“You shouldn’t be so damn happy all the time.” I’ve heard this a time or two & it makes me chuckle. Honestly, I’m not happy all the time. When I’m in a low spot, I’m honestly one of the biggest critics of myself and one of the most negative people. But I dig myself out. And I can tell you I feel a hell of a lot better when I am happy, so why wouldn’t I try to be happy as much as possible? It feels great! Today I’m sharing with you some secrets on why I’m such a happy person.
I Say Nice Things About Myself
This may sound narcissistic, so hear me out. If you are constantly tearing yourself down & telling yourself negative things, how in the world can you be a happy person? How can you expect to see change if you’re telling yourself you’re worthless, fat, mean, ugly, etc? You can’t. If you notice one of these thoughts rising up, acknowledge it, then bless and release my friend. This thought serves you no purpose and needs out of your life! So say “Oh hey, I see you there. I had this thought, now, lick it, stick it, see ya later, bye!” And replace it with a positive thought. If you’re having a hard time thinking of something positive, then just take that negative thought and make it a positive one.
I Tell Other People Nice Things
You are the energy you put out. So, if I see someone wearing a cute t-shirt or walking their adorable dog, I let them know! It takes about five seconds, can literally do it while I’m running, and neither of us have to stop as they shout a “Thanks!”. When you say positive things, it starts to reprogram your mind to look for the cute and adorable things in your day.
I Detox From Social Media
This is such a huge one. When I’m reading the news & scrolling social media, I’ve realized something: These are not my thoughts & feelings. Words have a really strong way or persuading us to think & feel things. Fear & frustration are easy ways to grab someone’s attention to get that like, comment, or share on a post. Next time you open the newspaper or social media app, be aware of that. And make sure you plan out days to stay completely off of them.
I Smile
When I make eye contact, I smile at people. If I’m holding a tough yoga pose that is requiring me to breathe, I smile. When you smile, it signals the brain to release certain neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine. Dopamine gives your brain energy and motivation while endorphins make you feel good and decrease physical pain. If others see you smiling, it can cause a chain reaction where they also smile. Also, when we smile we decrease stress levels, boost our immune system, and our mood improves. So next time you don’t feel like smiling, take a deep breath, and smile.
I Move My Body Every Day
Notice that I don’t say “work out”. Your body needs to move, it’s built to move. So I try and stay on my feet, even when I’m at work. When you’re walking around and not sitting, your body is happy. Oxygen increases in your blood and flows to your muscles and brain. When you’re fresh is full of oxygen, it tends to be more alert which can improve your mood. Also, if you’ve ever had a good hike or worked out in your yard all day, you’ll know that moving your body releases those feel good endorphins too.
I Reframe My Thoughts
The power of the brain is amazing. It can take our thoughts and turn them into things or keep something in the front of our mind. When I’m about to lose it and feeling impatient, instead of telling myself “Man, I wish I was more patient.” I take a deep breath and tell myself “I am patient.” Instead of saying, “I could never do that,” I say “I can do that if I XYZ.” One I find myself having to reframe often is, “I suck at this there’s no point.” Guys, remember me telling you how I’m my own worse critic? So I have to often tell myself “I enjoyed doing that” or “This looks better than when I did it last time!”
I Write Down Things I’m Grateful For 
Every day, I take the time to write down 5 small things I’m grateful for. Sometimes, there are big things in there, but for the most part they’re small. When we take the time to reflect and look for the little, positive things in life, we start to see things brighter and move vibrant. Even if it’s been a particularly rough day, I can still find 5 small things. Examples include: yummy food, good coffee, my girl’s smiles, a cute shirt, comfy pants, my paycheck, Justin’s hug, a clean home, a warm house, my Berkey, etc. (These are all legit things I’ve written!)
I Read Positive Quotes
I started a quote journal in middle school. I’ve always been a quote collector. Although I don’t have a dedicated journal, I do take time to read positive bible verses or quotes on Instagram or Pintrest. In my gratitude journal, I will write down a good quote at the top or in the side so when I’m writing, I can read it and reflect. I have also been trying to be a creative and hand letter quotes I like. Although I don’t feel like they’re share worthy, it feels good to keep thinking about the quote as I write it out.
I Listen to Uplifting Music
No joke, when I start to get mad or need a motivation boost, I play a Pump Up playlist. It’s amazing how quickly you can feel your mood shift when you put on some good jams. So get on Spotify or iTunes and pick some songs that can be your pumped up jams. Some songs I have are:
- Into The Unknown by Panic! At The Disco
- Evacuate the Dancefloor by Cascada
- I’m Still Standing by Elton John
- Tubthumping by Chumbawamba
- She’s So High by Tal Bachman
- Foot Loose by Kenny Loggins
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers
- No Rain by Blind Melon
- Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder
- Rubberband Man by the Spinners
What are some ways you make yourself a happy person? Feel free to share this, pin it to Pintrest, or comment below! I love to hear from you. I know you’ve got it in you to be happier person and change your outlook on life my friend. xo – Meg
Leave a Reply