If you’re going through a hard time – losing a job, getting divorced – it can be tough to know how to stay positive. When the going gets tough, should we give up on trying adopting a happy attitude? Absolutely not! In fact, I’d argue that there’s no better time than now to cultivate happiness and positivity.
Here are some tips for doing just that: Peter DeCaprio
1) Don’t Give Away Your Power
One of the biggest contributions to an unhappy life is giving away your power. We all have choices in how we respond to any given situation; however, some people don’t see it that way. They automatically assume they’re at the mercy of others or external circumstances instead of taking responsibility for their own emotions.
I recently had a conversation with one of the most positive people I know, and she explained to me how everything in her life is exactly as it should be. That perspective isn’t just some Pollyanna view she adopted when things got tough; it’s actually part of her being extremely happy!
2) Help Someone Else
There’s a big difference between becoming happy and staying that way. Once we’re accustomed to feeling good, we’re always at risk of slipping back into old habits and negative patterns. One thing that has helped me stay positive is helping someone else who’s having a hard time. When I can give my energy to supporting others, it feels like I’m giving myself the gift of more positivity!
3) Get a Life Coach
I’ve already mentioned how important it is to take responsibility for your own happiness even if you are struggling. Another critical part of maintaining an upbeat attitude is taking action – doing something completely outside yourself in order to get you moving again. If you’ve never had a life coach before, definitely check out a website like this one to learn more about what they do.
It’s a good idea for everyone to have a life coach, not just people going through hard times. We all need someone who will hold us accountable and give us an outside perspective on our lives sometimes!
4) Make a Habit of It
Happiness has been shown to be a habit that anyone can cultivate. Doing any of the tips I mentioned above will definitely help you out, but it’s important to keep making an effort over and over again. There will always be times we slip up and feel frustrated or upset; however, we can recover from those moments much more quickly if we’ve been practicing happy habits for a while.
5) Connect With Your Values and Purpose
The happier you are for its own sake, the more likely you are to share that happiness with others. There’s no better way to do that than by connecting with your core values and sense of purpose. Our values are the principles we affirm for guiding our lives; our purpose is what we devote our lives to doing or creating or changing in this world. When you reconnect with your values and commit to your purpose, you’ll feel secure in your life.
If you’re not sure what values are important to you, ask yourself the following questions: What would make today great? Imagine that people asked me to describe what makes me happy; how would I respond? If you had everything you wanted tomorrow, what would it look like? How does this time of my life contribute to the legacy I want to leave behind?
Conclusion by Peter DeCaprio:
Once you know what your core values are, remind yourself of them throughout the day. You can also incorporate them into “anchor activities” – things you do every single day because they help keep these positive emotions alive. For example, if one of your top values is family, schedule a daily phone call with a family member.
If you’re not sure what purpose is important to you, ask yourself the following questions: What changes would I want to see in this world? If I knew that no one would judge me or think any less of me for my answer, how would I like to be remembered when I’m gone? What do people compliment me for most often? How do I want others to describe me at my funeral?
Once you know your life’s purpose, live it every day. Be honest with yourself about what helps and hurts your progress toward your purpose. It can take some time and thought before you get really clear on what makes sense for you, but try thinking back over the past few years and asking probing questions.
Read More: Little things that make your man Happy
