In Part 1 of Manifesting Happiness, we delved into what happiness is, who creates your happiness (hint: it’s you!), and tips for building habits that promote happiness.
The last strategy I gave for creating your own happiness is so good that I need to say it again, and then go even deeper today:
Think about your goals and visualize your future self. Picture yourself accomplishing these goals. Write down how you will feel if you reach these goals and how your life will be different.
As you discover what your ideal future self looks like, don’t just think about her. Visualize her.
How does she talk? How does she dress? What kind of car does she drive? How does she treat people? How does she feel when she comes home at the end of a long day?
Turn these goals into affirmations. Say them out loud, while looking yourself in the mirror, as if they are true today. For example, if you want to start exercising regularly, don’t say, “I will be working out everyday.” Look yourself in the mirror and say, “I am exercising every single day.” Manifest the statement into being true.
If you want things to happen to you that will make you joyful, you need to just go straight for them! Don’t worry about what anyone else says about whether or not you can.
Speaking of other people, it’s time we women stop looking to others to make us happy! If we keep waiting for the compliments or recognition or appreciation to make us feel good, we may be stuck waiting for a long time.
That said, there is nothing wrong with praising yourself for all that you accomplish. Affirm yourself for what you are doing without waiting for others to notice.
Instead, be the person who spreads joy to others. Share your gratitude with those around you. Give compliments to strangers and loved ones alike. As you experience this appreciation for yourself and others around you, you will inspire others to do the same.
But if and when those negative thoughts come around, remember your tools to redirect them. Meditate. Practice yoga. Do mindfulness activities. Say your affirmations. And change your thoughts from a victim’s view to a champion’s perspective.
It’s normal to have ups and downs, but you can control how long the down times last. Go back through Parts 1 and 2 and decide which techniques you want to focus on first. Make time to work on these habits and watch your life start to transform. Create space, your space, to focus on improving yourself.
As you get the hang of doing these habits regularly, you will see your happiness increase!