Consistent happiness must come from within.
It may take practice to learn how to be happy with yourself, but once you are, you'll be more productive and attract more friends and luck into your life.
Depending on outside sources for happiness only leaves you frustrated. Circumstances change, and people weave in and out of our lives. Do some personal inventory and stop indulging in bad habits, like comparing yourself to others and being a perfectionist. You shouldn't compete with anyone other than past versions of yourself. And as long as you do your best, there's no reason to berate yourself for not being perfect. Most people are much harder on themselves than on other people. We'll give other people the benefit of the doubt, but we won't do that for ourselves.
1. Accept Yourself As Is
Accepting yourself is one of the best ways to eliminate anxiety and guilt. Recognize that you are a complicated individual with talents and faults just like everyone else. There's no need to feel bad because you're not perfect. Realize that you are a work in progress, and you will evolve and learn as you go through life. You're not stuck where you are now. Self-acceptance is the toughest concept to grasp for many people, since they are so used to comparing themselves to others or focusing only on their faults.
Self-acceptance differs from individual to individual, and people who received negative messages from their parents or teachers during childhood find it harder to accept themselves and avoid self-criticism. Being comfortable with yourself is the key to being happy, and the best way to do that is focus on the present and what you can do now. If you are interested in how to be happy with yourself, don't think about problems or injustices from the past. Focus on who you are now and who you want to be. Don't engage in self-criticism. How to be happy with yourself means accepting your faults and realizing you can improve – and taking advantage of your strengths to lead a better life.
2. Reward Yourself for Making Progress at Work
Don't work till the point of exhaustion, no matter how urgent the deadline. Take regular breaks to stretch your legs or grab a cup of tea. When you take time out for yourself, even a few minutes, you reduce stress and energize yourself, making it easier to work to the best of your ability when you return.
Concentrate on work issues you have control over, like finishing your report, contributing to group meetings, or prospecting for new clients. Avoid obsessing about policy changes, office rumors or anything not directly affecting your job. This enables you to focus on what is most important to you.
3. Exercise Daily
Research conducted by the University of Minnesota and Chicago State University from 1978 to 2005 showed that aerobic exercise makes you happier and more fit. Do a few jumping jacks, run in place or take a walk to erase moderate depression, stress or boredom. Even a few minutes of exercise activates the hormones endorphin, serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin regulates sleep, appetite and contributes to happiness. Dopamine, released by the pituitary gland, is the pleasure hormone; it makes you feel good. Endorphins block feelings of pain and give you a feeling of exhilaration. No wonder so many people are “addicted” to exercise! There's no need to overdo it though. The American Heart Association suggests “40 minutes of aerobic exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity three to four times a week”1 to stay fit and reduce the chance of heart attack or stroke.
4. Stay Away from Toxic People
Even if you learn to change your own behavior and thought patterns, you still need to deal with people in your life who haven't changed for the better.
Stop dealing with angry, demanding or toxic people, or minimize your interaction with them. If the toxic person is a boss, co-worker, neighbor – or even a relative- and you must deal with them on a regular basis, don't be intimidated. Let toxic people know you won't put up with their illogical or demanding behavior. Hang up the phone or stop returning emails or texts if they bully you or are abusive or threatening. If you are afraid of a toxic person, or act submissive or weak around them, the bullying will get worse.
If a friend or co-worker is occasionally grumpy or demanding, shrug it off. Don't take anything personally-they're probably just having a bad day. An acquaintance's unkind remarks or short fuse have more to do with their inner world than your behavior.
5. How to Be Happy - Get a Tan! Go Outside!
Sunshine is the best source of Vitamin D, the “happiness” vitamin. Walk around the block or sit out in the yard to catch some rays and fresh air. Vitamin D is absorbed into the skin from sunshine. You have to be outdoors in direct sunlight to feel the effects; sunlight streaming through a window won't do it. Stay outdoors in the sun for about 20 minutes a day to get a sufficient amount of Vitamin D.
6. Eat Good Food
Skipping meals or grabbing food on the go puts a crimp in your health. When you're busy, or attending luncheons or conferences for work, you may feel you have no other choice but to go without food or eat whatever is available, even if it's not healthy. Be aware that eating right helps you feel better and think better, so carry apples, whole grain crackers or other healthy snacks with you on busy days when you won't get a chance for a sit-down meal. If you go more than five hours without eating at least a snack, you blood sugar dips, causing physical weakness and interfering with your ability to concentrate. When you fuel your body by eating right, you'll experience how to be happy with yourself sooner than on a diet of processed, unhealthy food.
Eating healthy foods every day – fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish and whole grains – keep you fit and improves your memory and focus. The USDA's Dietary Guidelines are updated every five years and provide an introduction to healthy meal planning. The latest USDA guidelines include tips on foods to avoid as well as foods to eat, how to balance calories, and how to develop healthy eating patterns.2 That may seem like a lot of work, but good nutrition contributes to good physical and mental health. Learn how to be happy with yourself by actively eating right and maintaining good health.
