If I asked you to rate your happiness level on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the happiest you could possibly be, what would your answer be?
The sad reality is that most people trudge through life with a happiness level at or around a 5, without ever questioning how they might increase their quality of life. Most of these people don’t believe it’s possible to take control of their own happiness and they blame their discontent on factors beyond their control.
There was a time in my life when there was only one aspect of my like that was going right for me. That was my only sliver of hope that I could get through the dark clouds eventually. I had become ''comfortably numb''. I was not happy, but I was too afraid to change.
The truth is—you are in complete control of your own happiness and only you can improve it.
But to do this, you must first identify where your unhappiness stems from. Then, you must face it head-on, make a plan of action to tackle it, and move forward with grace. This mini exercise will help you do just that.
To do this, look at each area of your life below and rate how satisfied you currently are with each on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being completely satisfied. Then, rate your desired satisfaction level for each area.
After rating those areas of your life, you should aim to immediately correct any category that falls below a 4. For those that are rated a 4, 5, or 6, you should make a plan to improve these categories over the next few weeks by setting specific goals for yourself. For those that are rated a 7 or 8, ask yourself how you could maximize your happiness in these categories over the long-term.
For example, I rated my health a 6 and set a goal to increase it to an 8 over the next two months. I have identified how I’ll make this happen, by exercising more, cutting sugar and fast foods, and taking a daily vitamin.
If you rate your confidence a 4, make it a priority to find ways to raise your confidence level over the next few weeks. Ask yourself what strategies you can take advantage of to make this happen, such as identifying your own self-limiting beliefs, reframing your mindset, or losing three pounds so that you’re more comfortable in your own skin.
If you rate your finances an 8 and you’re fairly happy with them, ask yourself how you can make yourself completely happy in this area. Maybe this means saving X amount of dollars more per month, increasing your hourly rate, or asking your supervisor about a raise.
Remember, you cannot become a happier person if you are unwilling to take control of the factors in your life that cause you displeasure. You are in complete control of your happiness and your life! If you want more help, you can download my free guide where I share 14 simple ways to add happiness to your day and join us on my Community where I help women who suffer from social anxiety, to overcome loneliness and their fear of communicating, by showing them how to communicate better in their interpersonal and professional relationships, to have the social life and the career they want.
