Life can change for the better, and that is a good view. If you're willing to put in the effort, life can really change. Even if you don't see positive changes every day or every time you try to change, over time and overall, trying to make positive changes in your life will still pay off.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Establishing a Better Life for Yourself
Step 1. Determine the values you hold dear
Think about what you really want in life. What are the values you uphold? What are some ways you would like to improve so that you have a better life? Maybe you want to make more money or want to be a better parent, or get more meaning out of your work. Whatever the situation, think about it deeply and listen to your feelings.
Try writing down idealized versions of aspects of yourself and your life on a piece of paper. You can create different columns, such as a relationship column, a financial column, or an ideal mindset column (eg a generally desired mindset or attitude)
Step 2. Demonstrate a willingness to adapt
Sometimes, regardless of how strong your will is, some things are hard or unattainable. If you set your values in a way that encourages you to adapt or make compromises, you'll feel happier and, ultimately, have a better life in the long run because you're less likely to feel disappointed or depressed.
This means, don't give up too easily on life. Improving aspects of life to get a better life is probably not an easy thing to do
Step 3. Analyze your responses for patterns of responses
Once you've listed your values, look for patterns that might provide clues about areas or areas that need more attention and improvement.
For example, you may want to achieve more meaning and earn more money from work, and you feel that there is not much to improve on this aspect of the relationship
Step 4. Take actionable steps to change your life
If you feel that, for example, improving your career life is important, you need to take steps to improve the quality of that aspect.
For example, you could take evening classes to pursue your dream of becoming a lawyer or physiotherapist
Step 5. Set realistic goals or goals
For example, an unrealistic goal is the desire to become the best lawyer in the world and make $50 billion a year in the first year after you graduate from law school. Avoid such goals and, instead, set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and have a clear time limit.
- Specific ideals are concrete ideals (clear). Instead of saying something non-specific, such as "One day I will become a lawyer," try saying something more specific, such as "I will be a lawyer in 4 years."
- Measurable goals are goals that allow you to see your progress or development over time. You can measure your progress in law school by calculating the number of courses or credits required to graduate, and marking each credit you have completed.
- Achievable goals are realistic goals. An ideal like this is not the desire to be the best lawyer in the world, for example. On the other hand, a more achievable goal would be, for example, to finish law school and find a job with an average salary that is equal to or higher than that of a lawyer.
- Relevant ideals are ideals that are in line with your values to achieve or have a better life. If you set high values in the process of finding meaning in life (eg helping people through law) and increasing your income, then becoming a lawyer is a relevant goal.
- Ideals that have the right time limit are certainly goals that need to be achieved within a certain period of time. The deadline may also include a deadline for additional goals, such as a fixed date for taking the law school entrance exam.
Step 6. Keep reviewing your values
Make sure you ask yourself from time to time about the values you assign to every aspect of life. You may notice that over time and with new life experiences, these values change.
Keep in mind that it doesn't matter if you end up changing your goals or ideals. That doesn't mean that you stutter to devote energy to other aspects of your life; it simply means that you have changed your life priorities and the values you hold dear
Method 2 of 4: Actively Achieving a Better Life
Step 1. Live life as it is now
While in some ways it is important for you to think about the future (eg by making plans, saving, etc.), it is also important that you enjoy your life in the present.
In one day, try to pause the activity you are doing for a few moments. Breathe deeply for a count of five and notice the sensations you feel in your body. Try not to judge the sensations that arise, but feel them freely
Step 2. Try new activities
Hobbies can help us to grow and replenish energy. Hobbies also stimulate the mind and body, and encourage creativity. The benefits derived from hobbies can help us live a good life.
If you are confused about what activity to do, try visiting this site:
Step 3. Increase your income
Some studies show that money can indeed provide happiness, but if the money needed reaches (maximum) around 1 billion rupiah. If the money earned exceeds 1 billion, the relationship between money and happiness (ie the impact of money on a better life) will weaken even further.
Therefore, income will continue to be associated with greater life satisfaction, as income increases (even if a person's income exceeds 1 billion rupiah). However, this will depend on how you define a 'better life'. Therefore, it is important that you consider the current situation and your views on a better life, and consider how important money is to you
Step 4. Remember to laugh
Children laugh more than adults because they feel free and happy, and their lives are fun and not filled with distracting thoughts. Being an adult doesn't mean you have to live a life that's too serious and boring. Try as much as possible to laugh and tell jokes every day to keep your life fun.
If you don't feel like telling jokes, try watching a funny television show or a program like stand-up comedy
Step 5. Keep negative people out of your life
If someone is constantly making you feel depressed and uncomfortable with yourself, stop hanging out with that person. While you may feel guilty at first, over time without the negative effects you will feel better.
- If the person is a friend of yours, give them less and less 'hints' and take longer to reply to their messages. You can also stop contacting them right away.
- If the person is a family member or someone you live with, try to avoid that person by leaving the house when he or she is at home, or entering the room if the person is active in the living room.
Method 3 of 4: Improving Physical and Mental Health
Step 1. Exercise
Regular exercise can have a slight antidepressant effect. Exercise can also relieve stress and it is an important aspect of having a better life. The benefits of exercise are caused by the release of endorphins, one of the brain hormones that provide feelings of happiness.
