It's easy to get caught up in the daily routine of living an ordinary life.Maybe an ordinary life isn't for you, you want to be happy every day.Having a completely perfect life can only happen moments at a time, and everyone's definition of perfect is different.You can get an idea of what your life looks like if you work towards achieving what makes you happy.
Step 1: Think about some goals.
Setting goals can help you reach your goals.Try to think of a goal that is doable.Think about things that make you happy, then create goals around them.There are goals for career, romantic relationship, family, travel, fun and personal growth.Goals can include traveling, going to college/grad school, making diet changes, or learning an extreme sport.Be imaginative!Think about the things that make you smile.You should set a goal to visit the Amazon jungle.It doesn't matter how far off the goal appears.
Step 2: Don't set unrealistic (SMART) goals.
Make sure your goals are realistic and can come true for you.The S.M.A.R.T. can be used.There is a system to set goals.If your goals are too ambitious, you can experience a decrease in motivation and desire for improvement.To get the most out of your goals, they should be clear and specific, and answer some questions: who is involved, what do I want to accomplish, when should it be done and so on."Lose 15 lbs." might be your goal instead of "Get fit."Before I go to Hawaii.You need to be able to measure or quantify your goal.You will know when you've met your goal by seeing your progress.Once you have lost 15 lbs., you know you've achieved your goal.Use your common sense to decide if you can meet the goal.It should require you to make changes, but not be out of reach.Think about the skills and knowledge you have now and what you need to learn in order to achieve your goal.Think about whether the goal is realistic or just a stretch.If it will be fulfilling for you to achieve this goal, ask yourself why.Getting a law degree at Harvard is doable, but is it really what you want?If you want to learn to cook, moving to France for a year is a better goal.Do the other things in your life align with your goals?You have to set an end point for your goal.A point can be found on a calendar by June 15th.Having a specific time frame can give you a sense of purpose.
Step 3: Determine how you can reach your goals.
It is not enough to just think about your goals.Write the steps you need to take in order to get to the goal.Think about how to break the goal down into smaller parts.You want to set yourself up for success so you don't feel discouraged that your goals are not coming to fruition.If you want to visit the Amazon jungle, you'll need to save 5% of your paycheck for 14 weeks, save up vacation days, and book flights and trips.Think about the steps you need to take to become a vegetarian.You can create steps such as talking to other people who are vegetarians, looking at health/environment information, buying some cookbooks, and cutting out all meat.
Step 4: Write your goals down.
When you think through your goals and the steps you need to take, write them down.You want to make your goals meaningful so that you can work towards them.You can either write them on a piece of paper or make a vision board.Get involved with your goals by making it interactive.Put some effort into making it colorful.You want to create something that motivates you.Magazine clippings can be used to paint goals.You can use the internet to create your board.
Step 5: Don't delay.
No excuse is enough to keep you from living your dreams.It is never too late to start pursuing your happiness.
Step 6: Be yourself.
Remove the layers of who you think you are and be yourself.It might take a while to find yourself, but that is ok.You will be able to live your life in more fulfilling ways if you become closer to your authentic self.Realizing your personal values is one way to get in touch.Your values can be principles, beliefs or ideas that guide your life, such as a spiritual commitment, adherence to a vegan diet or social/environmental issues.Think about what makes you who you are and align it with those things.You may not be living in alignment with who you are if you find yourself crunching numbers for a living.If you want to be creative, consider adding more art and creativity to your life.When you feel most authentic and happiest, think about who you are.You can check out How to Be Yourself.
Step 7: Don't let your stress get to you.
It is easy to become frustrated by the obstacles in the way.You can and will move past each situation if you take a deep breath.Don't sweat the small stuff and the big stuff.It will be nothing more than a memory when you are in the throes of difficulty.Find ways to combat stress in the moment and learn your body's cues of stress.Try yoga, mini-meditations, positive self-talk, prayer, deep breathing, or play.To learn how to deal with stress, check out How to Deal With Stress.
Step 8: You should surround yourself with friends.
