Happier

People with kind hearts lead happier, more rewarding lives.

Think about it.

Does it seem like people have forgotten the “Golden Rule” these days? Wouldn’t it be nice if one of the soft drink companies could come up with a kindness cocktail or a niceness nectar for people who need a boost of humanity? A Harris Poll found that only one-third of the population considers themselves happy.

The study gave a survey to 2,345 U.S. adults. It was shocking to see that two-thirds of the population isn’t content with their lives, jobs, or overall well-being. These numbers are awful, and something must change. A happy person is usually someone who is kind and looks out for others.

Why Kind Hearts Are Happier?

While the number of joy-filled people may be lacking, those who are kind tend to live longer lives. It’s a novel concept to think that showing kindness to your fellow humans could make you live longer.

Why would being happy affect your longevity on the earth? Here are 15 reasons why kind hearts tend to stick around longer than those who tend to be melancholy.

1. Being Kind Boosts Happiness

When you’re doing something for others, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. Everyone is busy and has a hectic schedule, but when you take a few minutes to be kind even when you don’t have to, it gives you a whole different outlook.

Imagine how different the world would be if people automatically loaded groceries for senior citizens, opened doors for mothers with infants, and just did random acts of kindness for no other reason than the feeling of warmth and happiness it brings. It feels good to help others, and it puts a bounce in your joy-filled bounce in your step.

2. Luckier in Love

Have you ever seen a couple that is so in love that they ooze with mushiness? Then there are those people who tend to be so unlucky that they find every narcissist and toxic person along life’s highway. Why are some people so blessed with good relationships while others struggle?

The key to being lucky in life may be having a kind heart. There are all kinds of people that you date when you’re playing the field. However, the one you choose to marry or commit too is always the one that completes you.

It’s the person that makes you want to do better and work harder. Perhaps, it’s the person who is kind to others, and you see their heart before anything else. Generous people tend to be happier in love because they attract people with like minds.

Being kind and having a big heart are attractive features that everyone wants in a spouse.

3. Engage in Philanthropic Activities

Some many charities and organizations reach out to those in need. Doing philanthropy work tends to get your mind off your troubles and focus on what matters most.

It’s hard to complain about your sore knees when you see someone who lost their legs due to a disease. Benevolence helps you to view the world through a different pair of lenses.

When you have a joyous existence, you count your blessings instead of pinning for your wants.

4. Don’t Suffer from many Health Problems

Harvard Medical School recently did a study regarding the health link to happiness. Happy hearts generally don’t have as many health problems as those who tend to be negative and pessimistic.

True happiness is learning how to free yourself from stress. When you are under constant duress, your cortisol and adrenaline levels are too high. Having these hormone levels at accelerated heights causes your heart to work overtime.

Lowering your stress levels decreases your risk of heart attacks and strokes, not to mention other muscle tension issues. A joy-filled heart is like good medicine to the soul.

5. See the Good in all Around Them

How many times do you look at the good around you? You might look at your home and see a dripping faucet, carpets that are worn, and lights that need to be replaced. However, kind hearts and happy people will be thankful they have a place to lay their heads.

You can extend kindness to others when you see the blessings you have and think of those who are less fortunate.

6. Tend to Have Many Friends

When you’re in the market for a friend, you want the kind, loving, and eager person who is willing to help you. No one wants a needy friend who keeps the relationship one-sided.

Kind hearts attract the masses because everyone wants to be their pal. They’re the ones that you can count on when you need to vent, and they will be there at a moment’s notice when you call anytime day or night.

7. Take Time to Enjoy the Simple Things

Kind hearts love to enjoy the simple things. They find grounding in the beautiful aroma of a rose or the splendor of rainbow after a storm. They have an infectious manner that brings everyone into their simple life.

These people tend to be laid back and don’t allow the simplest of life’s pleasures to pass them by.

8. Never too Busy to Help Someone in Need

Martin Seligman wrote a book about how to have a meaningful life. For this story, he conducted a study. He wanted to see who was happier the people who chased after their pleasures or found pleasure in helping others.

