10 Ways You Can Be Happier with Who You Are

Read this and be happier fast!

by Darryl L. Mobley

So… we were interviewing an accomplished young woman for a future role managing our relationship with a large retailer. The interview went well. We were impressed. At the end, I asked her if she had any questions she wanted to ask me.

She said, “I have one question.” She then asked,

"Can you tell me how I can be happier with who I am?"

One of my assistants was in the room recording the interview, listened to my response to the question, and suggested I share it with others – even though it was not directly related to the job we are looking to fill or Beauty Of The Nile’s products. What follows is what I said, with the addition of a closing paragraph that was not a part of my talk with the job candidate, and with run-on sentences corrected.

Did This Ever Happen In Your Interview?

I'm thrilled to share with you a few ways to help you become happier with who you are. Life is an amazing journey, and the key to true happiness-with-self begins with embracing and loving who you are and who you are becoming. Here’s my list for you, based on a lifetime of studying truly happy people.

 #1 - Practice Self-Compassion: Start by treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend. When you make a mistake or face challenges, remember that it's okay to be imperfect. Give yourself grace. Treat yourself with love and forgiveness, just like you would for someone dear to you.

 #2 - Celebrate Your Achievements: Take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, large & small. Recognizing your successes, whether it's completing a jog, writing a letter to a friend, or making a delicious homemade pizza, boosts your self-esteem and reminds you of your capabilities.

 #3 - Set Goals: Set goals for yourself. Break them down into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate your progress along the way. This will keep you motivated and fuel you to do, be, and have more in your life. This is one of the most powerful ways to be happier with yourself.

 #4 - Practice Focusing: Being in a state of distraction is one of the pathways to unhappiness.  Wallowing in and out of distractions makes you less productive. You’re not as attentive. You waste your time – the most valuable resource. You don’t absorb the input of others as well as needed. You’re more forgetful You argue more and make more mistakes. All of this makes it difficult to remain in a happy state.

To raise your ability to focus, try the following: play any of the of the many cognitive games that are available via app, try mental exercises that help you stay in the moment, engage in regular physical exercise, get solid sleep each night, and try to develop a pattern of eating that supports brain health.

#5 - Surround Yourself with Positivity: Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. Let go of all toxic relationships and negativity. Positive vibes and good friends will sustain and boost your confidence and self-worth.

#6 - Embrace Your Uniqueness: You are one-of-a-kind. Embrace your quirks, talents, and interests. Being different is a beautiful thing, and it's what makes you special. This is the power behind Beauty Of The Nile’s mission to exhort all to Love Your Brown Skin^®.

#7 - Take Care of Your Body: Prioritize your physical health. Eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When your body feels good, it positively impacts your self-image and overall happiness.

#8 - Learn from Challenges: Instead of viewing challenges as failures, see them as opportunities for growth. The “good life” comes from taking on challenges. Every setback teaches you valuable lessons that help you become a stronger, wiser, and better version of yourself.

#9 - Express Gratitude: Take time each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for. Gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have. As long as your breathing, you have much to be grateful for. Gratitude promotes happiness.

#10 - Help Others: Acts of kindness and helping others will boost your self-esteem and sense of purpose. When you make a positive impact on someone's life, it reinforces your self-worth and brings happiness to both you and those you have assisted.

Bonus #11 - Don’t engage in anything or with anyone who is not good to you, good for you, or good with you. This single habit may be the biggest force  you have to become happier with who you are. (It’s my personal favorite.)

The Bottom-Line

You are a unique and wonderful individual, and there's no one else in the world quite like you. Embracing who you are is the key to unlocking lasting self-happiness. Be kind to yourself, celebrate your accomplishments, and practice self-compassion. With these eleven powerful strategies, you'll find yourself on the journey to greater self-love and happiness. As Earth, Wind & Fire sang, you’re “shining bright to see, who you can truly be!”

Please note – for the purpose of Skin Care: We use Black skin, Brown skin, and skin-of-color interchangeably when discussing people-of-color. When we use the term people-of-color, we intend to mean those whose skin tone is not White and who are Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, Mediterranean, Pacific Islander, or of Middle Eastern descent.