Be confident. Being confident about who you are is the first step to happiness. Recognising what you love about yourself first will make you much happier to be in your own skin. Start by making a list of all of the things you love about yourself, whether it’s your free spirit, your work ethic, or your shiny hair. Here are some ways to improve your confidence:
· Think of the compliments you get. If people are always telling you you’re a great friend, or admiring your ability to find balance in your life, they’re probably right.
· Appreciate what makes you unique and believe me you certainly are unique!
· Find at least ten things you like about yourself. This should be easy and fun and will make you think about what makes you so great.
· Minimize your insecurities. Everyone is insecure about something, but if you find yourself insecure about absolutely everything about yourself, you’re probably filling yourself with anxiety for no reason. Make a list of all the things that make you insecure and ask yourself are they real or something you have grown up telling yourself?.
Recognize your flaws. Confidence is the key to happiness, but if you’re so confident that you don’t recognize where there’s room for improvement, you won’t be seeing your real self and may be an unpleasant person to be around. Here are some ways to be real about who you are:
· Accept constructive criticism. If someone is rude or just plain cruel about your not-so-great qualities, you don’t have to listen. But if your friend, parent, or even your colleague suggests that you need to work on a certain aspect of yourself, such as your listening skills or your attention to detail, listen with an open mind.
· Make a list of things you want to work on. Pick a few flaws you want to address and make a game plan for execution. For example, if you feel like you’re being selfish, take the time to give back to your community. If you think you’re a bit narcissistic, make a concerted effort to spend less time talking about yourself next time you hang out with a friend.
· Learn to laugh at yourself. Nobody’s perfect, and if you can join your friends when they tease you for your traits, such as your impossibly messy room, or your inability to arrive anywhere on time, you’ll show that you don’t take yourself too seriously. Remember that you can laugh at yourself while making a note to try to improve—if you’re always late, try to get everywhere fifteen minutes early, and you may actually arrive on time for once.
· Forgive yourself. Let’s face it–we’ve all done something we’re less than proud of. Maybe you said something really cruel to a friend, cheated on your boyfriend or girlfriend, or made a major mistake at work. Whatever you did, you should recognize that it was wrong and understand why you did it, but after that, it’s time to let it go. If you’re so hung up on your past mistakes, you won’t be able to focus on the present moment..
Be grateful. Never forget how lucky you are to be you. If you spend so much time obsessing about your flaws and things you want to change, you’ll never be fully happy just being yourself. Here are some ways to be grateful:
· Appreciate your health. If you’re a healthy person who doesn’t have trouble walking, eating, or sleeping, be grateful! There are many people whose lives revolve around their poor health, and if you’re not one of them, don’t forget how lucky you are.
· Be generous. Volunteer in your community, donate and do anything you can to help those who are less fortunate. You can also be a generous friend, son/daughter, sibling, or spouse by doing nice things for the important people in your life.
· Always say thank you. You should always say “thank you,” whether you’re thanking your local café employee for an amazing cup of coffee or you’re thanking your friend for always being there for you. Try to say “thank you” for something different at least five times a day!
Don’t forget to laugh—ever. Laughter is a common remedy for all ailments, and you should always leave some room for laughter in your daily life. No matter how bad your life may seem at a given moment, never forget to take a break to laugh. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll live longer. Here are some ways to remember to laugh:
· Be just plain silly. Tell a silly joke or just dance around like no one is watching. Why not?
· Watch a comedy. This will make you laugh and can cheer you up.
· Be around people who love to laugh. Laughter is contagious!
Never go a day without laughing. If you’ve had a really bad day and spent most of it with an upside-down smile, do something to make you smile.