4 Things to Prioritize for Lasting Happiness
By Nicole Martin
August 24, 2017
Can you be truly happy? A lot people will say it’s impossible. I’m here to dispel that myth once and for all.
Happiness often seems like one of those unattainable states of being. It’s easy to think about moments when you were happy, or imagine those things that— if you had them, or when you get them— you’re sure you’ll be happy.
But sustained joy is difficult to imagine.
Well, I know from personal experience that it’s possible. And, it’s not even that difficult to achieve.
Here are 4 areas of your life that, if you make them a priority, will drastically raise your happiness quotient.
Others
Although all 4 of these priorities should be equally, well, prioritized… dedicating yourself to making the other people around you happy is the best and most reliable method of achieving happiness for yourself.
As humans, we’re designed to be social creatures. And because of that, keeping the others around us happy feeds our social reward system directly.
There have been a number of studies showing this to be true. But the most reliable evidence for why this works is your own life. Think about a time when you did something wonderful for someone. How did it make them feel? And also, how did it affect you?
More than likely, it made you happy. Do that consistently, and the happiness will keep flowing in.
New Experiences
If you take a look at people who are grumpy and miserable, more than likely they’re stuck in a rut.
Grumpy people don’t really do new stuff. Certainly, there are happy people who follow a strict routine, but for most of us, seeking out new experiences is a great way to pull the choke on your happiness engine.
This might be something big—like going to Paris, or climbing a mountain, or taking a ride in a hot air balloon—but it certainly doesn’t have to be.
Read a new book. Cook something new for dinner tonight. Take a bike ride to somewhere local you’ve never been.
Whatever it is, begin building those happiness habits. Get out there and do something new!
our Health
It’s hard to be happy when you’re sick.
And with our country currently in the midst of a massive epidemic of lifestyle diseases—heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, etc.—it’s not difficult to see why so many people are miserable.
Obviously, you can choose to be happy in any circumstances. But it’s a lot easier if you’re not hooked up to a dialysis machine for 10 hours a week.
So taking back control of your health is an important part of cultivating a happy life.
Here’s a great place to start.
This Very Moment
Dwelling on the past is a pretty great way to feel overwhelmed by guilt. Focusing too much on the future can cause worry and anxiety.
But living inside the present moment—and doing it habitually—clears out all the stuff in your head that brings down your mood. It also allows you to really feel what it’s like to be you. It grounds you, and in that moment you can see what’s really important.
It also gives you an unfettered chance to choose happiness. When the guilt, worry, and anxiety are pushed out of the way, you can understand that, for now, you are alive, so you might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
I hope you’ll take these four areas of your life and put a priority on them. To start, choose one and focus on it. Build little habits into your daily routine that promote your joy.
Work your way through the list, and by the end, it’ll be difficult NOT to be happy!
Want to take back your health and get happy today? Download our new eBook—The 7 Habits of Highly Healthful People— for free, right here.
