Things that Deplete Your Happiness

*This is a collaborative post 

All anyone in this world wants is to be happy. Yet, the pursuit of happiness is a quest that is often challenged by obstacles. There are a number of internal and external factors that people often allow to impact how they feel (be it positively or negatively). Essentially, the key to refilling your happiness levels lies in identifying what those factors are and making a change for the better. What are some common things that rob you of your happiness? Check out this list below:

Attaching Your Happiness to People, Places, or Things

One of the biggest things that rob you of your happiness is attaching it to external factors like people, places, and things. Your romantic relationships, friendships, role as a parent, financial status, and material items are just staples in your life that should add to your happiness, however, they don’t define your true worth. It is, therefore, ideal that you learn how to value who you are outside of these things to remain happy.

Making Comparisons

In a world where social media is commonly used, self-esteems, are at an all-time low. With everyone posting positive moments in their lives from their weight loss success to their relationship goals and family vacations, it’s easy to start comparing yourself and feeling bad about how you look or where you are in life. You begin to believe that you’d be happier if you had those things or lived their life and ultimately don’t appreciate your own life and successes.

It’s important to try not to compare yourself to others. For starters, you have no idea what is going on behind the scenes in their lives that they’re not showing. Also, it’s just not a healthy practice for your mind. If you have a hard time with this, perhaps you should limit your social media use and focus more on finding inner peace and happiness.

Putting the Needs of Others Before Your Own

Though you can find happiness in helping others, when you place their needs above your own on a continual basis, it begins to eat away at your mood. In fact, this is one of the most common causes of mental illness in women. They become so inundated with their responsibilities as a mother or significant other that they neglect their own needs and desires only to feel overwhelmed, depressed, and even resentful in the end.

It is not selfish to love yourself first. In fact, if you don’t put your happiness and needs before others, there is no way you can love them as you should.

Hanging Onto the Past

Everyone has been through some form of trauma, hurt, or pain from their past. While it can take time to overcome, staying stuck in the past will only rob you of your joy. You become fixated on things you’ve done or things that were done to you and negative emotions take over your mind. Too much negative thinking then leads to physical complications which only adds to your pain and sadness.

As hard as it can be to let go of the past you have to try. Take the lessons you can learn from it and leave the rest behind. This may mean going to therapy for counselling, joining a support group, or even confronting your past so that you can move on.

Not Pursuing Your Passions

There are a number of reasons that people simply neglect their passions. Sometimes they are crippled by the fear of the risks involved, other times they have put the needs of others above their own. In any event, they stay in relationships that are toxic, work jobs that are making them sick, and live lives that don’t meet their full potential.

Though going after what makes you happy can seem scary, you’ll never know what you can accomplish until you try. Start making a plan that will put you on a path to do things you really want. Whether it’s starting your own business or relocating to a new town, just the journey of trying to get where you want to be will boost your happiness.

Life is too short to live it unhappy. If you don’t know how to enjoy everyday life perhaps you’re guilty of some of the above-described things that steal your happiness. Do not be discouraged, however, as you can see, there are simple solutions to turning things around for a brighter tomorrow.