How to Lead a Happy Life

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
Herman Cain

Over the weekend I went home to the Hudson Valley and saw a lot of people that I hadn’t in a long time. However, with social media I’ve been able to keep tabs on many of them and vice versa. On my last night home an old co-worker of mine asked me how I have such a great life (just based off my social media, of course). Initially I was flattered, but then I thought about this for a while… Beautini isn’t a Fortune 500 company, yet but I think prioritizing your life goals and listening to yourself can lead to a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Turn FOMO into POMO. This summer I have been working a ton of weddings for Beautini and that means essentially no social life on the weekends. I love to have a good time and meet new people, but I took this time to stay in and to get myself organized. Whether it is watching movies and ordering Insomnia cookies while doing laundry or cleaning out my closet and giving my mom a call, I use this time to get myself and my priorities in order. When you take time for yourself and others, it makes everyone feel valued by you.

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Find what re-energizes you! With wedding season coming to an almost end (it never really ends) I kept telling myself I would reward myself with a treat for working hard. I realized last year that mini vacations were the key to staying motivated, focused, and not burning out. So last week, I woke up to an email from an airline and I took that as my cue to book a vacation to Miami in October. Now each day when I am feeling lazy or unfocused, I think about that trip. I am glad to have very spontaneous friends because I tend to book these trips solo, banking on the fact that I can convince friends to join me. Not the smartest idea but it normally works! 

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Build the lifestyle you want. Yes I am an entrepreneur and yes my disposable is limited, but it doesn’t have to limit your life. My answer to my friend last weekend was that when I decide to do something, I do it, and then I figure it out. You’re never going to have enough time, money, or energy so might as well just pick a date and place and hold yourself to it. For trips, I usually book it (with some kind of reason), and then I figure out how to pay for it. My accountant wouldn’t be very happy to read this but it’s the honest truth. Whether that means cutting back on buying lunches, working a side gig for a weekend, or working longer hours at work, there are ways to make it work. Granted, I do not have a family depending on me financially so I can be a bit more spontaneous, but doing exciting new “trips” can be right in your own town/city! In fact, I am planning a weekend to go home and visit all the landmarks in the Hudson Valley that I never got to see growing up there. It only takes a few BuzzFeed articles to convince you how great your own town can be…

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Spend time with people you can be your ‘real’ self with. Growing up my mom would encourage me to get to know certain people over others and I never understood why. Now I do. Some friends can be really fun to go out with, but they aren’t necessarily the best to surround yourself with. This year, as my time has become more limited, I’ve noticed who I am my best self with and who I subconsciously act differently around. This may be my biggest learning lesson to having a positive life because the people we surround ourselves with ultimately impact the people we become.

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Find the perks of every situation. Just to prove my point, the picture for this article could’ve been taken in Miami or Mexico but it really was in Queens, NY. This was on Labor Day Weekend when I had to work in the city and most friends were out of the country or in the Hamptons, but I told myself that I still was going to have a fun holiday too. With that said, my best friend Nina and I took a subway to Rockaway Beach, had a blast and because I don’t care where I was, no one else does either.

Embrace your own life, make the life you dream, and go live it!