We all want to be happy, yet sometimes it feels easier to feel sad. And when we are not feeling happy, we tend to blame everything but ourselves — our family, the weather, etc. Pretty much any outside factor you can’t control.

It’s easier said than done, but try to accept the fact that your unhappiness is nobody’s doing except for your own. In order to manage these feelings, you must control how you react to outside forces, shift your mindset, and change your daily habits.

What do we mean when we talk about unhappiness? Well, it can be a multitude of things: depression, indifference, anger. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but unhappiness is something that can be treated with the help of our own minds.

Here are 5 changes you can make right now to find true happiness.

1. Being overly critical of yourself

It’s one thing to be self-aware and know the ways you can improve yourself as a person, but it begins to get debilitating when you over-do it on the self-criticism. This also applies to other people!

You shouldn’t be overly critical of others either, because all of that negativity will take too much energy and just bring you down.

2. Living beyond your means

Our society is pretty materialistic. Sure, it’s nice to gift yourself something every now and then, but we sometimes have a tendency to over-do it in that department as well. Understand what you actually have to give and more importantly, realize that these material things will not bring you happiness. It might make you feel good in the moment, but it’s essentially just a thin band-aid on a much deeper wound.

3. Fueling negative addictions

Life is about having fun and enjoying the things you love! Letting loose with a drink, indulging in a tasty meal, and going out are all things that should be enjoyed. However, there is a moment when we do these things excessively, depend on them, and make them our new addictions. It might feel like you’re numbing the pain, but it will wear off.

4. Stressing about the future

The future is not something we can control yet it is one of the things we stress about the most. Sure, it is easier said than done, but why waste time worrying about something that is out of your hands? Of course, you can do your very best and work towards whatever it is that you want, but ultimately, you just have to go with the flow. Doesn’t that sound much easier anyway? Be kind to yourself!

5. Poor diet

Believe it or not, the food we consume absolutely has an impact on our mental state. If you live off of McDonald’s and Taco Bell 24/7, you are more likely to feel down. If you choose healthy, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats and carbs, then you are setting yourself up for success. Exercise is also a key factor here — any kind of movement every day is nothing but beneficial.

So, can you relate to some of these bad habits? If so, are you ready to change them?

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Source: Higher Perspectives /