicure and thought “I need to do this more often.”? Well...do it more often. Schedule it just like you would an important meeting because it is.
10. You don’t get enough rest. Some people can live off less sleep, and that is great if it works for them. I am not one of those people and know that I need to get to bed by a certain time. I plan my schedule around this and try my best to stick to it, or I end up feeling horrible and just plain unhappy. If I can’t get a good night of sleep, I try to schedule a nap or take a little snooze while waiting for an appointment.
11. You don’t spend time with friends...the positive, happy, non-toxic friends. These are the people who lift you up, call you out and support you. They are your tribe. Even if you just see them for a half an hour or a night out, your mood will change. Sometimes it just takes a smile from a friend to make us happy.
12. You aren’t happy with your body or looks instead of accepting yourself as the beautiful person you are. Try finding one thing you like about yourself and compliment yourself on it each day until it is natural. Then find something else and keep going until your first reaction is to be nice to yourself rather than tearing yourself down. You don’t have to be egotistical about it, just appreciate yourself.
13. You are always putting others ahead of yourself and don’t know how to say no. Believe it or not, taking care of yourself first shows more love and respect for people you care about than running yourself ragged. If you are worn out, how can you possibly be there for anyone else? It also teaches your kids how to manage their life better and that it’s okay to hear someone say “No.”...notice I said N-O-PERIOD because that is a complete answer. You don’t owe anyone, other than maybe your spouse or boss, an explanation.
14. You are thinking about what others are thinking of you. First off, they don’t matter. You may like to hear what they think but in the end it is only your opinion that you should take to heart. Honestly, they are probably too busy thinking about what you think of them to think about you.
15. Your finances are out of control, and you don’t do anything about it. Whether you have no budget, are overspending or have nothing saved for a rainy day...you aren’t happy if you are worried. Make and stick to a budget or whatever your goal is because if you are doing something about it you will be much happier.
16. You don’t eat dessert first...sometimes you just should.
17. You aren’t getting enough time outside with your feet in the grass. When was the last time you went fishing or biking or anything outdoors? Being outside helps alleviate stress and being in nature sort of resets everything. It’s almost like when you were a kid laying in the grass and looking at the clouds.
18. You don’t have a hobby. So what if you think you can’t do something. Keep trying until you find something that makes you happy. Hobbies are all about you and your enjoyment so get out there and go for it!
19. You don’t do anything to better yourself, not because there is something wrong with you but because it’s nice to do something new. Do you remember the last time you lost 5 pounds or read a self-help book and finished the “10 Steps To Happiness” list? When did you last do something new or something you thought you couldn’t do? How much better do you feel when you are done? Try learning a few new things about gardening or poker or whatever, just do it.
20. You spend time gossiping or putting others down instead of complimenting them, this is a sign of a miserable person. Try saying nice things about others and see just how much better you feel. Not to mention, people will be much more courteous to you because you aren't an ass.
21. You don’t volunteer or help others. Helping others with nothing expected in return is one of the best ways to feel happy. Making a difference in someone’s life always has a positive effect. Maybe you struggled at one time and can help someone in the same situation. It’s almost like going back and erasing what happened to you because you kept it from happening to someone else.
22. You don’t get any physical activity. Even just a 10 minute brisk walk gets everything going in your body, including your attitude. When you are done you will feel different immediately. Anytime you are feeling unhappy try some sort of physical exercise and you will see a huge difference.
Co-Authored by -
Koastal Kymmy ~ Having a "real job" means I can't work in my jammies...so I blog ~
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