“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.”

—Paramahansa Yogananda

Our daily lives are complicated by our desperate efforts to find wealth and success, which we mistake for happiness. Often, it seems, we only find worry, greed, jealousy, anxiety, stress and fear instead. We distract ourselves with entertainment and addictions, reward ourselves with food and things we don’t need, and we constantly strive to win a race that doesn’t actually exist. It’s a cycle built from frustration and emptiness, and it’s difficult to let go of the addictions and distractions that keep us in it.

Happiness is the natural state of peace and calm that lives within us. You can’t buy happiness, or trade up for it. You can’t put some of your happiness in the bank and get compound interest on it. It’s not a possession or and achievement.

When our lives become less complicated, when we take the time to simplify, we can start to find happiness. It’s not easy to let that happiness grow within ourselves since we’re so trained to do more, need more, reach farther, push harder. But taking a small step today toward building that simpler place where happiness can be found is a great start. Here are some ideas for things you can do right now to cultivate a happier life:

• Throw away one thing you don’t need.
• Sit for five minutes with your eyes closed and check in with your body.
• Take a power pose for two minutes.
• Eat something healthy.
• Tell someone why you’re grateful to them.
• Write a kind note to yourself and leave it to read tomorrow.
• Go for a walk around the block.
• Close your door, turn on some music and dance!