For many of us, life is too demanding, heavy, and is constantly pulling us away from our center of peace and happiness. For this, we need time to find ourself again. 

1. Powering down 

Technology has its benefits no doubt. But it has encroached our lives in ways that render us unhappy. Take social media for example. 

In one study, one in three people felt worse after visiting Facebook! They felt more dissatisfied with their lives. It is also well-documented how social media is an inducing factor that has led many (especially teenagers) to depression especially when used as a social comparison tool. Don’t compare your struggles to other people’s highlight reels. Break free from the technology and social media addiction is a reminder I need myself. Go out in nature, find a good book, or chat with a friend over a cup of chai.

All in all it pays to disconnect. To shut the laptops and phones down and learn to live an enjoyable life without the light rays of our gadgets entering our eyes. 

2. Connect to your vision once a week 

Author Stephen Covey talks about how Clarifying your Principles and Mission of life and reconnecting to it is one of the secrets of the most fulfilled and successful. 

Get a paper out! We’ll go through a simple 4 step process to help you in connecting back to those dreams and in helping you accomplish them. 

A. What are your dreams that inspire you? 

Yes, mention even those that you haven’t thought about or touched in years.   

List them out without restrain. 

Was it changing the world? A vacation? A nice house or car? A certain achievement?

Imagine again what led you to dreaming about it! 

Whatever it is, let it inspire you again! 

Try to clarify this vision of yours. 

B. Next write down what it will take you to get it. What activities will you have to do? What roles will you have to play? What people will you have to connect to? What sacrifices will you have to make time for your goal? 

Break that down in details. 

C. Next, start scheduling! Because only by doing do things get done. You can use a virtual or paperback calendar to make yourself that much more effective. 

D. And connect to that inspiring vision and review your actions weekly! 

Those are the simple four steps 🙂 

3. Find or create a reflection space

Newton didn’t discover and gain insight into gravity while sitting in an office or a classroom. According to the legend, he was out in nature, reflecting and pondering. 

Buddha is famous for his banyon tree where he meditated before enlightenment, Muhammad (S) is famous for his cave where he used to meditate and reflect before prophethood. Great men have a habit of meditating and of reflecting just as much as doing! 

So find a space, whether that be in nature or in your home or somewhere else, where you can be alone and can enjoy the silence. 

4. Bonding with God/Higher Power

Throughout the ages, people have embraced spiritual traditions in order to transcend their higher selves and to please the Higher Power. Even if you are doubtful of God’s presence, it is quite common for us humans to feel awe-inspired and struck by wonder at the site of remarkable beauty and art. Call it Om or Allah or God or Mother Nature, but connecting to that Living Force is a common way people break free from their lower self-limiting selves and taste fulfillment and joy that has no words. 

A simple exercise you can do is repeat a mantra like “thank you God” for 5 minutes a day. 

By this simple expression of gratitude, you’ll start to notice difference in your energy within a few weeks.  

5. Socialize 

Although we’ve mentioned a lot of introverted activities like reflection and mantra meditation and vision-setting, it’s equally important to have a good set of friends you can relate to. 

If you’re a little anxious to making new friends, that’s okay! Start by online groups and pages and people that will inspire you. And find out local groups where you can hang out and embrace positive and healthy social friendship! 

6. Try a Health Challenge! 

Our mind and body connect in mysterious and beautiful ways. 

Some people find their inspiration and life mission and dreams after they give up smoking, others after they work towards a big milestone like losing 50 lbs. Find a small attainable health goal you can accomplish within the next 3 months. Running a mile in under 6 minutes? Being able to do 30 pushups straight? Whatever it may be, focusing on one single health goal as a jumpstart can be a beautiful way to re-energize your body and re-energize your life. 

7. Expression 

Imagine you meet a homeless girl that just got in a break-up and is down in spirits. This one really touched your heart. And even though you had your own problems to worry about, you spent time and gave her encouraging words to keep going. 

All of us have a motivator inside of us. Bring that person out so that that inner motivator motivates us! How? Let your coach personality give your lower self encouraging words. You can do this by writing or simply by getting out your phone and recording a video of giving yourself encouraging words. It sounds weird, but it works! Try it out. 

Conclusion 

So those are 7 ways you can inspire yourself to higher heights. Don’t just read this article, apply it and see the fruits yourself! 

To your happiness and success! 

~Ahmad from Stay Happy 365 Team