7. Stay in Touch with Friends and Family
Some studies have suggested close friendships are a source of happiness. Research conducted by Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in the UK indicated that middle-aged people with more than six friends were happier than peers with fewer friends. 3 Maintaining relationships with old friends and meeting new people is important for everyone regardless of age. Our old friends share common experiences with us and link us with the past and our history. New friends see us for who we are today, without judging us on past actions. We need both types of friends in our life to be happy. Some people thrive with a large group of superficial friends while others are happier with two or three close friends. The quality of your relationships is the key, not the quantity. How to be happy with yourself is closely connected to your relationships with-and attitude toward-other people.
8. Create Your Own Space at Work and at Home
Add personal flair to your desk at work with photos and mementos. You don't lose your individuality when you're at your job. Becoming invisible as a person at work (or anywhere else) is draining and hurts your self-esteem. Create a space just for yourself at home, even if you don't have a separate bedroom. Turn a table into a creative space for arts and crafts or other hobbies. By carving out a physical space for your creative work, you'll feel more fulfilled and energetic. College students who use their natural creative skills are happier, according to an article in Pacific Standard. 4 If you're a creative person, practicing your art has a lot to do with how to be happy with yourself
9. Forgive Yourself
There are no do-overs in life. If you're feeling depressed, guilty or angry over mistakes you've made in the past, you're wasting time. Instead of worrying about things you can't change, learn from your mistakes. How would you handle a similar situation today? Use your mistakes as a stepping stone to make better decisions in the future. Some of our mistakes come from recurring but flawed thought patterns. Identify those patterns and change them to healthier ones. Replacing flawed thought patterns is crucial if you're learning how to be happy with yourself. Your thoughts dictate your actions and your actions make up your life. Control your thoughts and you'll have better control over your life.
10. Choose Freedom over Wealth
Studies have found happiness depends on autonomy or the freedom to make choices, not on wealth. After an individual earns enough money to take care of their basic needs (and a few perks!), increasing amounts of wealth don't make people happier and may even cause anxiety. Dealing with hangers-on who want to use you for money or status, and being surrounded by enablers are just a few of the problems encountered by rich people. Studies seem to indicate that too much money, and, of course, not enough money, lead to unhappiness.
You may have read articles about people with high-powered jobs who gave it all up to travel the world with a backpack or live simply on a remote island. Maybe those are extreme examples, but they prove that the traditional notion of money and success doesn't always equal happiness. Life is about experiences, relationships and choosing your own path. How to be happy with yourself involves following your bliss, as author Joseph Campbell once stated. (Campbell's book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, is best known for inspiring George Lucas to write Star Wars.)
Keep a journal long-term goals, including what you want to accomplish personally and professionally each day. This keeps you focused and gives you a sense of purpose. Having something to strive for is necessary for self-worth and happiness. People who have no goals except eating, sleeping and making it through another workday tend to be listless and unhappy.
11. Take a Wheatgrass Supplement for Health and Happiness
Eating well and exercise aren't the only habits that contribute to better health and happiness. Being well-rested helps you function better, and most doctors recommend you get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. A good night's sleep rejuvenates us and protects against heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Taking vitamins and mineral supplements boost the antioxidants and nutrients we get from food, but not all supplements are created equal. Wheatgrass contains dozens of vitamins and minerals, 103 enzymes you can't find in other foods, essential amino acids and other nutrients to protect against disease, give you more energy and balance your mood. You can drink wheatgrass juice or take a wheatgrass supplement tablet to get all the benefits of this superfood. Some wheatgrass supplement tablets add other herbs to the mix for extra health benefits.
12. Stay Healthy and Balanced with Zeal O2, Happy Girl and REVV
If you're looking for tips on how to be happy with yourself, your physical health has as much to do with it as your emotional frame of mind. Untreated stress prevents you from focusing and breeds unhappiness, but it also weakens your immune system. Good nutrition, exercise and getting enough sleep are the framework of good health. Most people need to take a supplement to fill in nutritional gaps. Happy Girl, Zeal O2 and REVV, wheatgrass supplements from Wheatgrass Love, offer more nutrients than most multivitamins or supplements on the market.
Happy Girl Mood Enhancer offers wheatgrass and all its nutrients, including Vitamins B6 and B12 to balance your mood and make you happier. The B-complex vitamins in wheatgrass, along with Happy Girl's blend of herbs, including cayenne pepper, green tea extract and damiana, help you to feel alert and focused. This natural wheatgrass supplement can be used successfully by people with mild to moderate, non-clinical depression. Buy Happy Girl.
Zeal O2 Weight Loss Supplement combines the nutritional and appetite-reducing power of wheatgrass with a proprietary blend of over a dozen herbs to help you lose weight and keep it off. Order Zeal O2.
REVV All Natural Energy Supplement contains a blend of wheatgrass, periwinkle herb, L-Taurine and caffeine in a tasty chocolate mint wafer. Renew your energy and stay happy and focused with REVV! Order REVV.
You can read about the nutritional advantages of wheatgrass supplements by downloading our free e-book. Enter your email in the form on this page to receive a copy.
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2. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/dietary_guidelines_for_americans/PolicyDoc.pdf
3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/friends-key-to-happiness-in-midlife_n_1823615.html
