5 Ways to Be Happy Alone ~ Embrace these 5 tips to find happiness when alone.

 

Being alone might not be as bad as previously thought. Perhaps this is the reason

for the record number of people now living alone in America. According to the Census Bureau Population Survey, 31 million people live alone and it has climbed steadily since the 1920s. One-person households also increased from 17 percent in 1970 to 27 percent in 2012. The reason for the increase is people are healthier today than they were decades earlier. Additionally, young people are deciding to get married later on in life, and this was reflected in the poll. Outside the poll, usually there is a stigma attached to people who are loners. Perhaps they are drifters, they are unhappy, or they are miserable--not true. Being alone doesn’t have to be awkward anymore. You can be happy without a crowd. Regardless, of how you feel about the subject, happiness can be embraced, no matter what the circumstances may be. Here are 5 tips to help you enjoy life alone, and to be successful at it.

Carve Out Your Own Space 

If you are not used to being alone, it will be harder to deal with. Yet, there is a remedy for those embarking on a solo life. You can start practicing ways to become more accustomed to it. Take a small step by going out for a meal alone at least one day a week to get use to it. Bring an iPad with you to get caught up on emails, or take a book and read a chapter. Take a trip to the book store and have coffee. The key is to become more comfortable with the stillness, and being able to enjoy your own company.

Get Creative

Just because you are alone doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Paint, draw, play music, learn golf, or go to a museum. Learn something new. Go back to school to learn another language, study a new religion, or study art history. Think of the world being open to you in a variety of new creative ways. If you don’t have a creative side, or do not have an interest in taking classes, don’t worry. Maybe you have a skill you can share with others like teaching math, English, or maybe you can tutor abroad. Own your own space and expand the mind to new heights.

Tackling False Beliefs

Accept that you are just as valuable being alone. What are your false beliefs? Ask yourself "What is causing my unhappiness?" Is it a false belief that you can't be happy alone? If so, this could cause depression and make life harder. You do not need people in order to be 100 percent happy. If this is true, look within to find what is wounding you--find the root. Maybe it is abandonment issues, or other fears that have manifested over years. This introspection takes time, but it is crucial to you becoming stronger. If you need to seek counseling, then go. But make the decision that joy is attainable by ditching personal falsehoods. Happiness will depend on you.

Love Yourself

Work on loving and accepting the person you already are. Make a plan to reward and celebrate yourself. If this is new to you try positive affirmations, forgiving yourself for mistakes, and work on releasing negativity from your thoughts. This is not an overnight trick, but it helps to build a foundation, and hopefully it changes your perception. However, if external forces are creating chaos that you have no control over, release it. Sometimes we have to look at the bigger picture, to gain a perspective on ourselves that we truly are worth loving. Learn to love yourself, accept your flaws and happiness will stand by your side.

Be Positive

Focus on the positive and be grateful for the beautiful spots in your world. Life is crazy enough, and sometimes you need to embrace the small pleasures. Refrain from thinking about what you do not have, and focus on what blessings you do have in life. Be thankful for the coffee you can buy in the morning, or the ability to enjoy a slice of your favorite cheesecake after a meal. There is plenty to gripe about in life and why add to the misery? Living life to the fullest also includes appreciating even the bumps in the road. When challenges arise, use those bumps as a stepping stone, not a pit. The bottom line is to start choosing to be positive.

Nothing is perfect in life, but you can take a stand. Choose to be happy if you are alone. By focusing on the good and enjoying the freedom of being independent—you can grow and become the person you always wanted to be. It might take hard work on your part if being on your own is new. Yet, it is worth it.

Corine Gatti-Santillo is a freelance digital journalist, editor, and content producer. She is also the The Christian Post Voices Editor. She is also a former editor at Beliefnet.com.