Best 15 Tips For Creating Happiness

Countless studies show that when you’re happier, you perform better at work, are more present with your family and friends, and are much more enjoyable to be around.

I consider my happiness level a 10 out of 10, and I genuinely believe that I’ve manifested this astronomical level of happiness all on my own.

I wasn’t born into a ton of money - just a loving family who raised me right and encouraged me to chase my dreams. I’m lucky in that sense, but I don’t consider any my success so far luck at all.

My high level of happiness provides me with positive energy that allows me to take the massive actions necessary to make my dreams come true. Let me say that again - a high level of happiness provides you with positive energy you can use to take the action necessary to make your dreams come true.

Below, in no particular order, are my top fifteen tips for happiness that I use to put a smile on my face throughout the day every single day. I hope that you’ll take the effort to put at least one tip to use starting today. This world needs more positivity now more than ever - do it for your family and for your future.

15. Always expand your perspective on life - 3 billion people live on less than $3.00 a day and almost a billion people don’t have access to clean water. This world is huge and if you’re fortunate enough to be reading this on a smartphone or computer, you likely don’t have it that bad. Keep this in mind on “bad days.” Was it really that bad of a day, or do you just have a bad attitude? You have so much you can choose to be thankful for.

14. Be driven by gratitude - entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk taught me this and I live by this every day. As mentioned above, consider the fact that if you’re reading this, you likely have clothing, shelter, drinking water, and at least a few good people in your life. And if you live in a free country, you have the opportunity to work towards your dream each and every day. That’s a beautiful thing, and something we should all be thankful for every morning upon waking up. Use that gratitude to drive you to go achieve more. Never, ever complain about anything, life is too precious and too short for that. Replace complaints with positive remarks, and always count even your littlest blessings.

13. Spend more money on experiences - concerts, vacations, day trips, and dinners; not another pair of shoes or designer clothes. We all like nice things, but try and be a minimalist when it comes to material goods. Experiences provide you the opportunity to spend more time with loved ones as well as gain a memory to take with you for the rest of your life. A memory is much more fulfilling than any material good - it's worth taking the time to save up the extra cash to go and make one.

12. Really, really take the effort to notice and appreciate the little things - your favorite song coming on, a sunny day, an adorable child smiling, or an exceptionally precious dog can all bring as much joy as you allow them to bring. Happiness is really a sum of a bunch of little things coming together. Choose to notice and appreciate these things and smile when they happen. Smiling releases endorphins in the brain and lowers stress levels. Legendary writer Kurt Vonnegut said it best - “enjoy the little things in life, because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

11. Treat cashiers right & inspire happiness in others - have you ever noticed the name tag on servers and cashiers? How many customers do you think actually use these and address these people by their names? Very few. These servers and cashiers are human beings just like you, with feelings and stories as well. Address them by their name, make them laugh, ask them an open-ended questions. Do this for anyone regardless of their occupation - this may be the biggest contributor of happiness. You really do get what you give in this world. Emit positive energy, receive positive outcomes.

10. Be able to laugh at yourself & don’t take life too seriously - avoid frustration at all costs. Life happens to everyone; the manner in which you handle life determines your happiness level. It’s been said before that you can measure the size of a person based of off what makes them mad. We’re all human beings trying to figure out this thing called life, it’s okay if things aren’t perfect for what they are. If you can’t change it, don’t stress about it. Be able to laugh things off and move on quickly for your own peace of mind.

9. Make an effort to separate logic from emotion - human beings act with emotion and justify decisions with logic. If an argument arises, use logic and put yourself in their shoes rather than immediately lashing back with an emotional response like most people do. Never interrupt someone - be an active listener and really apply logic to understand where others are coming from. This will improve the quality of your relationships, decrease frequency of arguments, and ultimately increase your overall happiness level.

8. Reduce sources of negativity - I refuse to watch the news on TV and take only one minute per day to digest news via email just to stay up to date on current events. The news is mostly negative nonsense that won’t make you better in any way. Some people care about drama in the lives of celebrities more than they care about the wellbeing of the people in their own life. Replace TV time with personal development time - personal development books or YouTube videos are a great place to start. Spend less time spectating the lives of others and more time creating the life you deserve.

