How to Live a Happy Life: 10 Things to Say Yes to Starting Today
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Marcus Aurelius
“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
Chinese Proverb
Saying no is often the easier way out. When you say no, you can safely stay within your comfort zone. You don’t have to fear failing or being rejected. The scary unknown and sometimes difficult change can be avoided. But if you say yes, your life can expand and deepen. The yes allows you to open up your life to more happiness.
Today, I would like to share 10 things that I have said yes to and that have helped me become happier in my life. Pick one of these that resonates the most with you and focus on making it a part of your life.
1. Being Imperfect
Trying to be perfect is setting the bar too high. It will be impossible to reach, lowering your self-esteem. Perfectionism is a mindset that eats at you and your happiness. Saying yes to being imperfect can turn that around.
How to do it:
Realize the costs of buying into myths of perfection. Go for good enough instead of aiming for perfection.
2. Being You
Not being able to be yourself, always trying to change for others or censoring yourself don’t feel good at all. It makes life feel small and limited.
How to do it:
Spend time with supportive people and influences that expand your life.
3. The Things that Make You Come Alive
Find time for the things that make you come alive.
How to do it:
Try something new and reconnect with what you used to love.
4. Optimism
Saying yes to a more optimistic way of thinking can open your life up.
How to do it:
Ask yourself optimistic questions and start your day off on the right foot.
5. Turning Negative Self-Talk Around
Turning the inner critic around or shutting it up as soon as it pops up is a very helpful skill.
How to do it:
Say stop and explain to yourself what this will lead to over the next year or more.
6. Saying No When You Feel It Is the Right Thing for You to Do
To have the time and energy to say yes to the most important things, you have to say no to some things too.
How to do it:
What do I truly want to focus my time and energy on and disarm before stating your need.
7. Forgiveness
Not clinging to the past and to the hurt but letting it go is essential for finding more happiness in your life.
How to do it:
Remind yourself that you forgive for your own benefit and make a habit of forgiving yourself.
8. Making Someone Else Happy
Making someone else happier has many benefits and spreads happiness in the world.
How to do it:
Help out practically and just listen.
9. Openness and Growth
Saying yes to being open to the good things in life and growing as a person plays a big role in happiness.
How to do it:
Change one thing at a time and start small.
10. Living Your Life Fully Despite Setbacks
When things have been standing still or you hit a bump in the road, say yes to living your life fully.
How to do it:
Keep going and remember, it’s not too late to change your life.
I didn’t really try to improve my life very much until I was 25. So if you want to make a change, start today. Work with what you have where you are right now. Start small and take the first step towards something new.