He dubbed the study “Philanthropy versus Fun.” The first group sought happiness by self-pleasure, and the second group found contentment by doing charitable acts. The results were remarkable. The group that helped their fellow man was happier for longer than the group that sought to please themselves.

Happy hearts are never too busy to read to the blind, work in a soup kitchen, or run errands for the elderly.

9. Would Give the Shirt off Their Back to Someone

Happy people would gladly give you the shirt off their back. They are not stingy with their possessions, and they will gladly share. They’re the person that always has a small gift or token to give you whenever they see you.

They may make crafts or baked goods for a new neighbor moving in. Sometimes, they are often a doormat because people take advantage of their generosity, but they don’t let these negative experiences stop them from being kind.

10. Forgiveness Comes Easily

Their forgiving heart is apparent in life’s troubles. These people usually don’t hold grudges or stay mad too long. They are easy to forgive and forget about the past because they don’t want to let it affect their future.

11. Believe Life Comes with Purpose

Someone who has joy chooses to live their life with purpose. They are not content with getting up in the morning, going to work, and returning home. They want to live each day to the fullest. Therefore, they look for opportunities to give back and to make an impact every day.

12. Never Stop Chasing Their Dreams

Just because kind hearts want to help others doesn’t mean that they ever stop chasing their dreams. These people are often goal-driven. They can set goals and make sure they accomplish them. Their tenacity and drive are attractive to others.

13. Always Put Their Family First

Family is an integral part of life. A kind person makes sure to see their mom on Mother’s Day. They send cards to everyone on their birthdays, and they would never miss a family function. They put family first and try to be actively involved with their close and extended relatives.

14. Are Accountable for Words and Actions

Being accountable for your words and actions is a big job. Kind hearts would never want to hurt you for anything. If they feel they have hurt you, then they would be the first to apologize. Though they try to do right, they will admit that they’re not perfect, but their ability to quickly resolve wrongdoings makes them a joy to be around.

15. Prioritize Relationships over Possessions

Worldly possessions don’t mean that much to someone who puts their investments in relationships and experiences. They don’t find joy in new cars or bigger homes. Rather, they make connections and people a priority.

It’s a blessing to be around someone who has their priorities straight and doesn’t spend time trying to keep up with neighbors and family members who seem to have more money. It’s refreshing to find someone that can find contentment in the things they have.

Final Thoughts on How People with Kind Hearts Always Seem to Be Happy

Every day when you get out of bed, you make choices. You select the clothes you will wear, decide what cologne or perfume to put on, and pick out your food for breakfast. Additionally, you choose whether you will be happy or sad.

You decide whether you will help the lady struggling to load her groceries at the supermarket, and you choose whether you will blow up at your spouse for leaving their dirty clothes on the floor. Make a conscious choice to take joy over sadness and happiness over sorrow.

You have the power to change your entire life by simply altering your mindset. Be the person that everyone wants to be around and the one that is considered one of the kind hearts.

Life tends to be all about sinking or swimming. Once you’ve experienced the pain of taking on too much and feeling like you’re drowning, it teaches you life lessons. It takes a great deal of effort to stay afloat. However, there is something about rock bottom that teaches you things that you can never learn when you are swimming along peacefully.

When you are at the bottom, you learn how to fight and claw your way back to the surface. You learn the power that you have within you that will sustain you in life. Now, the biggest challenge is to learn how to break away from your past and stop dwelling on those mistakes; it’s easier said than done.

Do you tend to ruminate on your past, and your mind plays a loop of your failures? Why do you keep playing the same movie time and again in your head, and you’re expecting the ending to be different? When you are constantly dwelling on the past, you will reopen wounds that have closed, and it will self-sabotage your determination.

How can you move forward when you are so preoccupied with what’s behind you? Letting go is never easy, but if you don’t get control of your thought processes, then days, weeks, and years will pass without change. To put the past in the past, you must first be willing to take a step forward.

10 Tips to Help You Stop Dwelling on the Past

It’s time for you to move on, and you need to let the universe know that you’re ready for a fresh start and change. There’s no need to be scared because you will stagnate if you never alter or change in life.

