We all want to be happy and successful, but what habits do happy and successful people have that sets them apart from the rest? In this blog post, we'll share four habits of happy successful people that can help you achieve your goals and improve your overall well-being. So, if you're looking to improve your happiness and success, keep reading to learn about the habits you need to adopt to get there.
Refusing to Have a Bad Day
I refuse to have a bad day. I may have bad moments here or there, but I absolutely refuse to have a horrible day.
In my opinion, every day is a precious gift. We only have so many, so why would you want to spend it feeling any less than you wish to feel?
Certainly, things happen in our lives that are out of our control. People pull out in front of you on your drive to work, others are rude or disrespectful, and you don’t get chosen for the promotion at work are just a few examples. But these events by themselves do not determine whether or not you have a bad day.
The good news is whether your days are bad or good comes down to just a few crucial habits you can take charge of today.
4 Habits of Happy Successful People
1. The Habit of Controlling Your Thoughts
The most powerful ally you have in your life is your thoughts. They create your perception of reality. By controlling what we think about things, we are able to take charge of days and our moods. That is why habit one of happy and successful people is the habit of controlling your thoughts.
For example, let’s say one day you go see your doctor for a routine checkup and she discovers you have cancer. Odds are that before knowing you had cancer you felt happy and peaceful with life. But the moment you learn about your diagnosis, you immediately feel depressed.
Now, let me ask you, what is the cause of your depressed feelings?
Most people will attribute their sadness to having cancer. But that isn’t true. You aren't depressed because you have cancer, you are feeling sad because of what you believe and you are telling yourself about having cancer.
If cancer itself were the cause of your depression, then you would have already been depressed way before you were given the diagnosis. The truth is, your feelings were a result of what you were telling yourself when you found out you had cancer.
2. Begin Your Day With the Habit of Gratitude
What do you do when you first wake up in the morning? Do you grumble because it is morning? Stare aimlessly at the ceiling? Slap the snooze button and go back to sleep?
Your first thoughts of the day may well be the most important in determining how your day goes. So habit two of happy and successful people is to begin the day with gratitude.
Instead of waking up grumpy, start your day with a fresh diet of gratitude.
As soon as you wake up, ask yourself the following questions.
- What am I looking forward to doing or accomplishing today?
- Who am I grateful for having in my life?
- What am I thankful for in life?
I wake up early every morning, roll over on my back and start thinking about what I am thankful I get to do this morning. Before I know it, I am hopping out of bed, eager to start doing the things I love doing.
3. Exercise At Least 20 Minutes A Day
Aerobic exercise is one of the best ways to help you keep a positive mental attitude. It helps eliminates toxins from your blood while nourishing your organs and your brain with fresh oxygen.
With just a 20-minute workout, you can increase your energy, your metabolism, and the overall quality of your life. Study after study proves that exercise helps to combat, depression and anxiety.
The key to receiving the benefits from exercising is raising your heartbeat to around 120 beats per minute for at least 20 minutes. If you haven’t exercised in a while, you should first get a proper checkup with your doctor. Once you get the all-clear, schedule some time every day to take care of your body. Go for a run, ride a bike, or join an exercise class. Just make sure to include this valuable habit of happy and successful people in your daily routine.
4. Smile More
Smiling is the simplest way to feel good now. When you smile, you send a message to your brain that all is well. As a result, you release endorphins which immediately leads to feeling good.
It’s no secret that happy people smile more than less happy people. And while many believe they are smiling because they are happy, the opposite is also true. They are happy because they smile.
You don’t need a reason to smile and reap its benefits. But if you still think you do, ask yourself the following questions to get yourself smiling.
- Who loves me?
- Who do I love?
- What about them do I love?
- What do I love doing?
- What about doing that do I love?
Questions like these redirect our thoughts, which in turn create our experience of reality. For more on the power of smiling, read my blog, The Life Changing Power of Smiling.
While there are many ways to have a great day, the main thing to remember is, it isn’t what happens to you that determines your attitude, it is how you perceive what is happening to you.
Take notice of your moods, decide if there is a better mood you could be experiencing right now and if there is, change it.
