I tell them that there are tons of things you can do, but then I can only recall a handful of practices in the moment. So I decided to create this complete guide for how to be happy, according to science. If you use these 23 practices consistently, you are very likely to increase your personal happiness:
1. Find out what to do first.
How are you supposed to build the right happiness skills if you don't know which ones you are struggling with in the first place? This is why it's helpful to take a quiz to explore your happiness strengths and weaknesses (link is external). Get a better understanding of what these skills are all about, and learn how to improve upon your weaknesses and build your "happiness strengths." (link is external)
2.
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When you know what happiness means to you (link is external), you'll have an easier time finding it. So explore happiness — what it means, what it looks like (link is external), and what it feels like — to more easily create it.
18. Go after life.
How are you supposed to change your life by doing the same things you've always done? It's pretty tough. Instead, push yourself to overcome fear and approach life (link is external) with enthusiasm. Try "doing the opposite" (link is external) to see how it feels and to make your brain more flexible.
19. Speak up and be yourself.
When we let people walk all over us, we're unhappy. But when we advocate for our own needs assertively (link is external) and express ourselves (link is external), we feel more in control of our lives. Learning how to express yourself (link is external) can help you overcome interpersonal challenges, which can make you unhappy.
20. Find your purpose.
We all want to feel like we made some sort of positive impact in this world, but sometimes we are uncertain of the type of impact we want to make. Explore exactly what gives you a sense of purpose (link is external) and how you want to pursue this purpose (link is external) to give your life a greater sense of meaning.
21. Build meaningful