In this fast-paced world, it’s necessary to make loving yourself a priority. Take a breather by reading this guide on how to be happy with yourself.
Being content with life and happy with yourself begins with knowing who you are.
We are not talking about the labels other people ascribe to you, such as “successful middle-aged lawyer based in New York” or “quirky cat lady who gardens every morning before breakfast”. Those could be valid descriptions, but they don’t get to the heart of you.
Knowing who you are might sound vague. That’s because it is different for everyone. Once you have a fair idea of who you are (a work-in-progress), then accepting, liking, and loving yourself is the next lesson. We should say that it is a series of lessons.
How to be happy with yourself is something that you learn as you go along. It’s not meant to be complicated, however. When you get the hang of it, you’ll be surprised at how simple it is!
Disconnect
Being content with yourself from early adulthood, and cultivating a healthy sense of humor about it, is good preparation for when you hit middle age. This is as glorious a time of life as any other.
Learning how to disconnect from the hectic information overload about world events is sound advice. It reduces the likelihood of a bout of depression and helps to clear the negativity from your life. You can remain informed about current affairs, just don’t become emotionally invested in them.
Connect
A gratitude journal is an excellent idea. People who have done the 100 Happy Days Challenge have noticed what makes them happy every day, are in a better mood every day, and generally become more optimistic. Some of us don’t like the word “happy”, so we opt for giving our journal a title like “sources of joy” or “I’m grateful today because…”
An excellent time to start a gratitude journal is when you are disconnected from your usual routine. One suggestion would be to go on a Panama Canal Cruise. Spend just over two weeks breathing in the great outdoors, eating healthy foods and learning some Zen habits, like how to be content.
Being in the Moment
Being “in the now”, or “being mindful” are not kooky ideas thought up by people who have had way too much wheatgrass juice to drink. Mindfulness has been the subject of much neuroscientific research. Whether you consider yourself spiritual or not, studies have shown that the practice of being mindful does lead to a greater sense of well-being and happiness.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy aims to help people change unproductive thoughts. Through being mindful, patterns of thought, behaviors and emotional responses that are not serving you well are rewired. As Lousie Hay said decades ago, “It’s only a thought, and a thought can change!”
How to Be Happy With Yourself
If you’re not so much into psychology of the popular or any other kind, perhaps we should just leave you with this scientifically-backed ten-point guide to self-improvement on the happiness front.
Point 5 in this guide recommends that you develop your creative abilities. Everyone has them, and it is a very rewarding way of learning how to be happy with yourself.
As we say in so many ways elsewhere on this blog, recognizing your inner peace and making positive affirmations are best if adopted as a daily practice. We urge you to try it – and read our blog regularly to help you along. Then one day, quite suddenly, you will discover that you are indeed happy!
