You’ve probably heard the song “Don’t worry, be happy” by Bobby McFerrin. This song has the ability to convey a very simple message: to be happy, you mustn’t worry.

Living happily and optimistically is a wonderful thing, and very good for your health. Being happy protects you from the stresses of everyday life and, as you all know, stress is one of the main causes of many illnesses, from the benign to the more serious.

How happy are you? When you get up every morning, are you happy, or do you wish you’d stayed in bed?

Read this article and discover seven simple tips to help you be happier every day…

You have the choice to be happy

Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher born around 544 B.C., had the following thought:

“Only one thing is constant, permanent, and that is change. Everything passes and nothing remains.”

The point is that whatever problems you encounter in your life, they won’t last forever. And we all have the power to do what’s necessary to change what we want to change. Because your life is made up of a succession of choices, you can change any aspect of your life at any time.

7 tips to make you even happier

TIP N°1: CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY
The first tip, although very simplistic, is nonetheless essential: you must decide to be a happy person.

Every moment of your life, you can choose whether you’re going to be optimistic or stressed, whether you’re going to be relaxed or disturbed, whether you’re going to be enterprising or passive. The choice is yours all the time – you choose for yourself, not someone else!

Make the choice to be happy, and make a commitment to yourself so that you’re not one of those pessimistic people who constantly dwell on the past.

TIP N°2: DON’T ATTACH TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO THINGS YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING ABOUT
When I’m on public transport, I often notice that most people can’t start their day without reading the latest news. As we all know, journalists like to report the worst and dramatize events. And it’s not just that, wars, famine, political problems, … are commonplace in this type of newspaper. But here’s one thing that will never change: you can’t intervene, and even if you could, you wouldn’t solve all the world’s problems!

Follow this advice: if you want to help the victims of famine, make a regular donation. If you want to help treat people suffering from disease in poor countries, make regular donations. Thanks to these donations, you’ll be taking action and helping people out of a problem that affects you.

But keep this advice in mind: don’t get your spirits sapped by reading bad news every morning. Read a good book, a good magazine, listen to your favorite music, look out the window. Do what you like, but avoid following too much of the news in these types of newspapers, or select only the information that can be useful to you on a daily basis.

TIP N°3: EXPAND YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
As you already know, it’s impossible to be happy on your own. Social relationships and exchanges with the people around you are essential, and you mustn’t neglect them. People are all different, and it’s this difference that brings out the richness of the social interactions we have on a daily basis. Being around different people allows you to work on yourself. Little by little, you learn to accept people for who they are, and you enrich your points of view thanks to their ideas. Without constantly going along with what the other person thinks, you’ll gradually be able to nuance what you say, thus enriching your points of view.

TIP N°4: DO SOMETHING YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT
Working for a living is the most time-consuming activity after sleep. That is, unless you’ve won the lottery or your name is Paris Hilton! The achievements you make in your work give you satisfaction. It’s very important to take pride in what you do day after day.

If you’re in a job you don’t like, don’t give up. Don’t condemn yourself to doing nothing. Remember the Heraclitus quote in the first paragraph of this article. The only thing is to take small steps. As you take small steps, you’ll achieve big ones. At the end of these actions, you’ll reach your goals.

TIP N°5: EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS
Generally speaking, you need to express your feelings as much as possible. It’s important to confide in others, to free yourself before you explode. Your friends and family are there to listen to you when things aren’t going well. A lot of people try to keep everything bottled up inside them, and these repressed feelings end up one day coming out much amplified.

You must never forget that nobody is perfect, and that nobody can be at their best all the time. You have the right not to feel good! Don’t be afraid to say you’re not feeling well today. Talk about it, take advice from your loved ones and turn it into a strength. Your friends will advise you and help you chase away those regrets and bad thoughts, and that will get you going again. Remember Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous quote: “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger”. You’ll grow out of your sorrows if you talk about them and take action to get better.

In the same way, if you’re a passionate person, talk about your passion. If you like certain people, tell them. Society confines us to shells of individualism, so break yours and communicate with those around you.

TIP N°6: GET ORGANIZED
Most people are always saying that they never have time to do anything. But if you ask them what they did the day before, most will tell you they watched TV or spent their evening on social networks.

How many of them have ever thought about organizational tools and methods? How many have decided to think about what they really want, and how many are taking action to get there?

Be aware of what you want to achieve, then define objectives and apply a method of efficiency and productivity to bring them to fruition. Goal-setting, planning and creating to-do lists are the fundamentals of time management. These tips will help you feel much less stressed on a daily basis.

TIP N°7: MAKE PROGRESS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF AREAS
Learning is a fascinating activity. We can learn anything, and the advent of the Internet means we can access information much more quickly and easily than ever before. Want to learn the guitar? Learn the guitar! Want to practice a martial art? Sign up with a martial arts school or association.

Don’t forget that there are a multitude of websites and blogs where enthusiasts share their knowledge. A bit like Full of Happiness on personal development and psychology, you’ll find sites on just about everything. Don’t miss out!

Don’t limit the areas in which you can learn. Surprise yourself! Would you like to learn Tibetan cooking, yoga or sewing? There’s no limit. Learn, progress and be proud of yourself.

TAKE ACTION
These little tips are very easy to implement in your everyday life, so don’t deprive yourself. Don’t stop yourself from going for a walk when you feel like it, even if your friends aren’t motivated! Get some fresh air, get out and enjoy the good weather. It’s always better than sitting in front of the TV!

Avoid spending too much time with people who are constantly negative. There are a lot of them out there, and even if you like them, in the long run they’re likely to get in your way. Be aware that they are negative and see them from time to time because you like them, but don’t let them rub off on you!

And never forget the first tip on this list: you and you alone make the choice to be happy. Nobody else will do it for you!

It’s up to you!