There was a popular song from years past that said “don’t worry, be happy.” It was a catchy tune and it hung around as a favorite song for longer than average.

While the song actually had some decent advice for fighting worry like “In every life we have some trouble but when you worry, you make it double.” Which is in fact true.

But just saying don’t worry, be happy isn’t going to get it done for most people.

Truly finding happiness is a complex and deeply personal journey. What brings happiness can vary greatly from person to person. However, here are some general ideas and practices that many people find helpful in cultivating happiness, even in the chaotic world in which we live today.

• Gratitude: Cultivating a sense of gratitude for what you have can significantly increase happiness. Take time each day to reflect on the things you’re thankful for, whether they’re big or small. This is the very first thing I try to do each day, it sets a grateful tone for the day and helps make the chaos of the day a little less stressful.

• Positive relationships: Surround yourself with supportive and positive people. Nurture your relationships with friends, family, and loved ones. Connecting with others and feeling a sense of belonging can bring immense joy.

• Mindfulness and living in the present: Practice mindfulness and being fully present in the moment. Engage in activities that allow you to immerse yourself in the present experience. Pay attention to your surroundings, the world and the people in it are pretty amazing. On any given day there is plenty happening right around you that can turn a frown into a smile.

• Acts of kindness: Engage in acts of kindness and generosity towards others. Helping others not only benefits them but also boosts your own sense of well-being and happiness. Here’s a challenge for you, this very day, do something for someone else and DON’T LET THEM FIND OUT YOU DID IT. That is a whole lot harder to do than you think because we humans tend to like to receive “credit” for our kindness. But show some kindness anyway and be happy for the simple reason that you are kind, whether anyone else realizes it or not.

• Pursue passions and hobbies: Make time for activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Whether it’s a creative pursuit, a sport, or a hobby, dedicating time to things you love can enhance your overall happiness.

• Exercise and health: Take care of your physical health through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate sleep. Physical well-being is closely linked to mental and emotional well-being.

• Set meaningful goals: Set goals that align with your values and aspirations. Working towards meaningful objectives can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment, contributing to your overall happiness.

• Cultivate resilience: Learn to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. Developing resilience allows you to navigate life’s ups and downs with greater ease and maintain a positive outlook. Stuff happens, it’s part of life and most stuff that happens is temporary. Never allow a temporary situation to steal even a moment of your happiness.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff: My dad lived longer with a transplanted heart than other heart transplant recipient. He was a big time worrier but once he got the new heart he was a changed man. He said the secret to happiness wasn’t just not sweating the small stuff, he said it was realizing that in the totality of life, it’s all small stuff.

Happiness is not a destination but a journey. It’s normal for feelings of happiness to ebb and flow over time. By incorporating these practices into your life and remaining open to growth and self-discovery, you can cultivate a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment.

Happiness is a choice but it’s not just a choice to simply be happy. It’s a choice to proactively seek happiness and protect it once you find it. I hope you’ll make that choice because I know that you’ll be happy you did.

Want more LeadToday? Many of you know I’m very active on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. I post a lot of free content there but I also post 6-10 minute videos two or three times a week. These videos are focused on principles of leadership and living your best life. They are “uncommon” common sense topics designed to help people push themselves to their full potential. Every video is available to subscribers who invest $4.99 a month for their future success. If you’re willing to push yourself towards the life you want and deserve my videos may just be the extra nudge you need to get there. Find your way over to X and follow me there. Once you’ve followed me you can subscribe on a month by month basis just by clicking the subscribe button. Remember, an investment in yourself ALWAYS pays dividends! You’ll find my timeline here: twitter.com/leadtoday