While you're exercising, try listening to a song that can motivate you to work out even harder. However, make sure you also pay attention to the condition of your body and do not exercise excessively
Step 2. Eat a healthy diet
When you eat unhealthy food, you will feel uncomfortable. Therefore, it is important that you eat healthy foods if you want to improve your quality of life.
Try to eat a variety of foods such as lean meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables for best results and remember to always provide a balanced diet (ie consume all the necessary substances in the right amounts)
Step 3. Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep can trigger feelings of tiredness, sadness, and anxiety so that the quality of your health will decline.
If you have trouble falling asleep, try making the bedroom darker. Also, move away from sources of noise (eg cell phones) and/or wear earplugs. Do your best to stick to your bedtime habits every night. Keep track of how much sleep it takes each night to feel refreshed when you wake up, and try to sleep that long each night
Step 4. Do not consume too many caffeinated products
Caffeine can make you more anxious, which can lead to stress and anxiety. If for you the better life is a life without stress and anxiety, try reducing your caffeine consumption.
Compare the positive and negative sides. If you feel that you are more productive after consuming caffeinated products and are more concerned with productivity than the anxiety that may arise (as a side effect of caffeine), stopping caffeine may not be the best choice. Try different amounts of caffeine per day and see if changing the amount of caffeine can affect how you feel
Step 5. Try psychotherapy
Counseling or psychotherapy can help other people to deal with their problems, as well as trying to have a better life.
If you live in the United States, you can visit https://locator.apa.org/ to find a psychotherapist or counselor in your city
Step 6. Get out of your comfort zone
Break your old habits and routines and try to do or get into the zone that can give you new challenges and 'anxieties'. Several studies have shown that the emergence of anxiety or challenges can actually boost brain function and performance in performing various tasks.
- To get out of your comfort zone, you can try a new hobby activity, make new friends, or try harder than usual to achieve your goals.
- You also still need to consider the values that are upheld and your personality. If you think that a better life should give you time to reflect on yourself, while you are an introvert, maybe stepping out of your comfort zone is not an important step for you.
- You won't know it until you try it.
Step 7. Do volunteer activities
Take your time to help others out there and maybe by helping others, your physical and mental health will be better. There are many ways to do volunteering. For example, you can:
- Working in soup kitchens to prepare meals for the homeless.
- Look for issues or topics you care about and ask organizations working to resolve those issues about volunteer opportunities.
- Contact your local library and ask if they need a tutor or tutor for your area of expertise.
- Contact the political representative in your area and ask if you can volunteer to organize campaign activities related to certain issues.
Method 4 of 4: Improving Relationship Quality
Step 1. Remember your flaws before you judge others
You are a human being so you must have had a bad day or been in a bad mood, lost your temper, needed time to yourself, lied, and acted selfishly. Keep in mind that people don't always show their best side (in this case, no one is perfect). Therefore, if you make mistakes and want others to understand that you are not perfect, you need to feel the same way when others make mistakes.
Instead of judging or judging another person harshly on one behavior, try to find a pattern of behavior that is more representative of that person's good side
Step 2. Show kindness to people you know
Have you ever received a thank you card from someone else? For a number of reasons, giving a thank-you card feels happier than simply saying thank you in person. This means that when the other person puts a greater effort into being grateful, that effort will be rewarded and make the recipient feel grateful and happy.
When you treat your friend well, chances are he will do the same to you. This can keep you and your friends on good terms, as well as help you have a better life
Step 3. Communicate more clearly
Communication is tricky because you need to translate your feelings and thoughts into a form that the listener or the other person expects to understand correctly. However, are you sure the words you speak are received or understood properly by the other person?
One of the changes you can make is to think for a moment before speaking to make communication more effective. If your thoughts are not 'organized' neatly, organize or manage them first before you trigger them
Step 4. Be a better listener
Concentrate and focus on the person speaking. Respect what he says, even if you don't agree with his views or opinions.
Do your best to ignore the things that are bothering you. You can do this by paying attention to the movement of the other person's lips. Several studies have shown that the visual information shown by the lips can help the process of speech
Step 5. Understand the other person's point of view
Try to understand his point of view. Try to be in his position before you judge him. Did you feel that he spoke curtly and briefly? Why is he talking like that? Instead of assuming that he is being rude, assume that maybe he had a bad day at work, or that someone else had been rude to him in the past.
Step 6. Try to share with others
Several studies have shown that sharing sustenance (eg donating) with others makes a person feel happier, even happier than spending his money on himself. This illustrates a concept known as “paying it forward”-a person doing a favor to another person who (in theory) will do good too, but to someone else (not to the giver of the first kindness).
One example of a good thing you can do is to pay for tickets for visitors who line up right behind you, buy warm food and blankets for the homeless, or clean your parents' house
Tips
- Try doing something new every week.
- Plan or schedule time to do physical activity every day because exercise and physical health are the keys to achieving mental satisfaction.
- Keep trying new things like surfing, skydiving or whatever activity interests you. This way, your confidence will increase!
- Make a list or take and print a photo of all the good memories so you can smile and remember them when you see them.
Warning
- Anyone who hurts you emotionally, including family members, will continue to depress you and hinder your development, for whatever reason.
- Stay away from people who always say you can't do something (or who often insult you).
- Be careful when hanging out. The 'wrong' friends will encourage you to do things you don't want to do so you'll regret it later.