7. Sing or rap your favorite songs every day - Listen to music while in the shower and dance a bit. Do it in the car, too. Have no shame at red lights and in traffic. I look forward to driving anywhere because I know I’ll be jamming and singing along the whole drive. This benefits your mood, mind, and body in so many ways. Singing in the car makes long drives and traffic go by faster too, reducing stress levels even more.

6. Be more understanding, not short-tempered - really listen to people and listen to understand rather than to reply. Do not interrupt people, ever. Let them finish their thought, rant, vent, or story. Then do your best to put yourself in their shoes to help them through it. Really just take a couple seconds to consider why they’re saying what they are or acting the way they are, there’s likely a discoverable reason for it. All people have a varying levels of maturity, awareness, and mental strength. Never aggressively jump to conclusions or interrupt someone. Take a deep breath and take a few seconds to slow down and think.

5. Don’t overthink - Again, if you have zero control over something, you should put zero thought or worry into it. This is easier said than done, but do whatever you can to get your mind off it and elsewhere. Change your setting, listen to music, visit a friend, but whatever you do, don’t create new problems in your head just because someone is taking awhile to reply. There could be one hundred reasons for it.

4. Make choices that better yourself physically and mentally -

• Eliminate or limit Netflix and video games - Get outside and into the world as often as you can; life is happening all around you at all times. You never know who you may meet, what you may experience, and what may inspire you. Go to bed early instead of putting a screen in front of your face, then get up early and start your day with productivity. Or, read a self-improvement book at night instead of watching your usual Netflix. 10 pages of reading a night equates to ten 365 page books a year.
• Use iPhone’s app limits on social media apps - Limit your time on social media. It’s a great tool to connect to loved ones and new friends if used in extreme moderation - but addiction, likes, and comparisons all alter the dopamine levels in your brain for the worst. Use it responsibly.
• Don’t do drugs or vape - don’t fill your lungs with anything other than oxygen - which is all they were made to be filled with. Health is wealth, and your body will either thank you or punish you later for the choices you make today. Even weed slows you down, causes you to eat more, and gets expensive. The happiest people strive for great physical health in addition to great mental health.
• Work out at least a few times a week before or after work - use your body and muscles for what it was built for. You’ll have you body for quite awhile; you may as well take care of it and organically craft it to the best of your ability into something that feels good, builds your confidence, makes you proud, and makes you happy.

Disclaimer: I’ve never had Netflix, have never done any drugs or vaping, limit my social media, and work out each weekday. I’m not trying to brag, bash anyone, or claim that I’m perfect by any means - I am not. I’m simply stating some of the choices I’ve made, why I’ve made them, and positive results I’ve seen because of them.

3. Smile more - cliche, but valid. I smile to myself often just thinking about friends, memories, stories, or seeing something joyful or funny. Smiling releases endorphins in your brain and reduces stress levels dramatically. Plus, it's been universally agreed upon that smiling is attractive and exhibits confidence.

2. Form and maintain genuine relationships with others - make this your lifelong goal. ?There was an 80-year Harvard study that examined a group of 724 individuals of varying backgrounds from birth to death. It found that the happiest people on their deathbeds placed a focus on building genuine relationships in their life. The study's lead, psychiatrist Dr. Robert Waldinger, said “personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which are automatic mood boosters, while isolation is a mood buster." The key to happiness is genuine relationships with others. Never forget that the people in your life will always be what is most important.

1. Seek to live, not just exist - gather experiences, form great relationships, and go see this massive world we’re a part of. You get one shot at this thing called life, don’t just coast through it and go with the motions. You were put here in Earth to do so much more than pay bills and die. Work to uncover your purpose and strengths and do work around that, then aim to be the very best at what you do. Then, you can play on a bigger scale, give back, and do the things you dream of. Never settle for average; really pour your all into your work and relationships, make your life a joyous pursuit to unlock your full potential, and you will achieve everything you dreamed about as a young, ambitious, happy child.