Everyone will agree the aroma that comes from stagnant water is pungent. If you’re ready to move on from your past and begin again, here are ten tips to help you.

1. Remember You Write the Story

The great thing about your life is you get to write your story. You will have many chapters, but each of these chapters will tell a story of a time or period you endured. Some chapters will be exciting and full of love and hope, which others will reflect on the darkest times in your life.

You will have support characters, people who are there for only a season, and those who shake things up. Take a good look at your novel and identify the chapter you’re currently in. Now, the great news is that you get to write the ending too.

Remember, no one else can write your story like you, so make sure that you give the novel plenty of interest and love.

2. Learn from Your Mistakes

The book of your life would be a pretty boning read if there were some intrigue, mystery, and drama. Consider a baby learning to maneuver in their new world. It takes them several times to fall before they learn to walk.

However, the young child soon learns what they need to do so that they don’t fall. The same analogy applies to you. You eventually know what you need to do to keep from making the same mistakes in life. Rumination and dwelling on the past only hurt you. Use your failures as motivation for the future.

3. Trust the Process

Do you ever wonder how your life would have been if you had made different choices? Did you know that you’re one decision away from a whole new life? Each choice you make is important because it defines that chapter in your life’s story.

Sometimes, things won’t work in your favor, and other times, you will master it all. The connection to why these things happened will become apparent in the future. If you’re constantly dwelling on the past, you might resist the good things in store for you.

You must trust the process and give yourself a pat on the back that you’ve made it thus far.

4. Look to the Future

Your strength may be limited, but the things you can achieve in your life are limitless. Keep in mind; you are utilizing strength and energy when you’re dwelling on the past, worrying, or angry. It’s exhausting trying to focus on things that are out of your control.

Letting go is so tricky, but in time you will learn to build and trust. The wonderful thing about letting go of excess baggage is that you’re clearing the way for new adventures. There are reasons for change, and when you resist these changes, you could be preventing some of the most extraordinary experiences of your life from occurring.

5. Find Inspiration in Others

Do you think that you’re the only one with problems? Life is all about the ups and downs and the valley. It seems so lonely when you’re at rock bottom, but you may use this time to draw inspiration from others.

One of the most powerful platforms ever created was Ted Talks. People share their stories of facing insurmountable odds and coming through victorious. You can find just about any topic and subject to draw strength.

If you aren’t much for podcasts, then you might try an online support group. It’s incredible what it does to your spirit when you read of others and their tales of the human spirit’s ability to overcome.

6. Meditation and Developing a Proper Mindset

Dwelling on the past puts you in a negative mindset. There have been numerous studies done on the effects of negative thinking. If you speak positive things, then you will be optimistic.

However, if you are continually living in a negative realm, your life will have a pessimistic outlook. You can change your thoughts by using meditation. If you’re new to this art form, you might want to try a guided meditation to erase negativity.

Your mindset means everything, so it’s time to change it for good. Stop looking at your past as a life sentence. It’s in the past for a reason, and you need to leave it there. Through mindful breathing and meditation, you can conquer some of your biggest inner struggles.

7. Stop Playing the “What If” Game

Does any of these questions sound like you: “What if I didn’t marry that person?” “What if I didn’t buy this car?” “What if I didn’t move across the country and try this adventure?” There are lots of questions that you ask yourself daily that you cannot answer.

While it’s hard to look at things positive when they turned out to be a disaster, try focusing on the right parts. For instance, your marriage might have been a wreck, but you have a beautiful child that you adore. If it weren’t for that marriage, then you wouldn’t have your baby. Even the darkest of clouds can have a silver lining.

8. Develop a Positive Mantra

You’re human, and it’s nearly impossible to stop all the evil thoughts. Every time thoughts of your past come up and bother you; you need to have a mantra that you quote to clear your mind.

For instance, if you found yourself once addicted to drugs and alcohol, but you’ve been clean for ten years, it’s a significant achievement. When your mind wanders back to those horrible events, tell yourself that you’re more powerful than the pain, and you will use your life for good.

