How to make life better

The concept of a 'better life' has existed for centuries. Aristotle and Plato viewed moral and political ideals as tools to achieve happiness, understanding that a fulfilling life is not merely based on individual values. It involves living well with others while remaining comfortable and true to oneself.

Smile at those around you. It is often said that a smile is contagious, and research has confirmed this truth. Numerous studies suggest that interacting in a friendly manner with others can increase happiness, at least to some extent, as people tend to treat those who smile better than those with a 'stern face'.

• Those who smile are often seen as more attractive, trustworthy, relaxed, and sincere.
• Encouraging others and supporting them is a sign of living a better life.

Helping others. Studies have shown that assisting others is closely tied to personal well-being. Investing time in caring for others is a key factor in understanding what constitutes a "better life." Volunteering to help others is linked to improvements in life quality, including increased happiness, self-esteem, health, and even longevity.

• Listening to others' challenges is a wonderful way to help. Often, those facing difficulties just want to share their experiences with friends. By dedicating time to listen, you're offering support, regardless of whether you can solve their problem.
• The Dalai Lama once said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Paying attention to others, rather than focusing solely on yourself, is a common approach to living a better life with others.

Stop thinking life is fair. Many of us have taught this concept to our children, but believing that specific efforts or personal qualities will guarantee results leads to frustration and resentment. Let go of this mindset.

• Taking responsibility for your actions is a crucial aspect of growth. Some situations will be completely beyond your control, and focusing on them won’t help you build the ability to make beneficial changes in your life. Accept what you cannot change, and change what you can.
• Letting go of resentment toward others is essential for a better life. There’s an old saying that resentment is like "drinking poison and hoping the other person will die." It will erode your quality of life and damage relationships with those around you.
• Others may not agree with you. This doesn’t mean you or they are wrong; it simply means you both have different perspectives on the same issue, and that’s completely normal.

Treat others with honesty, respect, and kindness. You don’t need to treat others the way they treat you. Financial journalist Panos Mourdoukoutas once said, "Harming others will harm both the victim and the person who caused the harm." Revenge or "payback" initiates an endless cycle of pain and disappointment that you can easily avoid by following a few simple principles.

• Speaking the truth carefully is a habit of those who live a better life. Often, people pretend they are telling the truth about others, when in reality, they are simply spreading rumors. The attention you get from gossip might feel satisfying temporarily, but in the long run, it will destroy the healthy relationships you have with others.
• Before acting, you should ask yourself, "Is this something I want others to say about me, or do to me?" If the answer is no, you should reconsider your actions.

Value friendships with others. The quality of a person’s friendships directly impacts their well-being. Friends enhance your sense of acceptance and purpose. Those who genuinely care about you will help prevent you from developing bad habits that negatively affect your overall life quality.

• Show your friends and family that you care by spending time with them, making frequent calls, and doing activities together. However, friendship is not based on proximity. Even online friends can positively influence your quality of life.
• People with strong social networks tend to have stronger immune systems, fewer colds, less stress, and an overall better quality of life for reasons that are still not fully understood.

Be honest with yourself. Self-awareness is a key factor in improving your life, and the only way to achieve this is through practicing honesty. It may be easier to acknowledge your strengths or flaws, but it's important to understand both aspects if you want to live in harmony with your inner self.

• When problems arise, look inward. Avoid blaming others. Not only will they dislike it, but you won’t learn anything from it either.
• Talk about your situation with someone you trust. Often, a friend can provide insights into your motives that you may not recognize yourself.

Consider your desires. What do you want from life? What are you doing to achieve what you want?

• List the qualities you want to embody in your life. Then, outline ways to incorporate them into your daily routine. Aristotle once wrote, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." If you want to be kind, do kind things.
• It can be difficult to be honest about what you truly desire. Many people block their own path to a better life by emphasizing what they want, yet feel they cannot achieve it due to life circumstances – like finances, family obligations, or economic pressure. This only extends the mindset that they are victims, a mentality that slowly erodes happiness at every level.
• If you are unclear about your greatest desires in life, start with smaller choices. Developing control and power over the things you already have in life is crucial to living a better life.

Make a list of your fears. Understanding the situations that scare you will help you gain better awareness of the hidden fears controlling your life. For instance, fearing being called foolish could mean you're not speaking up for yourself at work, preventing you from being considered for promotion.

• Sometimes, reviewing your fears can help you realize how futile it is to worry about things beyond your control.
• At times, fear is based on situations that no longer exist. Many people develop a sense of fear from childhood, and this may lie outside their conscious control. However, as an adult, you have more autonomy and power over your choices. By recognizing the fears influencing your behavior, you can make more conscious decisions about how you act.

Cultivate self-acceptance. No one is perfect. Everyone has flaws, makes mistakes, and does things they shouldn’t. Mark Twain once said, "A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval." A better life isn't the result of making perfect choices, but of accepting the truth about yourself, including your limitations.

• Self-acceptance is a lesson in honesty. It means not denying your actions, passivity, or results.
• Self-acceptance is a process of practicing self-reliance. Like any form of self-reliance, accepting yourself is something you must consciously learn, and relearn as your personality evolves over time.

Practice mindfulness. To focus on the present, you should practice mindfulness, a discipline that research has shown can directly enhance a person’s quality of life.

• Acknowledge when you are anxious about the future or regretful about the past. Redirect your focus to your breath. Count to 10. When practiced regularly, even a simple mindfulness exercise like this can have a positive impact on your life.
• Develop habits each day rather than setting distant goals. For example, aim to exercise daily rather than preparing for a triathlon in a month. Instead of aiming to lose 10 kg, focus on eating healthily starting today. If you decide to set a goal, break it down into manageable daily steps.

Create a list of things you are grateful for. Research in positive psychology has shown a direct link between gratitude and happiness. Over time, it has been proven that gratitude positively impacts health. Grateful people tend to have lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and feel more connected with others.

• Creating a list of things you are grateful for, no matter how big or small, is an effective way to actively cultivate gratitude in daily life. Many people choose to keep a gratitude journal, as the old saying goes, "count your blessings." Others might think about the things they're grateful for during daily prayers or meditation.
• Placing images or written reminders of gratitude around your home is another way to help you remember to be thankful.

Write a thank-you letter. Research in positive psychology has shown that expressing gratitude for others' efforts is directly linked to a better life.

• You can send thank-you notes for any reason, no matter how small or significant. A thank-you message could be as simple as an emoji or a detailed letter about an important event in someone's life.
• Sometimes, the person may no longer be in your life. You can still express your gratitude by writing a letter thanking them for the positive influence they've had on your life. Even if you can't send it, the act of writing it will benefit you.

Set reminders to practice gratitude. Gratitude is a practice and must be actively cultivated to be effective. It is easy to feel thankful when happy events occur naturally. To foster gratitude, one must develop the ability to recognize things to be thankful for in daily life.

• You can set an alarm to remind you to feel gratitude at a random time during the day. When the alarm rings, ask yourself: what am I grateful for right now?
• If you find yourself feeling resentful or complaining, try to replace those feelings with gratitude. For example, when stuck in traffic, replace the frustration of being late with an appreciation for the beauty of nature. After all, you would miss the beauty of autumn leaves if you were driving at normal speed!