“What can I start doing today to make my life happier and more rewarding?”
This is the most common question readers ask us via email, Facebook and Twitter. So today I dug into our archives and came up with a list of twelve simple, actionable ways to improve your well being on a daily basis. (Each tip links back to its original corresponding article, so you can read more at your leisure.)
Starting today…
- Smile. – A smile is a choice, not a miracle. Don’t wait for people to smile. Show them how. A genuine smile makes you and everyone around you feel better. The simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you’re happy. And when you’re happy, your body pumps out all kinds of feel-good endorphins. This reaction has been studied since the 1980’s and has been proven a number of times. Bottom line: Smiling actually makes you happier. Read The Happiness Project
.
- Treat everyone with kindness and respect. – Yes, treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are. There are no boundaries or classes that define a group of people that deserve to be respected. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother. People will notice your kindness.
- Perform one selfless act. – In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that’s greater than you, something that helps someone else be happy or suffer less. I promise, it will be an extremely rewarding experience. One you’ll likely remember forever.
- Avoid needless drama and those who create it. – Never create unnecessary drama, and don’t surround yourself with those who do. Choose to spend time with people who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you – people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it. Don’t walk away from negative people, RUN! Life is too short to spend time with folks who suck the happiness out of you.
- Think of the positives. – Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start thinking of what could go right. Better yet, think of everything that already is right. Be thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family, and past dreams and goals that turned into realities. And use this positivity to fuel an even brighter tomorrow. Read How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
.
- Inject a little love into the world around you. – Love what you are doing, until you can do what you love. Love where you are, until you can be where you love. Love the people you are with, until you can be with the people you love most. This is the way we find happiness.
- Take decisive and immediate action on something that needs to get done. – It doesn’t matter if you have a genius IQ and a PhD in Quantum Physics, you can’t change anything or make any sort of real-world progress without taking action. There’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it. Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action. It’s as simple as that.
- Follow your intuition when making decisions. – Following your intuition means doing what feels right, even if it doesn’t look or sound right to others. Only time will tell, but our human instincts are rarely ever wrong. So don’t worry about what everyone else thinks, and keep living and speaking your truth. The only people that will get mad at you for doing so are those who are set on living a lie.
- Spend time working on something you believe in. – Never put off or give up on a goal that’s important to you. Not because you still have tomorrow to start or try again, but because you may not have tomorrow at all. Life is shorter than it sometimes seems. Follow your heart today.
- Meet someone new. – Most humans have a habit of stagnating in a small circle of friends; but it doesn’t help us grow. Get out there and meet new people. You’ll be surprised at the lessons they will teach you and the new opportunities they will inject into your life.
- Exercise and eat healthy. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be. If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected. Those who exercise have a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth. Read The 4-Hour Body
.
- Be a student of life. – Experience it, learn from it, and absorb all the knowledge you can. Prepare yourself for greatness by keeping your mind conditioned with fresh knowledge and new challenges. Remember, if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready when great opportunities arise.
Photo by: Ashley Rose
Renee says
Thanks, I needed this today! 🙂
Jennifer C. says
Truth at its finest! Loved this post.
henry says
Every point here motivates me to stretch my habits and routines, and make today a little brighter than yesterday. Thanks as always Angel and Marc.
Radhika SD says
Awesome!! I just love your blog and this post is quite refreshing 🙂
Vergielyn says
“Run!” Ha! I liked that. Good advice.
Jerry Hislip says
You Reap What You Sow. Your Blog Today Surly Should Make Believers Out Of Everyone! Marc And Angel,Thank You For All Of Your Words Of Wisdom And Sharing Them With Everyone.
Sarah says
Wonderful! Thank you so much for the jump start to my day.
michael platania says
I will start with the smile and add things as the day progresses. This was a great read to start the day!
BarbaraJoy says
As I am in the process of writing my own plan for happiness, I believe you’ve hit the nail on the head! I don’t think it matters WHY you’re feeling blue….all these things can help you move out of blue to a sunny yellow disposition.
Elaine says
Everything written is what I needed to hear! Thanks so much for being an integral part of my healing. In November I was suffering from major depression, due to a toxic workplace, was taking anti- depressants and was so done with living. In February I stopped the meds cold turkey, started going to the gym, journalling, including gratitude, reading inspiring blogs, such as yours and slowly climbed out of the depression and am a completely different peron, one who is so thankful for life and the daily blessings I receive. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, you helped make a true difference 🙂
Chu Nam says
I just wanted to say nice post.
Thank you
[email protected] says
Wonderful list once again. You start with a smile and this is the most important. When we smile we feel better.
One that you did forget is laughter. Laughter makes the day lighter. As I go through my day I always find something to laugh about. Even if I have to laugh at myself.
When we learn to laugh at our on mistakes we learn to laugh with the world.
Thanks again for starting the day off right.
debbie
Crystal says
Love numbers one and three. I try to do them every day. In the last week I’ve done number three in a personally quirky way. I like to play the claw machines to win the little stuffed toys, because I’m good enough that I usually win. So I’ve been winning the little toys and giving them away to little kids who just look like the could use a little sunshine in their day. 😀 I can’t begin to express the personal happiness I’ve gotten from these small acts of kindness, but I will say there is nothing more heartwarming than a child’s smile.
David J. Singer says
Angel:
Excellent. I work hard on many of these. I love this line… “treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.”
Thanks for your typical great work.
Best regards,
David
gin says
Love this! Thank you!
Jo-Anne says
I do some of these things every day anyway, and I am happy with my life more or less………
Lisa says
Smiling is a great thing to do more of. I teach children and I notice that when I smile they are so much more receptive to me and the whole class has a more positive vibe to it. Plus they smile back and then I smile and then they smile….
Algeval says
I absolutely love all your help and suggestions to have a brighter and happier life. I am so pleased I stumbled upon your web site.
Best regards Val
Josh says
This may be the most practical post you’ve ever written! I love this!
Jery says
I’ve heard it all before and definitely needed to hear it again.
You can’t hear advice like this too much. Thanks for the kick in the butt!
marie says
I always look forward to reading these inspiring blogs.
ani says
Dearest marc & angel,
You’re truly the best. Awesome! I love everything you write.
Whenever I read your blog, I become so peaceful. I feel so much happier like a weight has been taken off my shoulders. Very refreshing and soothing at the same time.
Saloni says
Thank you so much! I really needed this great post!
leilla says
thanks, i really needed this today 🙂
Braja Patnaik says
Student of life. We live the life and we are expected to study the life we live. This is important, but really difficult. Without humility it is not possible.
Gonnaslim says
Thank you for this great list. I have added it to my bookmarks. Every word in this article is inspiring.
It really impressed me much: “you may not have tomorrow at all. Life is shorter than it sometimes seems”
Ashton J. Aiden says
Another wonderful post – amazing reminders and ideas of how to live a meaningful life. Sometimes the easiest things like giving someone a smile may seem like a lot of effort if one concentrates on the wrong things in life. Let us all go beyond our illusional problems and overcome the limitations we live in!
pam shadbolt says
I can honestly say since reading these posts I have stopped listening to other people saying to me ‘you don’t want to do that’ and getting on with my life and doing the things I want to do. Thank you, thank you, thank you xo
Pam Holcomb says
Thanks for sharing! I love this article. So many good tips for daily living. My soul is smiling, and you are the reason why!
Ashu says
Thanks a lot.