You can use your past to help others who are not as far along on the journey. Then, you’re taking the bad that happened to you and turning it into a positive. Rumination and dwelling on the past are only useful if it’s helping someone else.

9. Stop Playing the Victim

Some people love playing the victim card because it feels good to get attention.

At some point in your life, you must move from victim to victor. Dwelling on the past should never be something you use for people’s pity or to get attention. Plus, this negativity will hold you back and won’t allow you to move on.

10. Get Help

If no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to get past the past, then you need to seek professional help. Therapy is an excellent outlet for you to vent your frustrations, process them, and then move beyond that stagnating position.

It’s never easy to change, and there are times when you want to run away and hide. However, there’s something very freeing when you talk about the issues with a third party who is objective. They can help you make sense of the madness and put things into perspective.

It would help if you found the strength within you to move past these events. You know how annoying the old record players were that would get stuck on a scratch and play the same sentences over and over?

Well, you’re doing the same thing inside your head. Ruminating on your mistakes can cause excessive anxiety, depression, and other mental health disturbances. You owe it to yourself and your family to move on.

Final Thoughts on How to Stop Dwelling on the Past

Dwelling on the past holds you back from entering the next significant phase of your life. Consciously work at removing these barriers from your mind. Only then will you be free to attain all your goals and dreams.

Many lifestyle changes can help you be happier. Happiness isn’t something that happens by chance or by luck, it’s something that you can work on.

Happiness is the ultimate life goal, and it sometimes may seem out of reach. This outcome isn’t the case, however, because you can easily be happier. By changing some aspects of your life, you’ll notice a significant change in the way that you feel.

Before you know it, you’ll be happier all the time, and your life will continuously get better.

Lifestyle Changes That Help You Be Happier

1. Be Positive

This advice goes for both your thoughts and the words that you speak. While you may not think that you can control your musings, it is entirely possible.

When you find yourself thinking negatively, make an effort to change it into something positive. Likewise, when you are tempted to say something negative, say something else instead.

Over time, you’ll find these positive thoughts and words forming without effort. With this change, you’ll notice yourself being much happier overall.

2. Count Your Blessings

Even when it seems that everything is going wrong, there are still things to be grateful for. Think of all the good parts of your life.

This could be your favorite place to go or your favorite person to see. It can be your home or yard, or anything else that brings a smile to your face.

There is always something that you can be grateful for. You just have to find it. Remind yourself of your blessings each time you find yourself experiencing unhappiness. This, too, will become natural for you, and it won’t take much effort after a while.

3. Manage Your Finances

Money can be an enormous obstacle when it comes to living a happy life. When bills get behind, or there isn’t enough money to do what you want, it can be discouraging. The sooner you get your finances in order, the happier you’ll be.

You can do this by setting and following a budget. Another easy way to get your finances under control is to find things you can do without.

If you pay for cable each month but rarely use it, that is a good one to drop. Same with unused gym memberships, or any other subscription that you don’t utilize enough. Additionally, you can lower utility payments by being wiser about your water or electricity usage.

You could also come up with a savings plan to set aside money for upcoming purchases. This will make it easier and less stressful when the time comes to use the money.

4. Make Exercise a Priority

Exercise can be life-changing in more ways than one. Aside from the physical effects, it can also help your mind. Research shows that regular exercise can make you happier and smarter.

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to combat unhappiness, stress, anxiety, and depression. Plus, it can increase your self-esteem. With all of these perks combined, exercise is the perfect way to help you be happier.

Start gradually, increasing the length and intensity over time. Taking a walk each evening or doing yoga once a day is an excellent place to start. There are many exercise options, however, so find the one that you enjoy best.

5. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Taking care of your body is essential when it comes to your happiness. You’ll feel better, think more clearly, and be happier if you are eating a healthy diet.

Research shows this is because healthier food options can increase the amounts of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine in your body. These are all hormones that will make you feel good, boost your energy levels, and help you concentrate.

6. Forgive Those Who Have Hurt You

Harboring negative feelings will make you unhappy, no matter the circumstances. By forgiving those who have hurt you, you’ll be letting go of some of the pain. Then, you’ll be able to move on and be happy fully.

