Have you ever had those slumps of unhappiness? Slumps of time where all you see around you are happy people and you are sitting there thinking why I can't have their life. They seem so happy.
The thing to remember is their life is no easier than yours. Everyone has their own trials. What makes the difference is remembering that this life is meant to be amazing. Life is meant to be enjoyed through the good and hard times.
To help you find the joy you are missing take note of these seven things that happy people do every single day:
1. Meditate
Many times in the hustle and bustle of the everyday, you can get lost in all of the "have to-dos" that you can become stressed and upset. Finding at least 10 minutes where you can sit and clear your mind can change your day from stressful to peaceful. People who are sincerely happy know this to be true.
Look for a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Then begin to focus on your breathing. Slowly breathe in and out. Then slowly, but surely, your mind will begin to clear. At the end of a 10 minute period, you will be relaxed and strengthened.
2. Pray for something more than themselves
Happy people are always wishing that their friends and family can have wonderful lives as well. So, every day they get on their knees and pray for them more than themselves.
This is a good way to remember all those in your life who support and love you. Then the feeling of loneliness will be swept away because you truly know that you are not alone. Try it!
Tonight as you kneel to pray, spend more time praying for those who you love more than yourself. Then spend time afterwards reminding yourself that those people are by your side no matter what happens. Yes, a smile will soon appear on your face.
3. Show gratitude to everyone they meet
Have you ever met a person who tells everyone they meet thank you, and they mean it? This person seems to radiate kindness everywhere they go. You probably sit there asking yourself, why he or she can't stop smiling?!
Well, showing gratitude and seeing people for who they really are (a person with thoughts and feelings) does bring happiness. The moment you realize that the person you are speaking to matters brightens your life.
Once again give it a try. Spend an entire day treating every person you talk to like they matter. Listen to what they have to say. Compliment them on how they look. Treat them like human beings. Then at the end of the day, take note on how you feel. It is almost guaranteed that you will be happy.
4. Exercise
Getting up and moving the body helps relieve stress and helps improve self-esteem no matter the body type. This is why people who run experience a "runner's high." Getting up and moving the body brings happiness. People who enjoy life are definitely not sitting on their couch watching others enjoy it. They are up moving.
Get off the couch and put down the Netflix. Go for a walk, a hike, or a swim. Do some yoga, weightlifting, or ride a bike. Whatever it is get up and move. After you exercise, you will feel better. The more you do it the happier you will be.
5. Find joy in their work
There is an old saying that says, "If you find a job you love, you will never have to work a day in your life." That for the most part is true. Working brings more value and gratification to someone's life than any other thing. People who are happy love their job, and they can't wait to get out of bed in the morning to go to work.
Find a job that you love. Look for work that brings value to your life. If you do, you will see that your life will automatically become a life full of happiness.
6. Spend time doing something absolutely silly
Laughter is life's best medicine. People who are happy try to laugh as much as possible. They will even go to great lengths to do something silly so that everyone can join in on the fun.
Spend at least 10 minutes every day doing something that is absolutely silly. This could be having a dance party in your living room, having a nerf gun fight in the office, or inventing a song based on the thoughts you are having. Let loose and have fun. Not only will you create memories that you will never forget, but you will have something to look forward to everyday that will make you laugh.
7. Bring a smile to at least one person
Nothing will change your life faster than giving of your time to help someone in need. Happy people always look to serve and bring happiness to others. This is what brings them the greatest joy. Whether it is helping their children with their homework, or helping the widow down the street do her grocery shopping, they find joy in the moments to serve. This is what truly warms their heart.
Everyday look to find someone in which you can serve. It doesn't have to be big. It can be simply opening the door for everyone you meet, or saying hi and smiling to everyone you walk past on your walk into the office. It could even be helping your four year-old master tying his or her shoes. Just look for moments to step out of your bubble and help.
Not only will you have helped someone who needed it, but you will also see that serving is what brings you the most happiness.