Life might sometimes feel very busy. At times, juggling work, family, children, and a budget becomes overwhelming, and we feel as like we are at our wits end!
We experience hopelessness, isolation, and fear. When all that bad energy comes together, it can make us feel as though we hate our lives.
However, all is not lost; there is always a way out, even though it might feel like you’re stuck in a rut forever. It requires a lot of self discipline, some introspection and admitting that you’re unhappy. When you accept that something is not quite right, you can then take concrete efforts to make it right.
To learn more, keep reading…
The first step, as we indicated earlier, is to acknowledge your unhappiness. Once you are aware of this, you can take the necessary steps to change your mindset and return to a level of happiness and fulfilment. Remember that happiness is a choice.
However, that is sometimes rather simpler said than done, isn’t it? Change does not come easily or quickly. It calls for a degree of effort, commitment, and self-awareness that most of us simply don’t have time for.
Or to be more precise, we don’t prioritise ourselves. So, we simply continue to be dissatisfied. The problem then is that this discontent permeates every aspect of our lives, making us hate it even more!
After all, you start to feel as though a heavy object is pressing down on you. You consequently experience misery, feeling stuck and unmotivated.
There is a bright side to everything, which is excellent news. Of course, there is always a chance that things will improve. However, you must be prepared to put in the effort.
If you’re in a relationship and you’re not having fun with your partner or yourself, it’s time to end it.
Keep in mind that you are in charge of making decisions in your life. Simply remind yourself of your inner strength, value, and potential.
It is important to note that there will be moments in your life when you are unable to make significant changes to your situation. And that’s fine.
You simply assure yourself that the situation won’t be this way forever. The good news is that change is one of life’s constants, so maintain your composure and never lose hope that things can (and will) get better.
Positivity is a powerful tool, so try to use it, especially when you are feeling anything but positive! It’s all about focus.
One reason why we may be unhappy is because we’ve moved away from our primary principles and the goals that we set for ourselves. Your goals are kept in your thoughts even if you’ve never said them out loud or recorded them in a journal.
Then, when the life we’re leading isn’t bringing us anywhere near close to these goals, we feel uneasy and tense. But frequently we don’t make the connection between the two.
Always try to keep your eye on the prize but also try to enjoy the journey too!
Another thing that separates us from our true selves is society, family, and friends. They all have different ideas on how we must live our lives, and they’re not shy about sharing them with us. Repeatedly.
It’s frequently just simpler to follow along. Who are we to doubt them when they know us better than we know ourselves? Or do they?
However, the truth is that when you live by someone else’s standards, it ultimately backfires since you aren’t on your own path. This can quickly lead to discontent, so don’t fall into this trap. They lead their lives, and you lead yours.
Your innermost thoughts are mostly shaped by your past influences and childhood experiences. They may frequently be our worst enemy.
However, these are only thoughts, right?
Sadly, that isn’t the case. Because they keep telling you that you’re not capable of improvement or that you won’t succeed because you’re not good enough, these thoughts can make you really despise your life.
In truth, our mental processes influence our environment. The sooner you recognise that, the better, since you can then begin to exert some control over this self-defeating self-talk.
You’re likely great at assisting others who are in need. So why not take care of yourself in the same way?
Being kind to yourself has a huge impact on empowerment and self-love. You’ll quit hating your life, for one thing. Then, rather than always dwelling on the negative, you’ll begin to notice the positive.
So, instead of listening to your inner critic the next time it speaks and focusing on negativity, think about something good that happened to you during your day. You’ll get better at overcoming negative emotions as time goes on and stop sabotaging your efforts.
As I said before, it’s all about focus; focus on the positive rather than the negative and you can rewire your mind.
If you’re unhappy with the way your life is going, start by figuring out why. Once you identify the cause, you need to concentrate on shifting your negative and destructive thought patterns in favour of positive and constructive ones.
Determine what needs to change, then begin to plan. As soon as you discover the route that will take you to your true self, keep going. Change takes time, but if you are persistent and prepared to work hard to achieve your goals, you can accomplish far more than you ever believed possible.
Whatever you want in life will require discipline to achieve, and if you want to know more about harnessing the power of self-discipline, then check out the featured resource below for a free report; download, read it and take action 🙂
From an early age, we’re led to believe that nothing is more satisfying than finding happiness. But happiness is so elusive and intangible.
