We all want to be happy. Duh! But in today’s fast-paced, super competitive world, it can seem like happiness is but a fleeting dream. And yet, we know deep down that it’s possible.
After all, we’ve experienced those little glimmers of happiness that inspire us to keep going – even when things get tough.
Little do we know though – you can make happiness a habit and embrace the mindset of a happy person. Here are 12 habits of happy people (in no particular order of course) that you can start practicing to be happier.
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Habit #1 How they handle everyday problems
Truly happy people understand that life is a series of problems to be solved. The aim is to find the most efficient way to solve a problem and to improve areas of weakness with time.
You can learn how to be truly happy by adopting this mindset as this is one of the many habits of happy people.
Truly happy people are not easily overwhelmed when things don’t go their way. They don’t automatically assume the universe is against them.
They don’t assume victim mode and they don’t think they are more unlucky than anyone else. They simply accept that failure is a natural part of their journey, learn from their mistakes and tackle life’s problems one at a time.
One major way they handle everyday problems is to understand that they are not in control of everything in their life. They have learned the difference between what they can control and what they cannot.
They only focus on the things they can control, and simply tackle the problems that arise from the things they cannot control.
2. The mindset of a happy person: They make gratitude a habit
One of the many habits of happy people is gratitude. Truly happy people make a daily habit of practicing gratitude. They understand that it is easy to get too caught up in the busyness of life and forget how blessed we are – even at our lowest moments.
They don’t focus all their energy on what they lack but rather reflect on all the things for which their hearts overflow with thanks and appreciation. They remind themselves that happiness lies in the simple joys and little pleasures of life, like a warm cup of tea on an early morning while watching the sunrise or the smile from their loved ones.
If you want to learn how to be truly happy with yourself, then you must understand that you have to be intentional about gratitude. As someone who has struggled with depression for as long as I can remember, I understand all too well how important it is to be intentional about gratitude.
Read my articles on depression and anxiety here:
You have to actively look for things to be thankful for in your daily life if you feel like there isn’t much there. Don’t get me wrong. I know it’s not always simple and I know it’s not always black and white.
But If I can move from being someone who hated life so much that I attempted suicide twice (thank God I failed), to being someone so in love with life that I have made it my mission to help others find happiness, I know you can too.
Start with the simple things: the fact that you’re still alive, the birds, the weather, people in your life, foods you like and are happy you can enjoy, and experiences you are happy to have.
No matter how small or insignificant it may seem. And write it all down. Write it down so you can revisit those moments on the days when it all feels too much.
3. Traits of happy people: They surround themselves with positive people
Truly happy people make an effort to surround themselves with as many positive-minded people as possible. They surround themselves with others who have growth mindsets and try to limit the amount of time spent with negative complainers.
The mindset of a happy person is this: I am well aware that other people will have an influence on me, subconsciously or not. It is with that knowledge that I make every effort to be influenced by positive, open-minded, forward-thinking people.
If you find yourself always negative, it might be worth reflecting on the kind of people you surround yourself with. When I stopped hanging out with negative people, I noticed a drastic difference in my mental health.
4. They see failure as an opportunity to learn
If you truly desire to be happier in life, you must begin to adopt the habits of happy people in your daily life. One of the many positive traits of happy people is that they see failure as an opportunity to learn.
No matter how successful we are – we all make mistakes sometimes. Truly happy people understand this and they don’t beat themselves up when things don’t go the way they planned. Instead, see their mistakes as something that has the potential to teach them and make them better.
They take responsibility for their actions, even when it is not entirely their fault, and they learn from what didn’t work out so well in the past. They understand that failure is a natural part of life’s journey.
When we fail at something or do not get the outcome we were hoping for, that is a time to reflect. It’s a chance to ask ourselves what went wrong and how can we do better next time around.
If you want to learn how to be truly happy with yourself, you must understand that failure is part of life – it happens all the time, so when it does, you need to know how to face it head-on.
