How to Be Happy Again

Finding New Ways to Be Happy

By 
Candis McDow 
Updated on September 26, 2021
 Medically reviewed by 
David Susman, PhD
hat does it mean to be happy? There are so many ideas and perspectives when it
comes to being happy. By definition happy means characterized by or indicative of
pleasure, contentment, or joy.
Truthfully, Your 'happy' is whatever it means to you. Of course, not
everyone will agree, but that is to be expected because no two people are
alike.
Have you been generally feeling down about things lately? What has caused that
change? As you may have heard before, getting to the root of an issue will pinpoint
the problem and ultimately tell you where you need to start working towards
change.
The best way to do that is to compare and contrast; that's right, just like we did in
elementary school. This article will help you figure out what could be preventing
you from finding happiness and provides tips for cultivating your version of
happiness.

A Comparison List to Find What's Blocking

Your Happy
Before you embark on your happiness journey, it's helpful to list what makes you
happy and what doesn't. After you make this list, you'll better understand what you
need to work on to bring more happiness and peace to your life.

Below is an example of a list, yours can, of course, look different from this one. This
is just to help you get started.
What Makes Me Happy

 Meditation
 Body positivity
 Optimism
 A good support system
 Self care days
 Passion for life
 Less social media
 Positive affirmations
 Exploring nature
What Makes Me Unhappy

 Comparing myself to others

 Body shaming
 Pessimism
 Isolation
 No personal days
 Feeling unappreciated
 Too much social media
 Negative thoughts
 Self-doubt and shame
Now that you have your list, what are you going to do with it? Review it and take a
trip down memory lane. Try and track back to happier times in your life. When were
you your happiest in life? Channel those moments and see if you can find that part
of you again.