How To Be Happy Again: 11 Ways To Regain Your Joy

What is happiness? How do you define happiness? Is it by the reciprocated love we get from our loved ones, from the material things we get attracted to, or by being a good person?

Every one of us defines happiness based on our experience and from the things we want to achieve.

Happiness is like picking up the beautiful stones at the beach and letting them define your joy. It can be pulled away from us by just a mere action or word.

But when happiness is gone, how do you make yourself happy again?

Understanding what happiness feels like is the first step to being happy again. Don’t chase happiness too hard, to be happy again you can start on by exploring a new hobby, reaching out to others, eating healthy, and meditating. Lastly, on your journey of being again, self-care is crucial. 

This article will guide you on how to be happy again and relive the joy you once had. With 12 purpose-driven ways of reclaiming happiness, surely you will be at it again. 

What Is Happiness?

Happiness is an emotional state of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. The term “happiness” has many different meanings, but it is commonly associated with feelings of contentment and joy.

When people talk about happiness, they’re either talking about how they’re feeling right now or talking about how they feel about life in general. As part of happiness, the following are important:

Balance Of Emotions

Everyone has both positive and negative emotions, feelings, and moods in equal measure. Positive feelings outweigh negative ones when it comes to determining whether or not someone is content in their life.

Life Satisfaction

The degree to which you are content with the various aspects of your life, such as your relationships, your work, your accomplishments, and anything else that is important to you, is known as “life satisfaction.”

.When it comes to happiness, there are many ways to look at the subject. Aristotle, for example, distinguished between hedonia and eudaimonia, two distinct types of happiness.

Hedonia: Pleasure is the source of hedonic happiness. It is most commonly associated with self-care, fulfilling desires, having fun, and a sense of satisfaction. To achieve eudaimonia, one must seek out virtue and significance in one’s life. 

Eudaimonic: well-being includes a sense of meaning, value, and purpose in one’s life. It has more to do with meeting obligations, making long-term investments, caring about the well-being of others, and living up to one’s ideals.

Today, the terms “hedonia” and “eudaimonia” are more commonly used in psychology to refer to feelings of pleasure and meaning.

Psychologists have more recently proposed the inclusion of a third factor, which they call “engagement.” These are feelings of commitment and involvement in various aspects of life.

11 Ways To Regain Your Happiness

If you reflect on your own life, you may be struck by how quickly the years have passed and how you arrived at the point you have now. You were surprised by how difficult life was, so you decided to accept that this is the way it is.

There is nothing left for you but to survive. Since you just want to be happy.  Being happier in your life is not only possible, but it’s within reach. You only need to put in a little effort to achieve your goal.

Although you may not be able to control your “base level” of happiness, there are things that you can do to make your life happier and more fulfilling.

There are times when even the happiest of people can be depressed, and happiness is something that everyone needs to actively pursue.

Being happy isn’t a race and to be it should start within you. Below are purpose-driven ways to be happy again. 

1. Start A New Hobby

If you’re looking for something to do, the options are nearly limitless. Moreover, you have complete control over what you do. To be adventurous, creative, or mysterious is completely up to you. Try a new hobby alone or with some family or friends.

Psychotherapist and Ph.D. candidate Rachel Goldman says: “As a fun distraction, it can also help reduce stress and focus our attention on something new and exciting. You need to find something that can help you accomplish that.“

2. Think Of When Did You Stop Being Happy?

Do you remember the last time you were truly happy? To be happy again, it’s important to know when and why you lost your happiness in the first place. Was there something that caused you to lose your generally upbeat outlook?

Many life events can cause you to lose your joy and make it difficult to find it again. These include losing a loved one, getting dumped, or losing your job. You’ll need to give yourself space to grieve in many of these situations.

There was a time in your life when you were happy with the people and things in your life. Knowing when you lost your happiness can help you find the best ways to reclaim it, regardless of the source.

3. Self-Care Is Crucial

Taking care of oneself is something that many people overlook, despite how obvious it may seem. Many people, particularly women, have little time for self-care due to the demands of work, marriage, children, extended family, pets, and friends.

