being-a-happy-personYou would think that being happy would be the most important thing in our life, yet we all continue to prioritize other things over it. It could be your job, your spouse or social conventions, but we all tend to forgo our happiness over something else which, in retrospect, seems trivial.

So how can you become a happier person? It’s up to you to decide that you want to be happy. Be mindful of what makes you happy and try to focus on those things. Ignore negative feelings like anger, hate and envy. In order to be truly happy, you need to purge yourself of negativity and focus on positivity.

 

Here are five steps to becoming a happier person

Step 1: Choose to be happy

The fact is that if you want to be happy you need to choose to be happy. Happiness is not something that falls out of the sky or comes automatically. You need to work to get it. It only comes to those who want it. You need to seek it to achieve it. You have to make a conscious decision that you are going to be happy.

How can you do this? Have a mental mindset that is conducive to happiness. Make sure all your mannerisms and behaviors reflect this attitude. If you choose to be happy, nothing can really stop you.

Step 2: Appreciate what you have

It is not uncommon to feel like you have no purpose in life and that something is missing. We as a species are an ungrateful bunch. When was the last time you actually appreciated what you have? You need to start now. Look at the world around you, isn’t it marvelous? Just take a second and let it sink in. Let yourself understand how things around you work, the beauty of it all. Appreciate the little things, things that you hadn’t noticed before. Appreciate your relationships and all that you have. This will inevitably lead to you being more content with life and thus a happier person.

Step 3: Care for others

Want to feel happier? Make others happier!

It is a proven fact that when you care about others, you feel better about yourself and thus, more satisfied. So helping out at the shelter or buying a homeless man some coffee is not just helping them, but it is helping you too. Caring and giving are the keys to a happier society, and you need to do your part. Remember, doing good leads to feeling good, so do all the good you can.

Step 4: Learn to forgive

When you hold something against someone, it affects your mental health. This has been associated with almost all types of bad like stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, etc. You need to realize that keeping all that pent-up rage and hurt inside of you isn’t benefiting anyone. Get rid of these negative emotions and move on.

This may sound impossible at first, but it can be done. You just have to focus on understanding the opposite point of view. Think of the time when you committed a mistake and were forgiven. How did that make you feel?

Step 5: Focus on relationships

Man is a social animal and requires people around him to feel at home. While often understated, relationships are one of the essential things for achieving happiness. If you want to be happy, you need to focus on building strong and healthy relationships with all types of people you come across. Try being friendlier to people you meet. Take an interest in their lives. Strengthen your existing relationships with your family and friends. The better your relationships are, the more you’ll feel like you belong. You’ll feel like you matter and your self-worth will increase. Focus on your relationships and you could be on your way to happiness.