Life can be really, really tough.

There’s always a deadline to meet, a relationship or family issue to address, or drama at work that we need to navigate carefully.

It’s easy to get caught up in the seriousness of it all, being weighed down by immense stress and worry.

We end up focusing on surviving instead of living.

But with this one life that we are given, wouldn’t we want to make the most of it? To enjoy it together with the people we love?

One way to start is by emulating the traits of people around us who never take life too seriously.

They know how to find the balance between handling life’s challenges and ensuring they keep their peace. 

Today, we’ll learn more about these traits which have helped them to enjoy life.

1) They practice gratitude.

It’s easy to have an attitude of gratitude when things are going well.

But when we’re in the middle of a crisis, it gets tougher to find things to be thankful for.

However, psychology states that people who learn how to be thankful are usually more grounded and present, which helps them face life’s challenges. 

No matter how their day is going – whether they’ve just come out of a bad day or it feels like there’s nothing to be grateful for, they will try their best to find one thing that they can be thankful for.

And being grateful is a habit. It takes practice.

Moreover, it doesn’t need to only be about the big things, but one can be thankful for the smaller, simpler things in life.

Like being able to enjoy nature, having pockets of time to rest, or being able to spend more time with the people we love.

As we get better at finding things to be thankful for, we’ll realize that this will become second nature to us.

We’ll also notice that our attitudes towards life will gradually improve as well. 

2) They focus on what they can control.

Have you ever been overwhelmed by many issues demanding your attention? You’re sat there helpless as you try to take control of things that are increasingly impossible to control – and issues just continue to pile up on your plate.

How does one navigate this?

The trick is to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can’t – at least for the time being.

We tend to want to control as many things as we can, because this gives us security in knowing that at least we can sort of determine the end result.

Letting go is tough. It forces us to relinquish control over something, which fills us with uncertainty.

But if you observe people who don’t take life too seriously, you’ll notice that they willingly let go of things that are out of their control.

This is because they don’t see the point in worrying about something that is out of their hands.

Instead, they focus their energies on addressing situations that are within their control. By doing so, they learn how to maintain their peace and focus on the things that matter.

3) They reach out to people they trust when they need help.

When we’re going through tough times, it’s easy to forget that we have people around us that we can lean on.

All we see is the issue in front of us and this causes us to think we’re all alone in our situation.

However, people who know how to enjoy life understand the importance of reaching out to those around them for help.

They’re unafraid to be vulnerable and will share their struggles openly. This helps them reduce the burden on their shoulders while leaning on their community for support.

It’s important to remember that no one else in life has had it all figured out, and we’re all trying to do the best we can with whatever we have. So, you’re not alone in this.

Opening up to others may be uncomfortable at first, especially if you’re not used to letting people in.

But the support you’ll get will far outweigh your discomfort at the start.

Of course, it’s also important to choose who to trust. These are the people who will have your back no matter what.

4) They don’t compare with others.

Another trait that these people have is that they don’t compare their journeys with others.

They understand that everyone has their individual paths to follow in this grand playing field we call life.

Some of us may be faster at getting to where we want, while others may take a bit longer to get there. And that’s okay.

Comparing your life with others will only stress you further. Psychology states that this can cause us to undervalue our accomplishments and increase our sense of unworthiness – leading to us failing to appreciate what we have in life.

The key thing is to focus on your journey. We’re all built differently, so instead of looking over our shoulders, we should learn how to identify our strengths and abilities, hone them, and figure out how to use them to excel in life.

5) They always focus on the positive side of things.

Positivity is also an important trait to have in order to avoid taking life too seriously. However, it’s one of the toughest things to do – especially when we’re going through really tough times.

How do we find the silver lining in dire situations, or when there seems to be no hope?

It’s all about changing our perspective and shaping our mindset to see the good in things. Yes, it’s easier said than done. 

But with practice, it will come naturally the next time you face struggles. The trick is to constantly practice having a positive mindset, regardless of the situation.

Not only will this help improve your moods, it will put you in a better position to navigate life’s challenges.

Positivity can be energizing and it also stops you from taking life too seriously. You’ll start to notice that instead of constantly feeling drained, you’ll have sufficient energy to tide you through tough periods.

6) They don’t let what others think about them affect their emotions.

One of the most powerful traits of people who don’t take life too seriously is their ability to let go.

Rather than hold on to what people think of them, they’re able to brush it off.

When someone has a negative perception of us, we tend to hold on to it. We ruminate over it, get upset by it, and allow it to plague our thoughts throughout the week.

It causes us to doubt our abilities and self-worth, resulting in a fear of taking the next step because we don’t want to get judged.

But this life is ours to live, and ours alone. We shouldn’t be too affected by what others think of us.

Once we learn how to let go of what people think of us, we can live life freely. We allow ourselves to do the things we want to do, instead of what we think people will approve of.

Concluding thoughts

Start by taking one day at a time. Learn to be present and always find one thing to be grateful for.

You’ll notice that life becomes a tad easier once we learn how to focus only on the things that truly matter. And of course, never forget that you’re not alone in all this.