5 Secrets For A Happier You And A More Fulfilling Life

When was the last time you felt truly happy? If it’s taking you a long time to recall, it’s a sign that you’ve got some work to do…Because, guess what? Unlike most people believe, happiness doesn’t just happen! Happiness is something you must cultivate and make time for – especially if you have a busy life and a tight schedule.

In this article, you’ll learn the 5 steps you must take to become a happier you and start living a more fulfilling life. Are you ready to dive in? Then, let’s get started!

The Benefits of a Happy and Fulfilling Life

Being happy doesn’t mean never experiencing pain or suffering. 

Happiness means having an overall positive perception of life, which allows you to be more resilient when facing challenging times.

There are several benefits related to higher happiness levels. Those benefits not only affect your personal life but also your health.

As mentioned in this article, the most relevant benefits unlocked by the power of happiness are:

• Lower stress levels
• Better sleep quality
• Lower anxiety
• Improved heart health
• Better immune system
• Longer life expectancy

So, if happiness can do all this for you (and more!) – What are you still waiting for?

5 Secrets to Long-Lasting Happiness

Are you ready to discover the 5 steps you can take – as of today – to boost your happiness and live a more fulfilling life? Then, let’s dive in!

1. Live in alignment with your core values

If you’re unhappy with your life, there is a high chance that you’re not living in alignment with your core values.

Your core values are the coordinates of the compass that guide you through your life decisions. 

When you make major life decisions without tuning in with your value compass, you’re most likely to end on the wrong path.

Your values, in fact, are the starting point to conducting a life that feels ‘right’ for you.

But, how do you get there? How can you make the right decisions when you’re unclear about what your values are in the first place?

There’s no reason to panic – I’ve got the perfect tool for you! Grab your FREE “Value Compass Workbook” to help you set the right values for your life.

Only once you’ve got clear on what’s important – and what isn’t – you can start making better decisions that will support the lifestyle you want for yourself.

2. Add one thing that brings you joy

Most of the time, people fall for this trap: in their pursuit of happiness, they start thinking of all the things that are causing unhappiness in their lives only to then feel stuck because…well, they cannot get rid of them!

For example: if your job sucks but you don’t have enough financial stability to hand in your 2-week notice right now, you’ll feel trapped in a job you hate.

Or perhaps, you started disliking the city you’ve just moved to, but can’t move again as you’ve just signed a 1-year lease. 

Seeing things from this stagnant and negative perspective might lead you to feel even more unhappy and unsatisfied with your life.

You must realize that happiness doesn’t necessarily come from removing all sources of unhappiness. Sometimes, adding something is the best thing you can do. 

That’s why, in order to live a more fulfilling life, I invite you to add one small thing that brings you joy.

What does make you truly happy? What is one thing you can start doing regularly to increase your happiness? 

Here is a list of feel-good activities that might make you happier:

• Dancing
• Painting
• Baking 
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Working out
• Writing
• Reading
• Playing music
• Coloring
• Knitting
• Creating clothes
• Journaling
• Playing video games
• Taking pictures
• Traveling
• Hiking
• Making jewelry
• Writing poetry
• Connecting with others

Bonus tip: If you’re having a hard time coming up with an activity that brings you joy, think back to when you were a child. What did you enjoy doing back then? 

3. Invest in meaningful relationships

“What does increase your happiness is investing in your relationships”

– Emiliana Simon-Thomas

In this interview, Emiliana Simon-Thomas, teacher of the “Science of Happiness” course, got crystal clear on what makes people truly happy: no, it’s not money. It’s people.

That’s right: your close circle and warm connections are the single, most determining factors in your happiness level! So, if you want to live a more fulfilling life, it makes sense that you invest in your relationships. Once again: it’s not about quantity – it’s all about the quality of those connections. After all, if you have 10 friends, but no one to talk to when things get hard and you need a shoulder to cry on…then, where’s the real connection?

In the case that you’re not satisfied with your current relationships, please acknowledge that you can do something about it. Oftentimes, we tend to focus exclusively on what others can do to improve, forgetting that any relationship is made of two people. 

For this reason, I invite you to reflect on what you could do, instead. Some questions you could ask yourself are:

• How do I show up for others?
• What do I bring to the table?
• How can I be a better [friend, partner, child, co-worker]?

High-quality relationships are the secret to a happy and more fulfilling life. 

Surround yourself with positive people, and you’ll find yourself naturally becoming a more positive person.

4. Focus on abundance

You cannot be happy when you constantly focus on what you lack, rather than what you have.

Gratitude is one key element to living a more fulfilling life, as it allows you to shift your focus toward the abundance that’s already present in your life.

But, how can you focus more on abundance? There are several options for you to choose from:

• Start a gratitude journal
• Create a dream journal
• Say ‘thank you’ more often
• Shift your perspective to find the positive in the negative
• List 3 things you’re grateful for each day
• Compliment someone
• Repeat positive affirmations
• Reframe your thinking

Remember: what you focus on grows.

It’s really up to you. But, before you choose what to focus on, ask yourself: “What do I want to create more of?” Then, act accordingly.

5. Embrace the present moment

Realizing that the present moment is all you have is the last secret to living a happier, more fulfilling life.

Research conducted at Harvard concluded that our minds wander for an average of 47% of our awake time. So, considering that you’re spending half of your days either re-living past experiences or stressing over the future, it’s no surprise you can’t be happy now! 

To feel instantly happier, there are two important life lessons you must embrace:

• You have no power over your past – what’s done, it’s done! (And it’s gone!)
• Worrying about the future and what might happen won’t make it happen any faster! (For sure, it won’t make you any happier!)

The only moment you should focus on is here and now. That’s where your power lies.

The best practice to raise your self-awareness and be more grounded in the present moment is meditation.

Meditation isn’t easy – but it’s definitely worth it! It’s one of the rituals that had the biggest, most positive impact on my life.

If you’re new to meditating, you can start simply by: setting a 3-minute timer, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breath. 

Breathe in, breathe out. Let your thoughts come in and overcrowd your mind, without any resistance. 

Once the time is up, open your eyes and go on with your life!

Do this every day for the next 30 days, and you’ll already see the positive effects expand into other areas of your life.

Related reads:

• Solo Dates For Boosting Self-Care: How To Date Yourself
• How To Make A Bliss List + What I Have On My List
• 31 Days Of Love: A Month Of Self-Love Affirmations
• How To Find Happiness Using These Insightful Journal Prompts

Conclusion

Being happier doesn’t just happen, but you can make it happen! 

It’s all about putting enough time and effort into designing a life that, on a daily basis, fulfills you and brings you joy. 

So, what is it that you need to do to live a happier life? Let’s recap it quickly!

1. Live aligned with your values
2. Do more of what brings you joy
3. Nurture your relationships
4. Focus on abundance, not lack
5. Embrace the present moment 

So there you have it: those are your 5 secrets for a happier you and a more fulfilling life!

Author: Giada from Purposeful Dreamers

Giada Crepaldi, the author behind “PurposefulDreamers”, has one mission: to help you become the BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF so that you can create and live your DREAM LIFE! 

On her blog, she shares the most effective productivity hacks, time-management techniques, healthy habits and routines, and all the mindset work you need to do to live up to your FULL POTENTIAL. Are you ready to change your life for the better? Take now the first step towards the life you’ve ever dreamed of – it’s only one click away…