5. Habits of happy people: They prioritize self-care
Truly happy people understand the importance of prioritizing their own happiness and well-being. They know that self-care is not selfish. In fact, it is one of the most selfless things you can do.
They don’t just take care of everyone else’s needs before taking time for themselves – they make an effort to do something that brings them joy or makes them feel fulfilled because they know you can’t pour from an empty cup.
They know they are the only person responsible for their own happiness.
This one is huge! I can’t tell you how many people go through life unhappy, simply because they don’t understand that everything rests on them. They believe it’s someone else’s responsibility to make them happy and when they fail to do so – they complain about how life isn’t fair.
Don’t do that to yourself. You are responsible for your own happiness so take proper care of yourself.
6. They don’t look to others for validation
When you know how to be truly happy with yourself, you are not looking for other people’s approval or looking outside of yourself for fulfillment. You do what makes YOU feel good because it is the only way that’ll work in the long run.
Like I mentioned in my article 5 Tips To Being A Happier Woman: Don’t live your life trying to be accepted by others and Do the things that make YOU feel good about yourself.
When we depend on external sources we are at the mercy of those we depend on for happiness.
It is also unfair to the people in your life to hold them responsible for your own happiness.
No one has the power to make you happy, but YOU. When it comes down to it, if you want happiness in your life – YOU need to find a way of making yourself truly happy with all aspects of your being.
7. Habits of happy people: They are mindful of others’ feelings and needs
Even if they are going through a tough time, truly happy people make an effort to be mindful of other people’s feelings and needs. They know that doing this will help them maintain healthy relationships with the people around them.
They also know that it will help them to feel good about themselves. And who doesn’t like to feel good? I know I do!
Happy people don’t just think of themselves. I talked about this in my article 10 Toxic Habits You Need To Get Rid Of So You Can Be Happy This Year. People today have become such self-absorbed narcissists that it’s no wonder they are so generally unhappy and dissatisfied with life.
Truly happy people extend compassion to those around them, even if they are going through a tough time. They understand that we are all connected and that what goes around comes around.
When it comes down to it, being truly happy means living a life full of love and compassion for others.
8. Traits of happy people: They self-reflect often
One of the key habits of a happy person is that they reflect often. They take time to sit down and ask themselves what is working, what isn’t working, and how they can make changes if needed.
This doesn’t mean that they are always in a bad place – but rather that they are constantly looking for ways to be a better version of themselves. If you follow my content you know that I am very big on self-reflection as this is something that unlocked my own happiness.
9. Habits of happy people: They are helpful toward others
Another key habit of a happy person is that they are always willing to help others. They know that doing this, makes them feel good about themselves and that in turn, helps to build stronger relationships with the people around them.
Helping others doesn’t have to be a big thing – it can simply be lending an ear or just sitting with someone when they are going through a rough time. Read 31 Random Acts Of Kindness You Can Do Before The Year Ends for more ideas.
Truly happy people are not selfish thinking only of their desires. They are able to step back from the limelight and allow someone to receive the admiration because they know that helping others, can sometimes mean simply boosting their self-confidence.
Truly happy people are deliberate about kindness. They actively search for opportunities to perform random acts of kindness.
10. They admit when they are wrong
People who are truly happy are not afraid to admit when they are wrong. They accept responsibility for their actions and work towards improving themselves and any damage they may have caused to their relationships with others.
They do not revel in victim mindset. They are not quick to blame others for their wrongs. They know that it takes courage to admit when you are wrong and they are proud of themselves for doing so.
Over to you…
Which habits of happy people did I miss? What traits of happy people would you add to this list? Are you a truly happy person? which of your traits, habits, or mindsets did I neglect to mention? Share in the comments below.
Here is a piece you might find interesting.
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As always, thanks for reading, and remember to stay feminine, sexy, classy, and unapologetically woman!
Cheers
-Lis xoxo
