Happiness is a special thing. It’s ever present, but sometimes seems to hide in plain sight. Happiness is universal- it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what you believe in. Here’s a little guide on how to find it, create it, and share it.

1. Enjoy the little things

Something as simple as a beautiful sunrise, a thunderstorm, petting a dog, a sleeping baby in the supermarket, or a smile from a complete stranger can make your day a little brighter. Speaking of which…

2. Smile at strangers

Wherever I am, whoever I’m with, I hardly ever pass someone without giving them a smile. Sometimes, the other person doesn’t even look at you. That’s okay. But when they do, hopefully they’ll appreciate it, just as I do when someone else on this wonderful planet acknowledges we’re all here together.

3. Appreciate the good while you have it

Good is well, good. Everyone loves when their life is good. This definition differs from person to person, but overall the feeling is the same. When you have the good, you don’t want to let it go. You wish you can stay in that moment forever. That’s just not possible though, but what makes these times even happier though, are that they are fleeting.

4. Appreciate the bad while you have it too

I’ll be honest- life can really try and give you everything it has to take your happiness away. Loss, pain, confusion, you name it. But moments like this make you stronger. More adaptable. Grateful. If you can handle this, you can handle anything. And then when the good times roll around, you’ll love them even more.

5. Understand everything happens for a reason

Now, this doesn’t mean you should just let life happen all over you and if it’s meant to be, then it’ll happen for you. It doesn’t work like that. You control your destiny. But sometimes things don’t work out how you planned they would. You lose someone, you hit a bump in your road, you are left to pick up the pieces. Well, in times like this, you were meant to put the pieces back together. Do your best to make it happen, but if it doesn’t, then something else will.

6. Don’t be afraid

Push yourself out of your comfort level. The best things happen when you try something new or something you didn’t think you could do. Be spontaneous. If you are questioning something, just do it. Take the leap. Chances are, you’ll regret what you didn’t do, and not what you took a chance on. You’ll never know if you don’t try.

7. Surround yourself with people that make you happy

If it feels like a chore to see them, you don’t like the time you spend together, or you want to get away while you’re with them, then you’re not meant to be with them. Cleanse your life of negative energy. It’s not worth your own time or effort to spend it with people you aren’t happy around. If you have people that make you happy, never let them go.

8. Keep the people that make you happy, happy

Share it with the ones you love.

9. Find more people to make you happy and to keep happy

Meet more people; you never know how that person can change your life.

10. Find your passion

If you found it, pursue it. If you’re still searching, don’t give up. Everyone has something, or multiple somethings. When you have a passion, put your entire soul into it.

11. Stay original

There’s only one you, so why not be yourself? Authenticity will make not only those around you happy, but also yourself. It wouldn’t be fair to deprive yourself and everyone around you of the one, true, you.

12. Take care of yourself

Don’t be afraid to take a break. You need to nourish the home for your soul. Whether that’s exercise, yoga, reading, music, art, math, anything, take a step back and relax.

13. Love

As someone whose heart is huge and loud and vulnerable and soft all at the same time, there’s lots of love to go around. Love yourself, love your family, love your friends, love your environment, love your fellow humans and this great big beautiful world. It’s not worth it to spend any time hating- you don’t get enough of it.

14. Don’t let others’ negative opinions bring you down

You are who you are. Unless someone has something to say to help you be the best you, don’t let it affect you. You do you darling.

15. Look on the bright side

It’s a lot sunnier over there. Enjoy its beauty- there’s a whole lot of it.

16. Try not to worry

If you have a problem and there’s a solution, then why worry? And if you can’t do anything about it, then try and make the most of it. I like to say “what’s the worst thing that can happen?” Chances are, it isn’t all that bad.

17. Let go

Letting go can be painful, but sometimes it needs to be done.

18. Express yourself

I wear my heart on my sleeve and feel maybe a little too much. I feel other people’s pain and sadness and it hurts me to my core. I also feel people’s joy and peace and it fuels my soul. Sometimes, emotions seem like they are a burden and you find yourself wishing you could just flip a switch and turn them off. Emotions are so, so powerful and beautiful though. When your heart feels like crying or your head feels like screaming, you may want to shut it off. But think about how incredible it is that we can feel. We experience. We empathize. And that is a beautiful, beautiful, thing.

Hopefully these can be of some help. Do whatever you can to find it, hold onto it, and let it grow. After all, everyone deserves to be happy.