I write a lot about happiness on The Autumn Girl. Often it’s a simple list or sharing an exciting moment, but I find it is something important to my every day well being. Focusing on happy things and sharing them with other people, well, it just makes me a better me. Happiness isn’t exactly a simple thing. And why would it be? We are such complex beings, aren’t we? We all have our little ticks and our energetic moments. We all have our favorite things. Our moods. Our goals. Our passions. We’re all different and thats what makes life so interesting.

I’m definitely not a simple person. I’m super anxious at random moments for no real reason. Seeing a phone charger left in the wall irks me to a level of insanity. But then really small silly things like sipping a pumpkin spiced latte in the midst of a chilly fall day  or a handwritten letter give me overwhelming joy.

I find that happiness isn’t something that always just happens. Often we have to make it happen by adjusting our life styles or changing our attitudes. Happiness is sometimes a work of art.

Here are a few tricks I recommend for making each day a little brighter and better:

1. Start your day with your favorite morning beverage… whether it be water with lemon, a good ole cup of Joe, or your favorite Early Grey tea… Do you. Do it right. Every morning is your new beginning.
2. Think of something or someone you are grateful for. Maybe write it down or thank God. Or just think about it while enjoying that beverage. When you focus on giving thanks, you are focusing on appreciation… Appreciating moments of your in life is essential to happiness.
3. Decide you aren’t going to care what anyone thinks today. Because the less you care, the more you DO YOU without hesitation, and the more energized you’ll feel by your own confidence. I swear this is a ‘fake it til you make it’ sitch that actually works ;) Been there. Done that. Still doing it.
4. Understand your own love language.  Everyone has different ways of expressing and accepting love. Having an understanding of yours and someone you love or care for deeply is really helpful for maintaining a healthy and balanced relationship.
5. Do something for yourself every day to decompress. Eric loves his golf game on his phone. I love my kindle & my netflix shows. Give yourself a little you time if you can, every day.

Now I know this is a short list and it isn’t the answer to happiness. But it’s a start and something practical and easy to do. I focus a lot of my blog on happy things. I find the more I write and reflect and share it with other people, the more I am uplifted by my own revelations.

Image via Miriadna

Just looking at this autumn image gets my heart beating faster. What makes you happy?

advice happiness love language the little things