7. Smile More Often

Of all the lifestyle changes that will help you, this one may be the easiest to implement. It may seem far-fetched that forcing a smile can make you happier, but there is research to back this theory.

The research shows that simple facial expressions can initiate emotions. Your brain can recognize the feeling you are trying to convey, and you’ll begin to feel a little happier.

8. Spend Time Doing Something You Love

Life gets busy, and leisure seems to be the activity that gets skipped when time is short. It’s important to make relaxation a priority, however, or you’ll get stressed out and unhappy. Make time to do something you enjoy, and you’ll experience happiness.

9. Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others

In the age of social media, it’s easy to get caught up in comparisons. It’s essential to avoid this, however, because it can interfere with your happiness.

Just remember, you aren’t the only one moving laundry baskets out of the background of photos. No one’s life is as perfect as it appears, so it’s not fair to compare yourself to anyone else.

10. Be Encouraging

While it’s important to encourage yourself, it’s also important to inspire others. By being encouraging, you’ll find yourself being more positive in general. If you make it a habit, you’ll find yourself happier.

11. Practice Deep Breathing

It’s only natural that you get stressed at some point. When you feel yourself getting tense, follow these steps:

• Close your eyes and think of something happy
• Take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth
• Repeat the deep breathing until you feel calmer

12. Get Enough Rest

Sleep is vital for your body and mind. You will have a more positive mindset if you have gotten enough rest. This will help you think happier thoughts and be more positive overall.

13. Use Your Time Wisely

You’ll be happier if you use your time wisely. Your deadlines won’t be so overwhelming, and you’ll be able to relax and feel calmer.

When you waste time doing things that don’t matter, you’re only causing problems for yourself. Avoid this if you want to be happy.

14. Write in a Journal

When you’re having negative thoughts, write them down. Getting them out on paper will help you release the feelings and move on.

By releasing those feelings and getting them out in a positive way, you’ll feel happier. The more often you do this, the easier it’ll be to let go of bad things in your life.

15. Declutter Your Space

Clutter can cause stress and other overwhelming feelings that can interfere with your happiness. If you make your space a place you enjoy, you’ll feel better.

Put up photos that inspire you or remind you of what makes you happy. Decorate with simple things that make you feel relaxed. Then, make sure everything is put away so that you can enjoy the space you put together.

16. Make a List of Things You Want to Do

This list can be short-term or long-term, or can even be your bucket list. Make sure you’re crossing things off your list regularly. This will help you feel personally accomplished, which will make you happier.

It’s essential to feel like you are getting things done for yourself, rather than just for work or home. When you do something you want to do, you’ll feel more in control of your life. Leisure is just as important as work.

17. Take Some Time Each Week to Unplug

Cell phones, laptops, and tablets can drain you mentally. Take some time to shut it all off and spend time unplugged and out of touch with the world. This will help you refocus and think more positively.

18. Spend Time Outside

Fresh air and nature can help you feel happier and inspired. Whether you enjoy the beauty in nature or you just bask in the fresh air, you’ll find yourself more relaxed.

This easy lifestyle change is one you should make a regular part of your day. Even a short amount of time outside can boost your mood and help you think more positively.

19. Re-think Your Relationships

If there are any relationships in your life that make you feel bad about yourself, it may be time for a change. Likewise, if there are any relationships that you think are holding you back, re-think those, too—the people you surround yourself with play a significant role in your happiness.

20. Spend Time with People You Love

Once you have re-thought your relationships, spend time with those who are left. Spending time with close friends and family will boost your spirits. Making sure to do this regularly will make you happier even when you aren’t with them.

Final Thoughts on Lifestyle Changes That Help You Be Happier

You won’t be happier if you aren’t willing to make some lifestyle changes. These changes will make you a better, happier person.

By implementing and practicing a few of them, you’ll find a significant change in yourself. Then, you can work on some of the other lifestyle changes later. You owe it to yourself to be happy, so make sure to make it becoming a happier person your top priority.