Want to be happier? Most people do! The good news is there are some simple practices to make you happy, and they don’t cost a cent! And, you can get started as soon as you finish reading this article.

Appreciate

Appreciating people for what they have done for you helps improve your level of happiness. It strengthens your relationships and draws more positive people to you. Studies have shown that people who show gratitude consistently live a healthier life. They don’t have constant ups and downs in emotions, they sleep well and have fewer health problems.

Give

Sharing what you have with people who cannot afford to own such things not only makes them happy, it also makes the giver happy, abundant and fulfilled. Merely showing simple acts of kindness boosts people’s trust in and love for you. Studies show that those who show kindness felt happier than those who didn't. Having the desire to share your time and resources with others starts with acknowledging and appreciating the positive things you have in your life. When you start practicing gratitude consistently, you’ll naturally want to give more.

Empathize

Lots of people fail to appreciate the fact that putting other people’s point of view into consideration keeps them happy. When people discover you understand them, they become closer and free with you because you make them feel good about themselves. Making others happy makes you happier indirectly—it’s a beautiful cycle that keeps on going around. Empathy helps you turn negative characters or features in a person into positive ones by helping them see new ways of approaching them in their everyday life.

Aspire

Are you hopeful? Believing that the best is yet to come brings you joy that no material thing can. Hope regularly relieves the mind of stress, and a mind that’s free from stress makes you happy. Being hopeful creates a vision for the future in which you know that you are living for a purpose, which brings you a wellspring of ongoing joy. When you aspire to great things, you help others do the same.

Savor

Savoring the positive is the best way to free the mind from stress. When you continually place your mind on the good things you have achieved, it increases your happiness levels. This boost makes you more hopeful for greater things to come and also inspires you to do more. Savoring the present moment and all that we have in our lives helps us be the happiest and healthiest us we can be.