The longest time I felt that happiness was a distant dream. Other people were clear but always seemed unavailable to me.
No matter how hard I worked, or how many goals did I check there was that stunning emptiness that I couldn’t shake.
It took years of trial and mistake (and very disappointed) that happiness is not something you are tempting.
And once I started focusing on small, intentional habits, everything started to move.
These 8 habits just helped me feel happy.
1) Start the day with gratitude
I know it cliche, I know. For years I rolled my eyes with the idea of ”counting my blessings.” But the truth is that this little habit completely repeated how I see the world and I.
Every morning, before the day’s chaos, I focus on three things for which I really thank you. Sometimes they are big things like to hit people in the foothills or in my life.
Other times, it’s as simple as the warm cup of coffee or sunlight flows through my window.
Gratitude is not magically corrected everything, but it puts it in color. It moves your attention to what is already there.
And when you start your day with that mindset, happiness ceases to feel so unavailable.
2) Move your body even when you don’t feel like that
I used to think that the exercise is only for people who are obsessed with a gym or pursue some fitness purpose. He always felt like a century.
But then one day, especially after a rough week, a friend pulled me for a walk. I didn’t want to go but it’s the same.
At first it felt meaningless, in front of another, nothing special. But about ten minutes in, something changed. My mind started cleaning, and my chest tense began to lift.
Before we returned, I felt lighter and quieter than I had days.
That experience taught me a simple but powerful thing. The movement is not just for your body, it’s for your mind too. Now, even in the days, when I don’t feel like that (especially those days), I say that we are doing something active.
Whether yoga is a quick dance break in my living room or just walking around, moving the body always helps me transform and reunite myself.
3) Spend time in nature
There is something to surround with trees, fresh air and wide open spaces that work miracles for your mental state.
Even outside only 20 minutes can reduce the level of cortisol, stress hormone that tends to run our lives in Autopilot.
I began to make a habit of getting out outside when I felt worried or depressed, and it quickly became one of my favorite ways to charge.
Whether the park is through the park or just sits on the bench and listening to the wind, nature has a way to justify you.
4) give priority as your life depends on it
For years I healed my sleep, as it was optional. Late nights, early mornings and “just another thing” seemed to be the only way to keep with everything.
But what I didn’t realize was that rest didn’t stop me, wearing me slowly.
Sleep is not just about rest. This is the basis for your mood, concentration and even how you solve the challenges.
When I finally committed to sleeping 7-8 hours every night (no excuse), everything changed. I was more patient, I had less reactive and energy to actually enjoy my day instead of just surviving.
It’s not always easy, especially with a busy schedule, but defending my sleep is one of the simplest and most powerful ways I’ve found to promote my happiness.
5) Join the people who make you up to
For a long time I didn’t realize how much people around me affected my happiness.
I will stay in drying relationships or spend time with people who don’t really understand or support me thinking about how life worked.
But over time, I began to notice how different I felt around certain people, lighter, more energy and more.
This is when I made a conscious decision to give priority to the most important relationship. I started to get to myself to encourage me more, made me laugh and really care.
At the same time, I put boundaries with those who left me exhausted or unconfirmed. At first it was not easy, but the shift was undeniable.
Surrounding me positive, raising people not only made me happier, but also reminds of the types of energy I want to bring to the world.
6) Let you feel the bad days
Longest time, I thought happiness meant that any negative stress, sadness to push any disappointment.
If I could just avoid those emotions I imagined I would be fine. But harder, I tried to bury them, heavier, they seemed to get it.
Eventually, I learned that they only strengthened them.
Now that the bad day strikes, I let me feel it. I’m not trying to fix it immediately or pretend to exist. Instead, I accept it, sit with it and give me permission to be good for a little time.
It’s strange that this is when everything starts moving. Instead of running out of them, turning those tough moments, they lose their grip faster than I’ve ever been waiting.
It is not about accidents. The word is that you feel what you can move through it and move on to happiness again.
7) Create something no matter how small
I used to think that the work was reserved for people with artists, writers or “real talents.” But one day, whims, I started a particularly stressful week at the notebook.
It was nothing impressive. Just random forms and lines, but in the days the first time I felt my mind feels calm.
That’s when I realized that creating it was not perfect or something to produce Instagram. It’s about expressing yourself, even in the simplest ways.
Sometimes I write access to the magazine, but I bake something new, and sometimes I will settle the DIY project, as well as I’m laughing.
The act of creating you out of your head and present.
It gives you the opportunity to make a sense of implementation and reminds that happiness is not always about great achievements. It can also come from small, messy joys.
8) Focus on progress, not improvement
For years I thought happiness would come when everything in my life is “right”. But that way of thinking stopped me, constantly pursuing an impossible standard and beat me when I was short.
Until I will not start celebrating small victories. No matter how small they began to change.
Now I remind me that every step forward counts. Did I improve even 1% today? It’s great, it’s still progress.
Life is not everything turn out. It’s about moving, learning and growing.
When you stop improving to improve and start hugging the journey, happiness has a way of finding you where you are.
Happiness builds one choice at once
If I have learned something, it is not a great line that you pass through the small, deliberate choice.
That’s how you treat yourself, how do you spend your time and the habits you feed on the road?
No one is constantly feeling happy and that’s fine. Life will always have its wounds and downs.
But when you focus on things that bring you closer to peace, fulfillment, and connection, happiness stops feeling something you have to make something you have made.
It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. Every step forward is things.