What is the key to happiness?
Well, it can vary greatly by the person!
The saying goes that “happiness starts from within” and that saying couldn’t be any more true. We all have a sense of fulfilment deep within ourselves. And it’s that sense of fulfilment that begins from within and has the potential to impact wellness and happiness.
What fulfils one person may not fulfil another. Your fulfilment is an extremely personal concept – the things that set your soul on fire are factors that are unique and personal to you. You cannot expect the thing that gives a friend or family member fulfilment to do the same for you – you need to find what fuels YOU.
But it’s always nice to find some simple jumping off points while you start your personal journey searching for the key to happiness. In this post, I’m going to talk about 5 easy ways that anyone can find happiness with a bit of effort and patience.
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Also, I am not a doctor or mental health professional. Just someone who has lived with depression and anxiety for many years who is passionate about sharing her experiences and tips for success. If you are in crisis call your doctor, then click here for some good mental health resources.
Feelings of fulfillment
Feelings of fulfilment are closely linked to wellbeing and happiness. This is why it’s such an important topic to think about when it comes to improving and enhancing your mental health, and finding the key to happiness.
The thing about feeling fulfilled is the fact that it’s also closely linked to how clear your mind feels and how well you’ve met any goals. This is because it’s easier to clearly define and meet goals when you have a mind that’s clearer and less clouded.
The question is, of course: What does it take to achieve a clearer mind, and as a result, increase your feelings of happiness and contentment? Many people believe that the key to happiness and improving mental wellbeing is linked to habits – and getting into healthier wellness habits.
5 happiness habits you need to try
Wondering what these habits are? Below is a guide to some of the most useful healthy habits for clearing your mind and boosting your happiness and feelings of fulfilment.
Keep your living space clean
You might not realise it but the cleanliness of the place you live – and also the clutter – can have a huge impact on the clarity within your mind. When your home is clear and lacks clutter, you will discover that your mind also feels like a clearer space. It’s for this reason that it’s so important to keep your living space clean and clear.
If your home is currently a cluttered space, then you might want to take the time to declutter it and create a more minimalist living environment. You will find that taking the time to declutter and organize your home will make you feel calmer and more in control, as well as adding to the clarity of your mind.
I know this can be hard if you live with a condition like depression or anxiety. Just take it slow and try to conquer one corner of a room at a time. And remember: DO NOT MOVE CLUTTER FROM ROOM TO ROOM. (I’m laughing on the inside because I’ve been guilty of this in the past.) Either find a true place for it, trash/recycle it, or donate it!
Reduce old and unnecessary items
When creating a minimalist space, the key is to remove all clutter. However, what you don’t want to do is remove items that make you feel safe and comfortable. So think carefully about what you’re removing from your home and only remove items that you no longer deem necessary.
PRO-TIP: It’s also worth adding a few houseplants to your home as studies show that indoor plants can offer a multitude of mental health benefits.
In terms of what you should remove, start with your home’s furnishings. Ask yourself if you need each and every item within your home. If an item is not necessary, remove it. Only keep items that are extremely meaningful or that add to the character of your living space.
As well as decluttering your home’s furniture, it’s also a good idea to think about your belongings, such as clothing, accessories, and other items. It might take some time to go through everything and declutter, but it’s worth taking the time to strip down your belongings to a smaller batch of items, creating a cleaner and more minimalist place to live.
Adopt a zero-waste approach
When it comes to how you live, another step that can help you to find the key to happiness is to adopt a zero-waste approach to life. There’s something about never wasting anything that can really help to grow your sense of fulfilment and happiness. When decluttering your home, consider sending any items that you get rid of to a recycling center or selling on a second-hand site, to help ensure that they don’t go to waste.
Try and find ways to reuse and salvage everything that you have in your home! Anything from repairing and reusing old glasses frames with updated lenses as a salvage method, to recycling broken glass to create something new.
Get creative and you will be amazed at how easy living a zero-waste life can be. Admittedly, it can take some time to get used to, but once you’ve adapted to leading a zero-waste life, it becomes far simpler and easier than you would ever have managed. And, as an added bonus, it makes for a clearer and happier mind.
Take self care more seriously
Another important habit when it comes to clearing your mind and finding the key to happiness is making sure to take self care more seriously. Self care isn’t just about having the occasional spa night. It’s about actually making time in your day to do the things that help you to feel calm and in control.
Self care is the process of taking steps to proactively look after your mental health and general wellness. It’s about putting what YOU need first.
It’s far too easy to put self care on the backburner. Hell, I’ve done it. But if you want to ensure that you have a clearer mind, then you need to make self care a priority. Self care can be as simple as making time to go for a run each morning or have a relaxing bubble bath at the end of the day. Or it can mean finding self care routines that you are able to follow, such as seeing a therapist, for instance.
Self care is what you make it. There are no set rules. It’s simply a case of doing the things that make you feel calm and in control.
Only do things that make you happy
There’s no point spending time on things that you don’t want to do or don’t need to do. It’s a waste of your time and it’s a habit that you need to stop.
You need to start thinking about only doing the things that actually make you feel happy. What is it that you want from life? Don’t feel pressured to do things that you don’t enjoy or don’t want to do. Your heart and mind won’t thank you… Share on twitterInstead, think about how you can make it a habit to only do the things that make you feel good and put a smile on your face. Yes, it’ll take time to adapt to living this way, but it’s a step that’s important to take if you want to ensure that you have a clearer and happier mind going forward.
A lot of people struggle to say no to things. Don’t be one of these people. Learn how to turn down doing the things that you don’t want to do. Don’t be afraid to say no. You might not want to say it. But if you don’t want to do something, then that’s what you need to get into the habit of saying.