Plus, happiness is different for everyone, so how do you know when you find it? And is there something out there that can make you feel even better than happiness?
Yes! It’s called having a sense of fulfillment. Yet, what is that exactly, and how do you get it? That’s what we’re here today to find out.
So, keep reading to learn how you can stop chasing happiness to find fulfillment instead.
Happiness Vs. Fulfillment
Take a look at this quick overview of happiness vs. fulfillment because they are two vastly different ideas, and many people may not be sure about what they are and the differences between the two.
So, let’s dive in and take a look at happiness first…
Happiness includes feelings like contentment, excitement, and joy. But the problem with these kinds of emotions is that they are all temporary.
Sure, it feels nice while it lasts, but other emotions take over, like anger, fear, and anxiety, and these negative emotions tend to hang around for much longer!
The trap many of us fall into is that we believe we’ll reach our point of happiness when we achieve certain things in our lives.
Of course, you’ll be happy! But that happiness can only last so much. After that, reality sets in, especially when the bills start coming in.
Another problem with happiness is that we often view it in terms of other people. So, we compare our lives to theirs, which is never a good idea.
No one knows what’s going on in other people’s lives. So, it’s not fair to compare only the good parts. It sends you on a loop of perpetual disappointment. The only person you should compare yourself to is you.
When you pursue the things that really matter to you, you bring fulfillment into your life. Fulfillment is when you take actionable steps towards the things you value. Part of it is also achieving goals that were set up based on these core values.
Living your life with a consistent set of values allows you to have integrity towards who you truly are. It also allows you more control over your emotions and thoughts.
The bottom line is that happiness is dependent on external factors. Many of these factors are material and likely to change at any moment.
Fulfillment, on the other hand, is internally driven. You’re the one who determines what means more to you, and then by going after it, you elevate the levels of fulfillment in your life.
You can find fulfillment in many ways. But you have to choose to see it in every experience and situation in your life, especially those that don’t go your way.
It sounds more challenging than it really is, but it’s actually relatively easy once you know what you’re doing. And it’s way more rewarding and empowering than chasing the ever-fleeting feeling of happiness.
Here are some ways to find fulfillment and bring meaning to your life.
The great philosopher, Socrates, said, “Know Thyself” to encourage his students to look inward when searching for the meaning of life. So then, when you know your true nature, you can find fulfillment because you know your true self-worth.
The more you know about yourself, the more fulfillment you’ll find in life. Remember, fulfillment isn’t about having a nice house or the latest fashion. It’s much deeper than that and much more nuanced.
It just takes a bit of soul searching.
Helping others is one of the best ways to fill your life with fulfillment. You feel good by volunteering your time or money to help someone in need.
The science behind it is that helping others boosts the release of ‘feel-good’ chemicals in our brains. Some of these include hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin.
So, whether you’re helping a friend move or helping out at a local soup kitchen, you’re bringing joy and ease into other people’s lives. Not only that, but you’re also making yourself feel more fulfilled.
Surrounding yourself with a healthy, supportive social circle allows you to feel connected to something. In addition, being part of something fosters a sense of fulfillment in your life.
You have people you can talk to anytime you feel sad or stressed out. Consequently, you don’t suffer from any feelings of isolation, disconnection, or separation.
Having a sense of gratitude can help you see the purpose in life and feel like you’re connected to a greater good. Gratitude also boosts your overall health and encourages positive emotions, which can come in handy when you’re going through a tough time.
It also motivates you to strive for more. Yet, when there’s a setback, you focus more on what you have and what you’ve accomplished rather than wallowing in your losses.
Keep in mind that if you’re not okay with what you don’t have, you’ll never appreciate what you do have.
Always trying to chase happiness definitely affects the way you think and if you are constantly chasing this, you need to start to think differently because if you don’t find happiness, self doubt and negativity can creep in. If you want to know more about avoiding self-doubt and developing a positive mindset, check out the featured resource below for a free detailed report; download, read it and take action 🙂
Let me ask you something? Is happiness a choice? Can people really choose to feel happy or not?
There are conflicting studies and opinions about general happiness and choosing to be happy. Both arguments have merit, but the truth seems to be somewhere in the middle.