When you put your happiness first, you’ll be able to see it. Everyday self-care can have a positive impact on your mood, stress level, focus, and productivity. It’s not only possible to be your best self when you take a break, but it also gives you a chance to help those around you.

4. Don’t Chase Happiness Too Hard

To regain your sense of well-being, you must not focus solely on it. While there are things you can do to create more happy moments, you can’t and won’t succeed every time.

If you put too much emphasis on happiness as a goal, you’ll have a harder time achieving it. When the circumstances are just right, joy just bubbles up. The more you try to force it, the more you’ll get tangled up in your thoughts. 

And while your thoughts can help create the right conditions for happiness, they are just as likely to sabotage it. The pursuit of happiness can sometimes get in the way of actual happiness.

5. Exercise

Exercise may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Workouts are beneficial to your cardiovascular system because they provide oxygen and nutrients to your tissues.

Endorphins are like sprinkles on top of a cupcake that you get from exercise and physical activity. To boost your mood and health, all it takes is 30 minutes of physical activity each day.

6. Proactively Empower Yourself

Possessing control over your emotions can be a positive experience. Our control is limited, but we must remember that we are not helpless creatures who accept what is given to us.

Don’t wait for good things to happen; create them. Follow some of the advice in this article to get started. You can smile again. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen sooner than you think if you commit to understanding and pursuing your happiness.

7. Eat Healthily

In terms of weight loss, diet is more important because what you eat affects the way your body functions. You’ll feel better and be healthier if you follow a well-balanced diet. Your organs will react negatively if you eat fried, high-sodium, high-sugar foods.

If you have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol as a result, you’re going to end up with all of the above.

There is nothing wrong with having a treat now and then, but a well-balanced diet of baked or grilled protein and vegetables will help you feel better both physically and mentally.

8. Set A Goal, But Focus On Your Progress

Having goals to strive for is a good way to see a better future. This optimism affects your present mood. Setting a goal can increase your happiness. To get the most out of a goal, you should focus on your progress toward it, not the result.

The progress principle states that people feel better when they are making meaningful progress toward a goal that they value.

Remember that happiness is a collection of emotions that vary between people and over time. Satisfaction and motivation maybe pieces of your happiness puzzle.

9. Reach Out 

Believing you are not a valuable member of society is another potential hindrance to happiness. Feeling isolated or powerless to change the world can lead to hopelessness. And despair is incompatible with joy. To overcome this, you must reach out to others.

By helping others in any way you can, you prove your worth and value. Helping others, whether friends or strangers, gives a sense of purpose. Helping others may be an effective solution if you feel your life lacks meaning.

10. Choose Your Companion Wisely

Choosing who you spend time with is critical to your well-being. Sadly, not everyone has your best interests at heart, and it’s important to keep that in mind.

It’s been proven that having a strong network of friends and family can boost one’s sense of well-being and happiness.

Don’t let anyone into your life unless they can benefit your mental health in the same way you can benefit theirs.

You may not know that a friendship is toxic until you break it off. Your personal and professional decisions have a direct impact on your happiness.

11. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is observing the present moment without judgment. It is the act of being aware of all five senses rather than ignoring them. Happiness isn’t guaranteed. The fact that you are aware of these hardships does not mean you are happy despite them.

But being mindful at other times can help you see the good in the world. Mindfulness, often in the form of meditation, has been shown to improve long-term well-being. 

Keep in mind that happiness isn’t a constant state of euphoria. A more accurate definition of happiness is having more positive feelings than negative ones all the time.

Even the happiest people experience a wide range of emotions, including anger, frustration, boredom, loneliness, and sadness.

But despite their discomfort, they have an underlying sense of optimism that things will improve, that they can handle what is happening, and that they will be able to feel happy once more

Final Thoughts

Anything that isn’t bringing you joy must go. For a happier and more fulfilling life, you have the power to change your feelings.

Consistent practice is the key to creating long-lasting habits. It won’t be long before you find true happiness. Regain your happy place by taking action.

You’ll be glad you did it once you’ve gotten rid of everything that’s standing in your way.