Finding the key to happiness
When it comes to clearing your mind and finding the key to happiness, it’s a personal choice how you go about this. The tips and ideas above are all great starting points for having more mental clarity. However, you also need to take the time to think about what works for you.
If you are able to find an approach to mental wellness that works for you and makes you feel happy, then you are doing a great job. By making your wellness a priority, you can instantly improve how you feel.
Just remember my oft quoted Don Draper quote about happiness: “But what is happiness? It’s the moment before you need more happiness.” It can be a fleeting emotion, and the search for it can keep you from appreciating the here and now.
Don’t be so caught up in looking for the key to happiness that you neglect to find joy in the things around you.
Related posts about happiness:
9 mind-blowing effects of chronic negative thinking
Raising Happy Kids: How you can foster confidence and happiness
21 amazing positive affirmations that will totally change your mindset
These are very great tips! I love clean and minimalist space, it always makes me feel happier.
Hey Rika, me too! It feel so nice to get rid of clutter. Thanks for reading!
These are really great tips. Thank you for sharing them. For me, finding more time for myself, practicing self-care was a turning point in finding happiness.
Hey Natalie, same here! Taking time to just BE with myself and relax and restore. Thanks for reading!
I love that you mentioned what fulfills one does not fulfill another. We all have our own destiny to mark out (with a little/lot of help from above, if that’s what you believe, and I do). 🙂 Have a wonderful day!
Hey Rosey, so glad you liked it! You have a good day as well, and thanks for reading!
These are great example to a greater life habit. I do feel happiness to see my surroundings clean. I totally agree with these tips.
Hey Ruth, our environment definitely affects our brain. Clutter makes me so anxious. Thanks for reading!
I love all these tips. I think keeping your space clean and rid of clutter is great. That is something I’ve been slowly working on myself. I know how much better you feel without all the clutter too. It’s a good feeling.
Hey Kathy, it really is! I’ve been going room by room and each weekend working on a bit at a time. It feels good. Thanks for reading!
I agree with all of these. Also, for me, happiness is contentment. 🙂
Hey Lynndee, that is true! It’s good to just be content with the good things you do have. Thanks for reading!
That’s a great tips! I can really relate in this! Being happy will make our lives more less stressed, lol.
Hey Gervin, so glad you liked it! Thanks for reading 🙂
I liked your tips to find happiness in life. Never thought about the cluttered house idea. I will try to work on it.
Hey Sankhamala, can’t hurt. Give it a try and see if it helps. Thanks for reading!
wow! I am surprised of these habits! But I thinks they would work.
Hey Catalina, can’t hurt to try! A person never knows what might work until they give something a shot. Thanks for reading!
Great tips Jen! I’m all for keeping a clean living space. It really does make all the difference. That and upping your self-care game!
Hey Nyx, same! A cluttered space definitely affects my anxiety. Even if it’s all the way in another room and I think about it. Thanks for reading as always!
These 5 things you mentioned are exactly the things that I’ve been doing! And to add…always communicate with your loved ones.
Hey Dennis, definitely. Good communication is so important especially now. Without as much face to face interaction, we lose things like tone and body language. Thanks for reading!
I’m one of those people who likes their stuff. My memories of happy tones are attached to objects. I would feel lost without them.
Hey Terri, that’s how my husband is! I tell him as long as he can find a spot for it LOL. Thanks for reading!
That was so true. And I love that saying as well. We can be sad sometimes but being happy most of the time is really our choice.
Hey Nikki, I definitely think there is a way to approach life a certain way despite any mental health issues. We can definitely control how we react! Thanks for reading 🙂
I love these tips. I have realized lately how happy I am when my house is in order and I make it more simple.
Hey Monica, same here. It’s a work in progress, but I’m trying. Thanks for reading!
Thanks for sharing these happiness habits. This post really informative.
Hey Tasheena, no problem! Thanks for reading!
I love these tips. My mom struggles to tell people no, even though she’s 86. I just reminded her last week of the phrase that when you say no to one thing, it means you can say yes to something else, even if it just staying home and reading. She said that helps make it easier to say no when she wants to.
Hey Beth, I love that! I think my mom struggles with it a little too, especially as she gets older. Thanks for sharing that nugget of wisdom!
You know what I love about this post? That you showcase ALL the keys to happiness. There’s more than one.
Hey Ben, thanks! Happiness can look like different things for different people. Thanks for reading 🙂
Yup, I find when I make sure I have self care, that I am much happier! I don’t do the zero waste thing though. I think it would stress me out more. But I do recycle and try to watch it.
Hey Amber, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I’m working on just decluttering a bit more often. Thanks for reading!
I am one of the people who has always struggled to say no to things. That’s one good thing about the pandemic. I can say no.
Hey Pam, much easier to say No now if you need to! I can be a people pleaser too, but saying No is so important sometimes. Thanks for reading!
These are great tips for finding the key to happiness. I find that when I am praying and in the word I am happiest.
Hey Melissa, that’s great. Whatever helps you feel at peace! Take care, and thanks for reading!
Great tips! I’ve been in reducing unnecessary items mode…and selling the items to save for future travel fun. It’s a win-win to make me happy! 🙂
Hey Heather, I’m working on it too before the baby comes. Just a nesting thing going on in my brain LOL. Good luck, and thanks for reading!
I need to work on clutter and getting rid of old stuff that I don’t anymore. I feel so much better when I do. Why is it so hard???
Hey Annette, I think it can be a hard habit to start, but once you do, it is so rewarding! Just take it slow 🙂 Thanks for reading!