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The word "Happy" can be extremely triggering for individuals. If you are somewhat of a pious individual, or you have grown up in extremely religious and legalistic communities, or you don't believe happiness is realistic and achievable.....I am here to share why you can be happier and it is very real.

Most will tell you to focus on joy instead of happy. "Happy is circumstancial", they will say while joy is eternal and imbedded in our soul.

Technically, yes, they are correct in their differentiation between happy and joy. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand the difference between the two words. In fact, a quick trip to the dictionary will show you that these words are slightly different in how they may be used.

Happy: Adjective; Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment; having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with (a person, arrangement, or situation).

Joy: Noun; a feeling of great pleasure and happiness; a thing that causes joy

Verb; rejoice.

I realize that you know the definitions of Happy and Joy, but I just wanted to share again and refresh your memory.....and encourage you to shout out that it is okay to want to be happy.

Today, I am going to share with you 5 ways you can have a happier and enjoyable life. This is not an exhaustive list, obviously, but it is a great start to enjoy each and every single day a little bit more. We have just one life that we get to live. Let's choose to make each day count like it is our last day on this earth and with those we love.

Romanticize your life.

I put this on top for a reason. It is one of the most exciting and beautiful things about celebrating and enjoying even the smallest moments in our lives. There is just something about making ordinary moments even more special, elevating them in a way that makes you appreciate them all the more and brings a smile to your face and your heart. It is like instant sunshine for the soul.

• Go buy that coffee at the cute coffee shop you keep driving past.

• Dress up and put on makeup, even if you have nowhere to be for the day.

• Wear cute athletic wear while you are working out.

• Elevate your self care routine. Light a candle. Play soft, relaxing music. Take your time instead of rushing through the process.

• Have a picnic at the park or beach, or at your chosen happy place.

• Buy yourself flowers or a little treat that brings a smile to your face.

  
  

  Express gratitude daily.

  
  

I fully believe that when someone is grateful, they exude beauty that radiates from in the inside out. We all know someone who complains about everything. It is exhausting and the ingratitude reflects on their physical appearance. Harsh, perhaps, but it is true. Gratitude starts in the heart and it flows out of us. Ways to express gratitude include:

• Starting a gratitude journal.

• Pray/mentally express what you are thankful for before you even get out of bed.

• Write out 3 things you are grateful for each day.

• Tell someone why you are grateful for them in your life.

• Choose to see the good in inconvenient or disappointing moments.

Set a Goal or Make Plans for the Future.

I love this. My bestie and I just did this while we had our girls trip to Mammoth last weekend. We decided that we are going to go to Italy to celebrate turning 50. We have 8 years to plan and save money, haha, but we are so excited for that trip. Planning something for up ahead gives you something to look forward to.

• Buy tickets for a concert/talent you have been dying to see.

• Plan a road trip for the summer.

• Travel abroad with your favorite people.

• Schedule that brunch date.

• Book that bucket list trip you have been dreaming of.

Practice random acts of kindness.

Imagine how good it feels when you do something kind for someone when they aren't expecting it, and you don't have an expectation of it being returned. Kindness is intentional. You must develop the muscle for it. Our society has very much shifted to all about self and self-preservation. However, kindness is a catalyst for good. For happy. For love. Being kind and showing kindness takes some effort, but before long, it will become a natural extention of who you are, and you will be happier for it.

• Pay the coffee for the stranger behind you.

• Smile when crossing paths with others you don't know.

• Compliment a stranger ( I personally love to compliment girls on their outfits, hair, whatever. I have made new friends this way and it is awesome. There are so many cool chicks out there to be friends with).

• Volunteer for your favorite charity or help out in your community/church.

• Prepare a meal for a loved one.

• Look people in the eye and smile at them. This helps them feel seen and heard. So many are going through hard, unspoken things. Seeing them and hearing them is one of the kindest and most loving things you can do for them.

And finally, Live in the Present.

This might seem a little contradictory toward my third tip about planning for the future, but truly I think it goes perfectly together. Loving your life and being here, where you are at this present time is a vital piece to having and living a happier and more enjoyable life. You may very well be experiencing great difficulties today. But guess what? If you are reading this, that means that you are not dead. You are alive and breathing and everything can change. Be present. Be here. Focus on the here and now right now. Transform your mindset.

Stop stressing over the things you can't control. Have a horrible ex? Your kids driving you nuts? Your career/job adding stress to you? Life not going quite as planned? It happens to all of us. We all have stressors and events and people in our lives that can add burdens to our hearts and to our overall mindset. You can't control how people behave and you also can't control what happens with external factors. If you job decides to let you go, there is not much you can do about that.

Your attitude and your mindset is something you can control. Life can suck AND you can choose to have the mindset of moving forward and not allowing disappointment and hurt consume you and keep you from enjoying the present. Easier said than done, I do realize this. It is a discipline, a muscle that must be exercised regularly. The more you choose to live present, the stronger this muscle gets. Praying/meditating is a great way to develop this muscle.

Rooting you on!

Your Dream Buildher Bestie,

Tiffany Rhea

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