4 Steps to happiness

Jessica Padykula
Apr 07, 2011 2:00 PM by
Posted in Love & Sex / Single Girls' Guide

Find Your
Happy Place

Corny but true: You really do need to love yourself before you can love someone else. Happiness and self-love go hand in hand. To help you get a handle on your own happiness, we’ve put together some simple strategies to get you smiling -- and attracting love -- in no time.

Girlfriends laughing

Cursive number 1Surround yourself with positive people.

Hang out with people who look on the bright side and don't bring you down with constant complaining and negative energy. Staying unhappy or grumpy in the presence of happy people is difficult, and positive energy is infectious.

Cursive number 2Show some gratitude.

Feeling inadequate -- wishing you had a better job, longer hair, smaller waist -- is all too easy, but it just sends you further down the depression spiral. To avoid feeling sorry for yourself, remember everything for which you are grateful. The best way to do this is to keep a gratitude journal (or just an ongoing Word document on your computer) in which you keep track of what you do have, versus what you don't. Once you've been doing this for a few days, you'll be surprised at all the things you have going for you: a close-knit group of friends, great pets, understanding siblings, a fabulous collection of vintage handbags... Write down whatever you feel lucky to have and look at it when you feel down.

Cursive number 3Embrace who you are.

At some point, you need to embrace your quirks, idiosyncrasies and anything else that sets you apart from the pack. You may think your frizzy hair, love of cross stitch or fondness for cheesy horror movies make you strange or unlovable, but these traits make you interesting, unique and worth getting to know. Learn to celebrate them, and you'll be much more likely to attract men who appreciate you for who you are.

Cursive number 4Give back.

Feeling down? Don't wallow. Get out there and help out those in need. Whether you donate some money, work a few hours a week at your local animal shelter, or even take a weeklong volunteer vacation, doing something positive can help you regain perspective. Giving back (especially when you're feeling out of sorts) can ground you and help you realize there's more to life than what you're going to do Saturday night and whether some guy is going to call.

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Tags: personal growth

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Comments

Comments on "4 Steps to happiness"

Shania January 10, 2013 | 3:14 PM

I definitely feel like you have to know yourself completely before falling in love! I also think it is so important to realize everything you have and be grateful for it. Most of us get so wrapped up in out lives that we forget what we have!

Kendra October 02, 2012 | 7:30 PM

Definitely surround yourself with positive people! They can bring out the best in situations and make you happier with what you have!

Hannah September 20, 2012 | 1:47 PM

Great article! Notice how all of these things have something in common, and that's focusing on OTHERS, not yourself. Seriously, to be happy just start giving others your time (volunteer, help someone in need, etc) and you will find that what you have is great.

Lauren July 08, 2012 | 6:02 PM

Showing some gratitude is probably the best thing you can do. Whenever I'm feeling sorry for myself, my mom always told me to make a list of everything I have to be thankful for. The list is always quite extensive, and it makes you realize how much good you actually have in your life. Focus on that!

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