We are meant to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled, but if that is true why are so many people unhappy and settling for a life that is less than they desire. My opinion? We are looking for happiness in all the wrong places.  At least that’s what I was doing.

Over the past 5 years, I retired from my corporate job and it took a while for me to finally realize that living my best healthy life and truly being happy wasn’t going to come in some pre-mixed formula I could follow every day.   If I was going to be truly happy, healthy, and live my best life the key was understanding that “Happiness is an inside job.”  Below are a few tips that I found helped me on my journey.

Do what you want 

We live in a world where virtually anything is possible, yet there are still far too many people settling for far less than they desire.  When you get to the core of your being, what is it that you crave?  More creativity, freedom, or connections?  More adventure, love, or compassion?  Don’t sit around waiting for it. Go and create it!  Write your book, start your business, learn to play an instrument, or travel the world.  It’s time to stop making excuses about why you can’t and start permitting yourself to go after what you want.

Do you

Social media makes it easy to get distracted by what other people are doing, and it can often lead to feeling like you're not good enough.  Your dreams and desires are yours and yours alone.  Stay in your own lane and don’t compare yourself to others.  Remember, your happiness is your responsibility and what that looks like for you is different from the next person.

Know that things will work out

This one is a game-changer and it's all about your mindset.  No matter what your external “reality” shows you, always assume things are working out for you... because they are.  The Universe has all kinds of amazing things lined up for you behind the scenes that you can’t see right now.  Trust it.  Believe it to your core, no matter what's going on in your life, and you will soon see how all the pieces come together.

Speak and Be your truth

Being true to yourself is one of the most liberating and loving things you can do for yourself and your happiness depends on it.  There is nothing worse than feeling the resentment that comes from saying "yes" to things you want to say "no" too. Honor yourself and your truth and be the best version of yourself.

Practice sacred Self-care, Self-love

Self-care is not selfish, it is self-love and it's a vital part of living a happy life.  Practicing self-care, self-love means honoring your truth, listening to your heart, trusting yourself, practicing sacred time with self, setting boundaries as needed, and accepting yourself for who you are, as you are.   Make a conscious effort to fill your self-care and self-love cup and watch how radically your life changes for the better.

Have an attitude of gratitude

We all know the benefits that come from being grateful for what we have, and where we are in life, but what if you started being grateful for the things that are on their way to you?  When you are grateful in advance, you set the expectation that good things on their way.  It not only puts you in a high-vibe state to receive goodness but it also allows you to enjoy the journey along the way.

Live Mindfully

Life is so much more than the things we “do.”  BE-ing is about disconnecting every once in a while and fully absorbing the moment for all that it is.  Step out from behind the screen and breathe the fresh air, watch the sunset, and enjoy time with the people you love.  In the end, those are the moments that make life worth living.

Letting go

One of the things that keep us stuck and unhappy, more than anything else, is hanging onto things that aren’t serving us.  Do yourself a favor and forgive yourself (and others).  When you allow yourself to release what is no longer serving you (ie. negative people, bad relationships) you create space for all that you desire.

My favorite - Make time for nothing

When was the last time you intentionally did nothing?  There is a reason meditation is such an incredible practice. It’s because during those moments of solitude our most powerful insights come through.  Get intentional with your time, and schedule a couple of hours each week to do nothing.

Learn to forgive

For many people, this is one of the most difficult things to do, but it's another non-negotiable when it comes to living your best life. It’s almost impossible to live a life of joy, abundance, love, and grace when you have guilt and shame lingering under the surface. When you practice the art of forgiveness for yourself and others, you step into a place of acceptance and you open your heart to receive the good things life has to offer.

Conclusion

In closing, I won’t tell you that the journey to living your best healthy life is always going to be easy, but what I can promise you is that if you are committed to yourself and the changes you want to make, the transformation will be worth it.  Your inner world creates your outer world, so doing the inner work is the only way to create and live your best healthy life.  Whether you choose to walk this path alone or reach out for support, commit to doing the inner work, and your outer reality will transform in beautiful ways.

This article is provided for informational purpose only and is not intended as medical advice, or as a substitute for the medical advice of a physician