There are certain conditions that do affect one’s ability to choose happiness such as depression and other mood disorders. Some people have difficulty controlling emotions, but it’s a skill that can be learned with practice.
Choosing to be happy may seem difficult, but there are things most people can do to increase their level of happiness.
Before jumping right in and learning ways to increase happiness, you need to learn about conditions that may make it difficult to will yourself to be happy. Depression and other mood disorders, ADHD, PTSD, a disability, grief, or poverty make choosing to be happy more challenging.
If you are dealing with any of these issues, there are still practical ways you can increase your happiness, but it may be more difficult. Keep in mind that change takes time, but it is achievable.
Choosing to be happy is more than just willing yourself to feel happy. Part of it is thinking positively and thinking happy thoughts, but there are also more practical ways to make yourself happier.
Studies have identified several factors of happiness: social relationships, temperament or your ability to adapt, money, society and culture, and positive thinking styles.
Temperament is partly genetic, but it can still be improved with practice. Below you will learn about some things that you can do in each area to make yourself happy.
Improve current relationships by reaching out more often, opening lines of communication about past negative experiences, forgiving or seeking forgiveness, or making more time for your friends and family.
Make an effort to make new friends. Take on a new hobby, take a class, join a club, or go to different places in order to meet new people. You can also reach out to others online through social media or dating apps. Don’t be afraid to talk to new people and exchange phone numbers with people you get along with.
Invite friends and family members out for lunch, shopping, or have them over for coffee. Reach out. It can be tempting to wait for others to make the first move so be bold and take the initiative yourself; I’m sure your friends and family will truly appreciate you making the effort to reach out to them.
Practice pausing before you react to something. Give yourself a moment to get your emotions in check so that you respond in the way that you really want to rather than having an outburst.
This is a skill that can have a profound effect on both you and those around you; no-one likes to be around someone who gets moody or angry at the drop of a hat.
So, when something triggers you, pause, take a breath and think about how you would want someone to treat you in this situation.
Try to be more open to other people’s ideas and practice letting go of your need to control.
Increase your income by finding a new job, asking for a raise, or taking on a second job. This is not always easy and can be risky, but could definitely be worth it in the long run.
Be open to other career paths. It’s very easy to become comfortable in your career, but is it really what you want to do? Being stuck in a job/career that doesn’t inspire you can be a real drain on your happiness; it’s not just about money, but the sense of fulfillment you get out of what you do.
Look for things you can do to earn a passive income. This is where the internet can come in to play.
There has never been a better time to start an online business and this could just be a side hustle to help you make a mortgage or car payment and if you can set up a business with a recurring monthly payment for customers, all the better.
Pay off debt or avoid taking on debt. if you have any debt, but especially large amounts of debt, this should be an absolute priority for you before anything else. This can be quite painful to begin with but you must take responsibility and deal with it and by doing so, you can feel much happier about yourself.
Set a budget and stick with it so you can have money to do the things that are important to you. Linked to the point above about debt, stop spending money that you don’t have on things you don’t need!
Embrace local culture and society if they’re a positive influence in your life. Learn, explore, and enjoy your environment and the people you share it with.
Don’t be afraid to change your environment or seek change in your current one. Do what you can to be a positive influence. Stand up for what you believe in and speak out against social injustice.
Choose a positive mantra and repeat it several times a day. Positive thinking may feel and sound a little cliched but it does work to put you in a better frame of mind.
Keep a gratitude journal or make a list of things you’re grateful for. Gratitude is really powerful and you do have a lot to be grateful for.
Here is an article about the science of gratitude and if you really want to take your gratitude practice to the next level, then take a look at the Grateful Mind training here as it is a fantastic course all about using gratitude in your life.
Make sure you’re not practicing negative self talk, and if you are, change your inner monologue.
Watch comedies and do other things that will make you laugh more. Laughter really is the best medicine 😁
Practice smiling even when you don’t feel like it. People smile because they’re happy, but people also become happier when smiling.
You can choose to be happy, but it’s more than just saying “I’m happy”.
Choosing to be happy is choosing to focus on the good in your life, and having the courage to make changes in your life that will lead you to more happiness. You have options and you can choose to be happy.
