Many people find it hard to rely on themselves as a source of
happiness. It is possible to find happiness inside yourself. There are
different ways you can approach this and many techniques you can employ to help
increase your feelings of inner happiness. You don't need to look beyond
yourself to find your source of happiness. Just make sure you take the time to
find it.
Write down what
happiness means to you. Because this is
your happiness, it is important to frame what it means for you to be happy.
There are many ways to get your ideas down, just make sure you do. In properly
defining what you mean when you imagine your internal happiness, you give
yourself a solid goal.
- Brainstorm to get many ideas down quickly.
- Make outlines to help structure your thoughts.
- Write an essay to help you fully articulate your thoughts.
Try to spot any
triggers that lead to either positive or negative thoughts. Maybe rainy days always put you in a bad
mood, or thinking of tests always makes you think of failure. When you
recognize these, you're in a position to challenge them and to try to alter
your inner state. Instead of thinking about how rainy days put you in a bad
mood, think positive thoughts like, "The plants in the garden could really
use the rain water today."
Set meaningful
goals for yourself. Take a hard look
at your life. Examine your values. Think about the person you want to become.
Use this to set goals that are meaningful to you. Research suggests people that
do are more likely to happily achieve their goals.
- Be realistic. Acknowledge your situation and abilities when you’re planning.
- Keep your goals action-oriented. Don't focus on things or on what you have or don't have. Focus on what you can do.
- Frame your goals in a positive light. You’re more likely to achieve your goals if you see them as something you’re working toward, not something you’re working against.
Visualize your
“best possible self.” This has been
shown to increase feelings of happiness and well-being. It involves visualizing
how the “future you” looks after achieving your goals, and then picking out the
characteristics you need to use/learn to get you where you want to be.
- Pick a few goals and imagine that you have achieved them.
- Make sure these goals are personally meaningful, not status symbols.
- Write down all the details of your scenarios. Imagine characteristics you will need to make them work.
- Consider which of these traits and skills you already have.
