The Pursuit Of Happiness: Simple Strategies To Make You Smile

They say positivity breeds positivity, but it’s not always easy to start the day with an optimistic outlook. If things haven’t been going your way of late, you may be wondering what you can do to find happiness. The pursuit of happiness is something we all seem to be caught up in. We watch blockbuster movies, read books, and imagine ourselves living the dream. There’s some artistic license when it comes to Hollywood productions, and they offer us a rose-tinted view, but everyone deserves to find their own version of happiness. If you’ve been struggling to find reasons to smile recently, here are some strategies that may prove helpful.

Choose your social circle carefully

People can make us feel incredible, but they can also have a very detrimental impact on our confidence and wellbeing. It’s often said that friends are the family you choose, so be selective when it comes to choosing who to include in your social circle. Spend as much time as you can with friends who make you laugh and those who always have your back. Keep in touch with the people who make an effort to see how you are and check-in when you haven’t seen each other for a while. Be loyal to those who are always in your corner, and will drop anything when you need them. Be open with the people who offer you a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear.

Don’t surround yourself with people who bring you down or make you question your own worth or value. Avoid so-called friends who put you down to make themselves feel better and the people who spend all their time burdening you with their issues without returning the favor. If you feel uneasy in somebody’s company, don’t devote precious time to them. You should feel completely relaxed in the company of your friends. True friends can be apart for months, and then feel like nothing has ever changed when they see each other. Be with people who make you smile, and cheer you up when you’re feeling low. There’s nothing more important than having a network of friends, which you can always turn to whether you just want a chat over a coffee, you need advice, or you’re in desperate need of a hug and some reassuring words.

Be open to making new friends, as well as keeping your best friends close. Life changes, people move, and it’s always good to have friends nearby. If you’ve moved away, for example, it’s beneficial to have a couple of people you enjoy spending time with close by. Socializing can really lift your spirits, so don’t close yourself off just because you’ve already got a group of friends.

Find a job you love

What does your job mean to you? For many of us, working is a way of earning money, but there’s also an element of enjoyment and fulfillment involved. If you go to work purely to pay the bills, and you get no satisfaction from your job, consider a change of career. In our lifetimes, we spend more time at work than we do anywhere else, so don’t settle for something that provides you with nothing but a salary. If you don’t love your job, don’t resign yourself to 40 hours a week of clock-watching and plodding on. Try and find something that makes you feel motivated, inspired, and happy.

If somebody asked you what your dream job would be, what would you say? What are your strengths? How would you love to spend your days in a dream world? Use the answers to these questions to try and find a role that would suit you. Are you good with children or are you eager to find a job that enables you to help others? Are you creative or are you keen to try and put your business acumen into use? Have you always wanted to be a teacher, a vet, or a nurse, but never got around to it? If you are thinking of changing career, do some research and find out what kind of training you need. Register with recruitment agencies, have a look at sites that specialize in the industries in which you’re interested and look for adverts in relevant magazines. There are plenty of social work vacancies in Staffnurse, for example. If you don’t have the relevant qualifications, consider going out there and getting them. It may not be quite the path you planned when you started working, but if you want a job enough, it’s worth putting in the effort. You may have to spend a couple of years training or studying, but it will set you up for many years of doing something that gives you satisfaction.

Embrace exercise

Does the word exercise fill you with dread? Can you think of nothing worse than sweating it out in the gym after a busy day at work? If so, you’re not alone. Many people find working out an incredibly unappealing prospect. If you have this impression, don’t write exercise off for good. If you can learn to embrace being active, it could make a massive difference to your mental wellbeing, as well as your physical health. Often, overcoming the first hurdle is the biggest step. You may think that you hate exercise, but actually, when you give it a go, you may be surprised. When you move, a reaction is triggered in your body, and this makes you feel better. Your levels of serotonin increase and your body releases happy hormones, known as endorphins. You don’t have to lift weights or run miles on a treadmill. You can go for a jog at the beach, play tennis with a friend or even take the dog for an extra long brisk walk. As long as you’re on the move, and your heart rate increases, you’ll reap positive rewards.

Indulge your creative side

Many people have jobs, which don’t enable them to indulge their creative side. If you spend hours every day analyzing data or typing up notes, it’s always useful to have an outlet for your creative thoughts and ideas, and your feelings. Being creative can help you to express yourself, and it can also help you to relax. You may find that sitting down and writing a poem or a song or painting a picture enables you to control and manage your emotions, or you may just find it really enjoyable.

Keep learning

As humans, we can learn continually. There’s no final destination when it comes to learning and development. Just because you’re an adult, doesn’t mean that you can’t take classes or teach yourself new things. Learning can help you broaden your horizons, enjoy unique experiences and expand your knowledge base. If you’ve got spare time, why not use it constructively? Learn a new language, take a cooking or baking class or work on your photography skills.

Volunteer

Volunteering is such a special and valuable thing to do. Even if you only sacrifice an hour a week, this could make all the difference to a person or a group of people or even some furry friends that are less fortunate than yourself. When you help others, it automatically makes you feel better, and it can also provide you perspective. We tend to get caught up in our own lives, and sometimes, we don’t realize that there are many others out there who are going through much tougher times.

Happiness is the ultimate goal for most of us. It comes in all different shapes and sizes, but all of us are desperate to find it. If you’ve been finding it tough to put a smile on your face of late, hopefully, this guide will help. Surround yourself with positive, loving people, find a job you love and don’t be afraid to try new things. Help others, be creative, and try and get into exercise. These may seem like simple steps, but they can make such a positive difference.