“There is no path to happiness: Happiness is the path.” ~Buddha

Happiness is a choice. You have probably heard that statement many, many times over. But how do you “choose” happiness? How is this easier for some and more difficult for others?

Those who experience the most happiness in life are the ones that don’t chase it, don’t rely on others to provide it and they never settle for anything less than the best.

There are three traits that the happiest of individuals tend to possess.

1. They Focus on the Positive

“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!” ~Anne Frank

There is nothing more destructive to ones happiness than negative thinking. Why is it that we tend to be more aware of the way we speak to others than we are of how we speak to ourselves?

There is a saying that goes “every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.” Take the time to focus on what it is you’re grateful for each and every day as this will create an immediate shift in your mindset.

By starting your day off with thoughts of gratitude, you are setting the tone for your day. There are many external factors that can impact your day, disrupt your plans or cause stress.

Rather than allowing things outside of your control impact your day, choose to focus on what you are grateful for first thing and you will be amazed at how it makes the uncontrollables seem like less of a big deal.

Try having a conversation with someone who has recently experienced the loss of a spouse, child, parent or someone else close to them. They will tell you that they are grateful to be able to wake up that morning. They are grateful for the air they are able to breath.

Even on what you perceive to be the worst of days I challenge you to find at least one small win. It could be that amazing cup of coffee you had or a simple conversation with someone that made you smile.

Even if it is the smallest thing, you can find something to be appreciative of and positive about in each day.

2. Surround Yourself with the Best of the Best

“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” ~unknown

We’re not talking material things here either. We are talking about people. I believe everyone can think of someone in their own lives who is inherently negative or who brings more anguish than happiness to your life.

While it is not always an easy decision, it is imperative to reduce or eliminate the time you spend with toxic people. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are deeming them as “bad people” — they’re just not for you.

If the people you’re giving your time to are more negative than positive, it’s time to reassess who you have in your life!

Focus on surrounding yourself with people who truly care about you and want to see you succeed in life. You are defined by the people you spend the most time with so take a moment to look around you, as that could be impacting your overall happiness as well.

It’s been said that “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” What many don’t realize is that by upgrading who you hang around, you are inadvertently forced to grow as a person and will find new levels of happiness.

I have experienced this first-hand through mastermind groups such as Joe Polish’s Genius Network. By surrounding myself with the best of the best in other entrepreneurs, not only have I grown my business but I’ve grown as a person… as a mom, as a spouse and as a friend.

When you place yourself in the company of others who challenge you to be the best version of yourself, you develop new capabilities that you never thought possible.

3. Find Healthy Ways to Manage Stress

“It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” ~Lou Holtz

Stress is a top killer of happiness and is detrimental to our overall health, so it is very important to find outlets to manage it.

Exercise is a great way to release endorphins and give yourself a natural energy boost. This could be in the form of running, yoga or even finding a sport you enjoy that you could participate in.

Meditation is another great way to manage stress as you focus on clearing your mind and managing your breathing.

According to a 2013 study, a process called “mindful meditation”, done consistently over an 8 week time period, was shown to decrease the inflammation in the body caused by stress.

People often don’t realize the effects that distress (negative stress) has on the body and mind. Bad stress that is left ignored, unchecked or mis-managed can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and even some cancers.

This is why it is imperative to find a healthy outlet to allow you to focus on what brings you the most joy in life!

If you are ready to start your New Year off right with a focus on gratitude and fulfillment, click HERE to order your free copy of the only journal you will need for 2019!

Sources:

Featured photo from E! Online

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159112004758

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987