Everyone is in the pursuit of a happy life. Whether we realize it or not, humans seek to be happy. It drives our choices, emotions, and decisions.

But what makes a happy life? The answer is different for everyone, but some common threads apply.

I want to help you learn how to build a happier life for yourself.

Everyone’s version of a happy life is unique. Some people are happiest when serving others, while others find great joy in pursuing their interests. For most of us, it’s a combination of things that make us happy.

In truth, your happiness depends on doing what is meaningful to you. In order to be your happiest, you must find meaning and value in life.

What is personally meaningful to you? What are the things that matter to you and bring you satisfaction?

These are the things you should focus on to have a happy life.

The people, places, things, and feelings that create your meaningful life line up with your subjective well-being, which refers to how you evaluate your life.

People usually evaluate how well they’re doing at any given time by how much inner peace they enjoy. We all strive for peace of mind, even without consciously knowing we are doing it.

The following list of items contributes to the overall happiness of most people. As you read about each one, think about which would create a more meaningful life for you and give you more happiness and abundance.

People
Take Care Of Yourself
Both your physical and mental health are vital to a happy life. When your mind is at ease and your body is in good health, you not only feel better but you have more opportunities to pursue things that will bring you happiness, success, and overall well-being.

Stay active every day. Exercise releases endorphins in your body, which keep you more calm, relaxed, and happy. They’re called “feel-good” hormones, and all you need to do to release them is by moving.

A morning walk, afternoon jog, weekend hike, yoga class, gardening, recreational sports team, and bike ride are just a few examples of how you can add activity to your schedule.

Eat a healthy diet to prevent feeling sluggish and to lower your risk of developing conditions that limit your mobility and health.

Be sure to take care of your mental health by filling your mind with positive input, refraining from complaining, and nurturing positive emotions.

Serve Others
A commitment to something bigger and more important than yourself is a key component to a happy life. To be truly happy, you need to feel that your life stands for something and that you’re somehow making a valuable contribution to the world.

Create a mindset of selflessness over selfishness. When you serve others, you contribute to their overall happiness, which can’t help but make you happy as well.

When you help another person, you often forget your own troubles or worries for a moment and may even realize that you have more to be grateful for than you thought you did.

Options to serve are endless. For example, you can spread happiness simply by smiling at someone. Numerous studies show that smiling helps people live longer, happier, and better other people’s lives.

Here are some more ideas on how to serve others and increase your happiness:

Listen patiently
Do a chore for a family member
Talk to a stranger in line at the grocery store
Volunteer at a local charity
Give a sincere compliment
Put your phone away when having a face-to-face conversation
Mow a neighbor’s lawn, shovel snow, or rake leaves
Donate blood
Spread positivity