• Slide 2 of 21: It’s okay to look back on memories—be they good or bad—on occasion, but it’s important that you don’t spend too much time dwelling on the past. Otherwise, you might miss out on the present. When you decide to let go of the baggage that’s been weighing you down, you’ll find it’s a lot easier to move forward with your life.

    The past

    It’s okay to look back on memories—be they good or bad—on occasion, but it’s important that you don’t spend too much time dwelling on the past. Otherwise, you might miss out on the present. When you decide to let go of the baggage that’s been weighing you down, you’ll find it’s a lot easier to move forward with your life.

  • Slide 3 of 21: Just as you should give up on the past, you should also give up on the future. That’s not to say that you should live recklessly and forget about consequences, but you should try to stop worrying so much about what may or may not happen tomorrow, because all you can control is what happens today. One way to improve your ability to stay in the moment is to practice mindfulness meditation.

    The future

    Just as you should give up on the past, you should also give up on the future. That’s not to say that you should live recklessly and forget about consequences, but you should try to stop worrying so much about what may or may not happen tomorrow, because all you can control is what happens today. One way to improve your ability to stay in the moment is to practice mindfulness meditation.

  • Slide 4 of 21: As the saying goes, money can’t buy you happiness, and neither can the things that money buys. You might experience a temporary jolt of euphoria when you buy something new, but that feeling never lasts. In fact, constantly chasing instant gratification through spending will only lead to more unhappiness. There’s no replacement for real-life relationships and experiences.

    Your obsession with material objects

    As the saying goes, money can’t buy you happiness, and neither can the things that money buys. You might experience a temporary jolt of euphoria when you buy something new, but that feeling never lasts. In fact, constantly chasing instant gratification through spending will only lead to more unhappiness. There’s no replacement for real-life relationships and experiences.

  • Slide 5 of 21: A lesson some of us learn later than others is that you are who you are. No matter how hard you try to be someone else, or to be the person you think others want you to be, you can’t change who you are deep down. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you’ll start living your own life and the happier you’ll be.

    Trying to be someone you’re not

    A lesson some of us learn later than others is that you are who you are. No matter how hard you try to be someone else, or to be the person you think others want you to be, you can’t change who you are deep down. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you’ll start living your own life and the happier you’ll be.

  • Slide 6 of 21: One of the common side effects of caffeine intake is anxiety, yet according to the National Coffee Association, nearly two-thirds of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee a day. Instead, consider switching to green tea, which has roughly half the caffeine of coffee. The less anxious you are, the happier you’ll be.

    Coffee

    One of the common side effects of caffeine intake is anxiety, yet according to the National Coffee Association, nearly two-thirds of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee a day. Instead, consider switching to green tea, which has roughly half the caffeine of coffee. The less anxious you are, the happier you’ll be.

  • Slide 7 of 21: It’s easy to make excuses when things aren’t going your way, but instead you should be taking responsibility. Research shows that those who are accountable for their actions are more likely to be happier and successful, both in work and life. Further, when you take responsibility for your own life, you realize you have the power to change it for the better. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

    Excuses

    It’s easy to make excuses when things aren’t going your way, but instead you should be taking responsibility. Research shows that those who are accountable for their actions are more likely to be happier and successful, both in work and life. Further, when you take responsibility for your own life, you realize you have the power to change it for the better. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

  • Slide 8 of 21: The easiest way to ruin your self-esteem is to compare yourself to others. If you look long enough, you’re always going to find someone who is smarter, taller, better looking, more successful, or richer than you are. Instead of competing with others, compete with the person you were yesterday and set goals for yourself so that you’re constantly improving.

    Comparing yourself to others

    The easiest way to ruin your self-esteem is to compare yourself to others. If you look long enough, you’re always going to find someone who is smarter, taller, better looking, more successful, or richer than you are. Instead of competing with others, compete with the person you were yesterday and set goals for yourself so that you’re constantly improving.

  • Slide 9 of 21: Happiness doesn’t come from others—it comes from within. At least according to a study out of the University of Hertfordshire, which found that self-acceptance is one of the biggest factors in achieving a happier life. So instead of trying to win the approval of others, focus on winning the approval of yourself.

    Seeking the approval of others

    Happiness doesn’t come from others—it comes from within. At least according to a study out of the University of Hertfordshire, which found that self-acceptance is one of the biggest factors in achieving a happier life. So instead of trying to win the approval of others, focus on winning the approval of yourself.

  • Slide 11 of 21: By now it should come as no surprise that smoking is bad for your physical health, but did you know that it can also make you unhappy? A common myth about smoking is that it alleviates stress, when in fact the opposite is true.Studies have shown that on average, people who smoke have lower levels of pleasure and are less satisfied with their lives than non-smokers. The good news is that ex-smokers are just as happy as those who have never smoked.

    Smoking

    By now it should come as no surprise that smoking is bad for your physical health, but did you know that it can also make you unhappy? A common myth about smoking is that it alleviates stress, when in fact the opposite is true.

    Studies have shown that on average, people who smoke have lower levels of pleasure and are less satisfied with their lives than non-smokers. The good news is that ex-smokers are just as happy as those who have never smoked.