Good friends give you a sense of belonging and support.Good friends help you deal with stress and difficult times.It is important for emotional health and happiness to have friends.You can connect with people through a shared interest.Do you like meditation?You can join a sitting group or attend a meditation workshop.Have you always wanted to rock climb?There are climbing festivals and where to learn how to climb.You will instantly connect with people that share the same interests.
Step 9: It's important to get good sleep.
Lack of sleep is associated with many problems, including mental fogginess, difficulty losing weight, memory and concentration deficits, decreased sex drive, and impaired judgment.Get enough sleep to live a happy and fulfilling life.Don't allow anything to interfere with your sleep time.You should get at least seven to ten hours of sleep each night.You can learn how to sleep better with How to Sleep Better.
Step 10: Go beyond your comfort zone.
There is a lot of life that is missing if you are living within your comfort zone.Feelings of boredom, restless, tired, dissatisfied, and lack of enthusiasm for life are some indicators of living in your comfort zone.It doesn't have to stay that way.There are ways to do things that are not comfortable.Always wanted to do the things you have never done.Think about what scares you and then tackle it.You are capable of tackling whatever is in front of you, and you have tackled many fears in your life.Don't let fear hold you back.It is hard to get over the fear of stepping out.Start small, celebrate your successes and take some baby steps.You can do it if you follow in the footsteps of other people who have stepped out of their comfort zone.Staying within your comfort zone in fear of embarrassment limits your ability to have fun.Who cares what others think of you if you step out of it with courage and boldness?Do what you want, be yourself.There are more tips in How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone.
Step 11: Be present.
The benefits of being in the present moment include physical and mental health.Being aware means observing your thoughts without judgement.Feel the ground beneath you when you walk, listen to the sounds around you, taste each bite of food you eat, and observe your surroundings with your eyes.Instead of letting them run on autopilot, use your senses to the fullest.Then, practice paying attention to your thoughts and emotions, without judgement.Don't think about the food when you taste it.Take a moment to notice how your body reacts to the smell.Don't chew the food until you put it in your mouth.Look at the texture and flavors.As you chew, notice how it feels on your tongue and between your teeth.Bring yourself back to the moment with your senses when you become distracted.Allow your thoughts to take a break.
Step 12: Give thanks.
If you want to practice giving thanks daily, you have to move the Thanksgiving turkey aside.People who are grateful exhibit health and happiness benefits, such as sleeping better, having increased empathy and decreased aggression, improved self-esteem, and improved physical and psychological health.Begin and end each day with three things you are grateful for.Don't list things you have, connect with the feeling of gratitude.The more material you focus on, the better.You should be thankful for the ability to walk to the market, the feeling of the sun on your shoulders, and your friends.
Step 13: Have a positive attitude.
No matter what, always look on the positive side of things.Even if the situation is completely negative, there needs to be at least one positive thing in it.You can get through life's difficulties with a good attitude.There are health and psychological benefits to having a positive outlook.When you notice negative thoughts, think of something positive.Combat thoughts include, "I'll mess this up; I've never done it before!" and " I am so proud of myself for giving myself the opportunity to try something new."Britney Spears shaved her head and had a public meltdown, and nobody seems to care about that anymore, so nothing will follow me forever.
Step 14: It's a good idea to avoid perfectionism.
What feels perfect only lasts a few moments.If you want a happy life, don't cheat yourself out of it by trying to make it perfect.Perfectionism can cause unhappiness and an inability to celebrate your successes as not being good enough, if you fall into the trap of having a fear of failure.If you want to learn a new language, speaking is the best way to start.It can be frightening to speak a foreign language, but you will learn from your mistakes.It is okay to make mistakes in order to improve.Learning experiences that look like mistakes can be useful for growth."Now I'm more aware of what doesn't work, and try something different."
Step 15: Your version of a perfect life will change over time.
And that is okay!When you're 30 you may be living in a different country and learning a new culture, but at 32 your perfect life may include adopting a baby.Don't get too attached to what you thought was your perfect life, be flexible and adapt to it changing.Changes are a part of the adventure.