Reasons to Be Happy (Even When Life is Hard)
Life has a way of throwing all sorts of challenges our way, but there are still countless reasons to be happy. I find that it’s often the small, everyday things that can bring the most joy. Taking time to notice and fully appreciate them is so important.
Happiness doesn’t always come from having everything you want. It doesn’t always come from looking a certain way, having lots of money, being with your dream partner, or super fun life events. Often, happiness is found in the simple pleasures. Small beautiful moments can inspire gratitude and hope.
Everybody in the world experiences unhappiness occasionally, some more often than others. During these unhappy times, it’s important to realize that there are always reasons to be happy. No matter what’s happened to you, there are things to be happy about.
This list of reasons to be happy today is here to inspire you. Life may suck sometimes but I hope you’ll see that there’s always something to be happy about ♥
Reasons to Be Happy & Things to Appreciate
1. Feeling the warmth of the sun.
2. Getting support from family or friends when you need it.
3. The feeling of being truly understood by someone.
4. When you laugh so hard that you almost pee your pants.
5. A surprise visit or call from someone you love.
6. The happiness of making someone smile.
7. A big warm cup of coffee or tea. It’s a hug in a mug! ♥
8. The excitement of winning something or getting something for free, even if it’s not very valuable.
9. The satisfaction of helping someone in need.
10. That first sip of french pressed Italian coffee in the morning.
11. The smell of fresh flowers or freshly cut grass.
12. A soft and cozy blanket and a good book.
13. Enjoying your favorite meal or snack 100% without guilt or remorse.
14. The sound of rain on the roof.
15. The sound of appliances- the dishwasher running, the refrigerator humming, and the laundry.
16. The feeling of fresh clean sheets.
17. The beauty of the sky- natural clouds, the darkening at dusk, or a colorful sunset.
18. Taking a peaceful walk.
19. Having actual cash in your wallet that you can spend as you wish.
20. The feeling of inner strength & confidence you get from accomplishing a goal.
21. The intrigue of learning something new that’s interesting.
22. The satisfaction of overcoming a challenge.
23. The excitement of a new art or creative project.
24. Seeing your hard work pay off and knowing you did it.
25. Being able to take a mature, bird’s eye view of life’s ups and downs and keeping your emotions stable.
26. The confidence you feel when you speak authentically and articulate things well.
27. The peace that comes from accepting yourself as you are.
28. The joy of discovering your passion or life purpose.
29. The gratitude of recognizing your blessings.
30. The awe of recognizing the hand of God (or whatever you believe) in your life.
31. The beautiful serenity of a lake, pond, or calm ocean waters.
32. A day off with perfect weather.
33. Fresh garden vegetables and ripe fruits.
34. Exploring in the forest or taking a hike on a trail.
35. Watching wildlife in its natural habitat.
36. The joy of feeling grounded to the earth.
37. The tiny excitement of seeing a rainbow.
38. Finding crystals, a hag stone, or another interesting rock outside.
39. Walking barefoot in the grass, on the beach, or anywhere outside that feels nice.
40. A good night’s sleep.
41. When you realize you’ve finally stopped caring about something that used to bother you.
42. Having a healthy and functioning body.
43. Having inner peace in any given moment.
44. Moments when, for just a second, everything feels perfect.
45. The relief of overcoming an illness or injury.
46. Gratitude for your most attractive features.
47. Holding a handful of sand or mud and letting it squish between or fall from your fingers.
48. Psychic downloads or visions that help you problem solve.
49. Those stretches of time when you’ve been keeping up with your fitness and feel motivated to continue.
50. Feeling cared for by your partner, family, or friends.
51. Loving your cat, dog, or pets.
52. Having a true friend.
53. Sharing an authentic smile with a stranger.
54. Playing a fun game or enjoying an event with people you love.
55. Family dinners.
56. New recipes that come out exceptionally well.
57. Making exciting plans.
58. Having a quiet evening after a busy day.
59. Deep conversations.
60. Coloring books.
61. Using up the last of something and having a brand new one waiting.
62. Getting an authentic compliment.
63. Being able to see the positive side and being able to find hope.
64. When your intuition proves to be spot on.
65. Finding something you thought was lost.
66. Being in the creative flow.
67. The joy of sharing your creations with others.
68. Getting something for nothing.
69. Manifesting exactly what you’ve been wanting.
70. Finally understanding why something happened or had to happen.
71. Really cool dreams.
72. Road trips.
73. Finding an amazing bargain at the thrift shop.
74. Stocking up the fridge.
75. Being on top of sh*t.
76. Overhearing interesting conversations when out in public.
77. Music from the 80s.
78. When something you spent your hard-earned money on was worth it.
79. Seeing your loved one succeed.
80. Aromatic candles.
81. When you find the perfect words to say.
82. Reminiscing about happy memories with people.
83. Fairs, festivals, concerts, and parties.
84. Making memories with loved ones.
85. Accomplishing things on your life’s bucket list.
86. Making your first dollar online, at the craft fair, or in any way as an entrepreneur or creative person.
87. Free museums (or deep discounts to go.)
88. Exploring ruins.
89. Drinking bubble tea or iced coffee at outdoor malls on hot days.
90. Learning words in foreign languages.
91. Decorating your home.
92. Appreciating the present moment.
93. Journaling and reflecting.
94. Getting signs from your angels.
95. Clear night sky, stars, and a full moon.
96. Keeping houseplants.
97. Meeting someone you swear you have a past life connection with.
98. When you’re able to let go of worries.
99. When you’re able to see through lies.
100. Funny YouTube videos.
101. When your predictions that you based important decisions on turn out to be right.
With more than 1.5 million copies in print, 14,000 Things to Be Happy About is the iconic impulse gift book that celebrates all the little things that make life worth living. Now it is even more of a mood-altering pick-me-up, with the use of cheerful watercolors throughout plus redesigned pages, all of which give this new edition a fresh, joyous feeling. At the heart, though, is its unique list of thousands of items, places, thoughts, and moments that make us happy. No opinions, no explanations, no asides or footnotes. It’s mesmerizing. And as an antidote to the all-too-many things to be unhappy about, it could not be more welcome.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
