The largest obstacle to your happiness isn’t the limits of your talent. It’s not the kindness of your boss or even the desirability of your position. It’s a mindset that external circumstances determine your happiness. They don’t.

You have the power to decide to be happy—and Happiness Fuels Success! Here are 10 ways to maximize your happiness that you can begin to implement today:

Express gratitude

Gratitude is the mother of happiness. Each day, think of at least one new aspect of your job, line of work or career that makes you happier, and write a few quick thoughts about it in a journal. Think especially about the people you work with and the people you serve.

Use your strengths

So your job description and your innate abilities aren’t perfectly aligned. That’s okay. Identify your natural aptitudes and find new ways to incorporate them into what you do. When you have built up enough equity
with your superiors, talk with them about some of your strengths and the ideas you have for incorporating them into your role. Find out what your talents and character strengths are with this easy online test.

Form relationships with colleagues

Relationships are the most important contributor to happiness. The more significant connections you form with people the happier and healthier you’ll be. Close relationships in any context provide meaning, enjoyment, support and a sense of belonging. So strengthen your connections and develop your relationships in the office.

Eat for happiness

Your diet has a strong influence on your mood, especially through the regulation of your blood sugar levels. To maintain levels of serotonin, the brain chemical associated with good moods, eat a diet high in the amino acid tryptophan, found in turkey, chicken, beans and brown rice. Avoid too much sugar, which causes your energy and mood to spike and dive, and avoid overeating at lunch, which causes afternoon drowsiness.

Keep learning

Learning exercises our minds by exposing us to new ideas, in business and elsewhere. It helps us to imagine possibilities, and to stay engaged. It builds self-confidence and resilience. People who pursue lifelong learning know that setbacks in their careers don’t negate the value of their knowledge. There are many ways to learn new things, not just through formal education and business qualifications. Join a Meetup group, learn to play an instrument, or a new sport.

Learn to recover from adversity

You’ve heard the maxim “Whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” Replacing “whatever” with “adversity (that)” actually makes it true (otherwise, more coffee would make us stronger). From adversity, we learn not to quickly label incidents in our minds as “good” or “bad.” We learn to be accountable to others and avoid excuses, blame and guilt. Adversity teaches us to let go of grudges and to be resilient, which successful people have in abundance.

Put a positive spin on your role

You may not be working in your dream job; few people have that chance. But there is something about your role that is noble, purposeful and gratifying. Think of all the people in lesser roles who would love to do what you do. Then reframe how you think of your role by replacing your job title with the distilled benefits you provide your colleagues, clients and customers. You’re not a dental receptionist. You are the gatekeeper that allows people to receive the care they need to preserve their smiles.

Don’t make achievements the source of happiness

Far too many people, especially Type A personalities, subconsciously tell themselves, “If I accomplish this goal, then I can be happy.” They may have the talent, and put in the work, and still not reach the desired outcome. Luck is an uncontrollable and very significant factor in this world, and it’s not the only factor that is out of our control. Making happiness contingent on achievement sets you up for disappointment. Instead, learn how to find contentment in the process of striving. For inspiration, watch Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness.

Think about other people

“It’s a dog-eat-dog world where only the tough survive. The only kindness and loyalty you owe is to your family and your children.” These ideas are toxic in the workplace and in the minds of those who believe them. To think that everyone around you is an adversary is to believe you’re in enemy territory. You’re not. Your colleagues are your teammates. The more you learn to value them, to work toward mutual goals, and to share in each other’s joy, the happier you will be at work.

Practice random acts of kindness

Unlike so many other sappy and trite ideas, this one has great value. In terms of your personal happiness and that of your colleagues, there isn’t a more effective step you can take. Belief in the value of random acts of kindness is exactly the sort of mindset that results in long-term success and happiness. Why? For starters, your colleagues will be grateful for working with you.