  • Slide 12 of 21: Negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more you tell yourself you’re not good enough or you’ll never succeed, the more you start to believe it. Instead of focusing on the negatives and being your own worst critic, focus on the positives and become your biggest cheerleader. Changing the way you think about yourself might take some time, but it will be worth it in the end.

    Being negative

    Negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more you tell yourself you’re not good enough or you’ll never succeed, the more you start to believe it. Instead of focusing on the negatives and being your own worst critic, focus on the positives and become your biggest cheerleader. Changing the way you think about yourself might take some time, but it will be worth it in the end.

  • Slide 13 of 21: Other people can have a big influence on your mood. If you surround yourself with people who constantly complain and are never happy, then you’re likely to act the same way. Just as you should give up your own negativity, you should also give up people in your life who are negative. Surround yourself with those who make you happy, and naturally, you will become happy.

    Negative influences

    Other people can have a big influence on your mood. If you surround yourself with people who constantly complain and are never happy, then you’re likely to act the same way. Just as you should give up your own negativity, you should also give up people in your life who are negative. Surround yourself with those who make you happy, and naturally, you will become happy.

  • Slide 14 of 21: Do you find yourself saying sorry all the time, even when you haven’t done anything wrong? If so, stop. One study found that people who don’t apologize are more likely to be happier than those who do, because they experience a greater sense of power and control and have higher self-esteem. It’s good to own up to your transgressions when the situation calls for it, but don’t feel the need to apologize for everything.

    Apologizing all the time

    Do you find yourself saying sorry all the time, even when you haven’t done anything wrong? If so, stop. One study found that people who don’t apologize are more likely to be happier than those who do, because they experience a greater sense of power and control and have higher self-esteem. It’s good to own up to your transgressions when the situation calls for it, but don’t feel the need to apologize for everything.

  • Slide 15 of 21: Studies have shown that people who use social media are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health than those who don’t. Sites such as Facebook and Instagram set unrealistic expectations and end up making us feel less connected to others. As a result, more people are doing away with their social media accounts in exchange for real-life interactions, and maybe you should too.

    Social media

    Studies have shown that people who use social media are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health than those who don’t. Sites such as Facebook and Instagram set unrealistic expectations and end up making us feel less connected to others. As a result, more people are doing away with their social media accounts in exchange for real-life interactions, and maybe you should too.

  • Slide 16 of 21: It’s impossible to control every aspect of our lives, so why bother trying? When you demand perfection, not just from yourself but from everyone around you, you’re likely to be disappointed with the results. Instead, simply allow things to unfold as they will, and trust that everything will turn out all right. In other words, surrender to life.

    Control

    It’s impossible to control every aspect of our lives, so why bother trying? When you demand perfection, not just from yourself but from everyone around you, you’re likely to be disappointed with the results. Instead, simply allow things to unfold as they will, and trust that everything will turn out all right. In other words, surrender to life.

  • Slide 17 of 21: Unsurprisingly, procrastination and depression are closely linked. You can’t get anything done because you’re unhappy, and you’re unhappy because you can’t get anything done. It’s a vicious cycle, and the only way to break it is to stop procrastinating. Easier said than done, of course, but remind yourself how good you’ll feel when you finally accomplish something.

    Procrastinating

    Unsurprisingly, procrastination and depression are closely linked. You can’t get anything done because you’re unhappy, and you’re unhappy because you can’t get anything done. It’s a vicious cycle, and the only way to break it is to stop procrastinating. Easier said than done, of course, but remind yourself how good you’ll feel when you finally accomplish something.

  • Slide 18 of 21: We’re all afraid of something. Anyone who says otherwise is simply not telling the truth. After all, fear is a survival instinct. But too much of it can be a bad thing. Fear keeps us from trying new things. The best way to overcome your fears is to face them head on. When you do, you’re likely to find that there was nothing to be afraid of in the first place.

    Being afraid

    We’re all afraid of something. Anyone who says otherwise is simply not telling the truth. After all, fear is a survival instinct. But too much of it can be a bad thing. Fear keeps us from trying new things. The best way to overcome your fears is to face them head on. When you do, you’re likely to find that there was nothing to be afraid of in the first place.

  • Slide 19 of 21: The problem with having preconceived notions is that they prevent us from seeing people for who they really are. Instead, all we see is what we think we already know about them, based on stereotypes and prejudices, which can keep us from meeting new people and exploring different cultures. This is especially true in our current climate of extreme social and political division. Give up your preconceived notions and try to keep a more open mind.

    Your preconceived notions

    The problem with having preconceived notions is that they prevent us from seeing people for who they really are. Instead, all we see is what we think we already know about them, based on stereotypes and prejudices, which can keep us from meeting new people and exploring different cultures. This is especially true in our current climate of extreme social and political division. Give up your preconceived notions and try to keep a more open mind.

  • Slide 21 of 21: From a young age we’re taught to never give up, but sometimes quitting is the best option. Of course, we all have to do things we don’t like from time to time, but there’s a difference between a temporary inconvenience and something that is constantly making you miserable. Life’s too short to waste time on things you don’t enjoy.Never giving up

From a young age we’re taught to never give up, but sometimes quitting is the best option. Of course, we all have to do things we don’t like from time to time, but there’s a difference between a temporary inconvenience and something that is constantly making you miserable. Life’s too short to waste time on things you don’t enjoy.