12TH AND BROAD

5 ways to upgrade your daily happiness

Kimberly Novosel
of Verticity for 12th & Broad
Build a support system and your happiness will increase.

We all know the feeling. Monday morning comes and you’re actually looking forward to the week. But then the girl who bugs you at the office says something snarky, your boss asks for a past-deadline project that slipped your mind, and the package that was supposed to be delivered is somehow in tracking update purgatory. The whole day shifts and your sunny outlook suddenly feels so far out of reach. 

It can be hard to navigate through the unpredictable and uncontrollable moments in our day-to-day lives, but these five things will help to upgrade your happiness, no matter what comes your way.

1. Write a personal mission statement. 

Comprised of an “I” followed by a present tense, powerful verb, and then adjectives of your choosing, a personal mission statement will clearly define what it is that you want to accomplish in any area or moment of your life. It’s something that ties together all of your “whys” and that you can come back to to remember your purpose. Examples: “I inspire others to seek beauty in everything,” “I empower those around me to invest their time and energy into building community together,” or “I learn from failure in order to keep moving forward toward success.” 

2. Build a support system.

A college professor said to my class, “Surround yourself with people who are better than you.” At the time I thought he was talking about our future careers, but as I’ve aged and that mantra has come back to me, I’ve realized it applies to all aspects of our lives. The people who you give your time and energy to should be uplifting, encouraging, positive beacons who share in your successes and with whom you can share in theirs, and who provide patience and forgiveness in the trickier moments. Find these people and hold them tight. Don’t be afraid to let go of relationships run by pettiness, jealousy, or selfishness. 

3. Clear out the junk.

Not just the empty friendships, but the stuff in your life too! My new test for what to keep and what to toss is, “Would I buy this now?” If the answer is no, be it a shirt, a piece of art on the wall, a tech gadget, if I wouldn’t want to bring it into my life newly now then I no longer need it. Keep your life and space clear of clutter. Surround yourself with things you use and love. 

4. Plan a trip.

I am a purveyor of being elsewhere. As important as home is, it’s just as vital to spend time in new or favorite places outside of our usual surroundings. Things like a budget, vacation days, and schedules can get in the way of getting away, but it’s a great mental exercise just planning a trip. Even if you can’t make it happen till next year, start researching that bucket list city. Ask a friend if you can come visit. Set up alerts for plane tickets. Make a list of what you’ll pack. Write a tentative schedule. The anticipation is part of the greatness of travel, and planning is like a little daily vacation from your usual tasks. 

5. Let it go.

It’s a really brave thing to dive into yourself and learn what your strengths and challenges are. Once you do that, you can honor your own needs, capitalize on your skills, and show yourself patience with your struggles. Most of the time in conflict, we are either communicating differently than the other person based on our nature or we are reacting in fear or vulnerability. Recognize when this is happening, whether within yourself or with another person or group, and let it go. There’s nothing more difficult and more freeing than showing kindness where kindness doesn’t seem welcome.
 

Entrepreneur and self-development writer/speaker Kimberly Novosel owns indoor cycling studio Verticity as well as Elsewhere Entertainment where she develops entertainment brands and manages artists. When not in the office or on a bike, you'll find her at music festivals or pretty much anywhere outdoors.