What are the things that make you happy?
“You can’t be happy unless you’re unhappy sometimes.”
Your life is made up of a series of events.
Some of them will make you happy and others less so.
Being aware of this helps you appreciate the positives more and lessens the impact of anything negative.
So what are the things that make us most happy? And what are the ones that make us most sad?
Falling in love or landing your dream job feels amazing. These two experiences are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.
On the other hand, being involved in a toxic relationship or losing your job will have the opposite effect.
To help you identify which things to do more or and which ones to do your best to avoid, below is a list of life events (both big and small) that contribute to your happiness:
The little things that make you happy
1. Going for a walk in nature
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and combining it with views of the natural world is an easy way to boost your mood. Add a dog into the mix and you are winning.
2. Cooking a good meal from scratch
Enjoying home-cooked food with friends is a brilliant way to unwind and connect with other human beings, a reliable source of happiness. Time to dust off that recipe book you got for your birthday.
3. Lying on the sofa with a hot drink and a good book
Is there a better way to grab a few moments of bliss than getting comfortable with a cup of tea or coffee and an engrossing read? Wholesome answers only, please.
4. Catching up with a friend
You always experience a good feeling after seeing a friend you haven’t seen for a while and having a good natter.
5. Having a bath with candles and relaxing music
Is there a better way to relax? Probably not. Bring on that soft light and Kenny G on the sax.
6. Having brunch at the weekend
Going out for a tasty brunch is a sure-fire way to put you in a positive mood. Bonus points for doing it with a large group of friends.
7. Performing a random act of kindness
Helping others is a guaranteed way to make yourself happy. No matter how small, every act of kindness feels good. Who could you do something nice for today?
8. Watching some standup comedy
Who doesn’t like to laugh? Switching on the TV and queuing up some comedy legends on Netflix is an instant mood booster.
The big events that make you happy
1. Falling in love
One of the most incredible experiences you can have as a human being. If only they could bottle that feeling and sell it! It wouldn’t be cheap but it would always be worth it.
2. Birth of your child
Becoming a parent is a joyful event and a privilege. Sure it can be tricky at times, but the rewards are tremendous.
3. Getting married
Research shows that, on average, married people live longer and enjoy healthier lives. Just make sure you pick the right person!
4. High school graduation
Graduation day marks the end of adolescence and the start of adulthood. After that, the world is your oyster kid! What will you do? Where will you go?
5. University graduation
A sense of achievement mixed with optimism for the future. How good does that sound?
6. Landing your dream job
It’s yours, the career you’ve always wanted. Break open the champagne! You’ve done it.
7. Winning a prize
Recognition of your efforts makes you feel good. All that hard work finally paid off. High five!
8. Taking time off to travel
Time to think, learn and explore new worlds. Travel can be a catalyst for personal growth and satisfaction.
The little things that make you unhappy
1. Being late for an important job interview
We’ve all been there. Whenever you are running late, it’s always for that one thing that’s important.
2. Missing out on tickets to your favourite music event
Your favourite band is playing, but you forgot to book the tickets early enough. Cue feelings of disappointment.
3. A card payment not going through
Depending on the situation, this can be a minor inconvenience or a major embarrassment.
4. Getting a parking ticket
You’ve popped into a local store to grab something, and just 15 minutes later, you return to find a yellow piece of paper stuck to your windscreen. Damn it.
5. Losing your phone
We’re so attached to our phones these days that losing one feels like losing a limb. Ok, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s fair to say it won’t make you happy.
6. Having your wallet stolen
This is possibly the worst one on the list because of the hassle involved in replacing everything in your wallet. Highly unlikely to put a smile on your face.
7. Someone scratching your car
An unkind individual has decided to run their keys down the side of your pride and joy. Something guaranteed to put you in a bad mood.
8. Your electricity bill being overcharged
Let’s face it, nobody likes paying bills. It’s even worse when you find you’ve been overcharged and have to sort it out with your electricity provider.
The big things that make you unhappy
1. Social rejection
Loneliness not only makes us sad, but it also is terrible for our physical well being. Nurturing your relationships is a fundamental component of happiness.
2. Divorce
Going through a divorce is one of the most challenging life events of all. Even an amicable split is likely to cause a great deal of emotional strain.
3. Imprisonment
Unsurprisingly, loss of freedom is bad for your mental well-being. Luckily, most of us will never have to experience this.
4. Unemployment
Being out of work damages your self-esteem and adds financial strain. An unfortunate double whammy!
5. Losing a loved one
Suffering from bereavement can at times feel overwhelming. However, support from others is an enormous help at times like this.
6. Being broke
Worrying constantly about money is a significant cause of unhappiness and financial troubles often lead to couples divorcing.
7. Poor mental health
Feeling depressed obviously has an enormous impact on happiness. Unfortunately, anxiety isn’t a heap of laughs either! Making time for your mental health should be a priority.
8. Poor physical health
People with chronic pain and life-threatening illness are often unhappy. There’s no doubt about it, good health is important for maintaining a positive outlook.
How can you feel happy more often?
It sounds overly simplistic but making time for the little things that bring you joy is a reliable way to feel happy more often.
So why not create your own list of things that make you feel good?
It’s also important to recognise that even if you do your best to avoid them, unhappy events will occur. That’s life.
The trick is to draw upon any happy memories during challenging times so you can balance things out.
Whilst it’s human nature to focus on the negative, the good news is you can train your mind to think more positively.
If you enjoyed this post, then you might enjoy The Happy Course made in collaboration with The Happiness Research Institute and the best-selling author Meik Wiking.
