How to Find Authentic Happiness in 7 Simple Steps

So much has been written about what you can do to improve yourself and how important it is to find happiness in your life. Many people have made it very complicated, but it isn’t. After years of self improvement books, courses and seminars, I can tell you that finding happiness in your life comes down to seven simple steps.

1 – Remember Your “Dear Diary” Days?

Look at the greatest achievers all through history. They were all rabid writers and there’s a reason for that. When you write down what’s happening in your head it helps you to refine your ideas and it creates a sense of self-awareness. Clarity and self awareness will fuel your self motivation and when you know you have the ability to kick start yourself it will grow your own non-negotiable sense of self-confidence. And it all starts with the simple exercise of keeping a daily journal. What should you write about? Anything positive!

2 – Take a Time Out

Meditation has fallen out of favour and many people roll their eyes and think it’s just plain flakey and that’s a real shame because meditation has so much to offer. So let’s just call it a time out instead. Scheduling a daily “time out” with yourself for 5- 10 minutes to rest your brain is an easy way to reduce your stress and clear your mind from the negative thoughts that will create anxiety and worry. And the bonus is that regular meditation can help slow your heart and control your digestion along with a myriad of other valuable health benefits- like better sleep (a personal favorite of mine). A daily time out to meditate is a cornerstone action for a happier life.

3 – Expect Good Things

We all have the ability to accomplish wonderful things. It’s not just about intelligence or hard work though. What sets the truly successful people apart is that they expect to succeed. It’s no more complicated than that and if you disagree, let me ask you a simple question. When was the last time you ever did well as something when you knew all along that you didn’t have a hope in heck of succeeding? Start with the belief that you will get what you want and then persevere.

4 – Start Setting Goals

You need to have goals. Like the other steps this one is really simple. Define what you want. many, many people have written so much on the theory and practice of goal setting that they’re pretty much beaten it to death. Here’s the one thing you need to know about setting goals- make them S.M.A.R.T. That stands for:

Specific
Measureable
Attainable
Realistic
Trackable

5 – Remember That Every Part of Your Life Is Important

There is nothing that can so quickly derail your life as to find out that just when you thought you had everything running perfectly, you missed something huge. Think of the cliche of the successful business man. He works seventy hour weeks to keep his family secure. Everyone in his family seems to have everything they need – but they don’t have him. He’s at work. They learn to get along without him and one day he finds himself alone. Your life is a whole pie, not just one piece and if you don’t pay attention to all of it, you’ll lose what you ignore.

6 – Positive Self-Talk

The things that you say to yourself have more power than you can possibly imagine and they can and will literally change what you believe about yourself and your life. Create a set of five simple but positive statements for the most important parts of your life (health, relationships, self image, money and career ) and and twice every day, read them out loud so you see and hear them not just think them. It’s about involving your senses to help make the message stick.

7 – Share These Ideas

When you share these ideas with others, you’ll do a better job of locking them into your own actions too. In order to explain something to someone else, you really need to clarify your own understanding. Even with no one to help, you can write about the these ideas and how they help you find authentic happiness.

I wish you joy!