From Pumpkin Spice Lattés to cozy evening spent curled up in front of the fireplace, the month of October is always one of the best times of the year to celebrate life’s joyful little moments.

To inspire us to enjoy each and every day this month, the Action for Happiness organization has shared with us the 31 Days of Happiness Calendar (scroll down to the bottom) to encourage us all to remember that each day is a gift and to make the most of it.

When we focus on taking positive, proactive steps towards our goals and dreams each day we not only feel more personally fulfilled, we also make a bigger impact on the world around us. No matter where we came from, where we’re at, or where we’re going, it’s up to us to be persistent and determined to stay focused on achieving our goals, following our dreams, and living our best lives each day.

As you focus on bringing more happiness into your life, here 3 important things to remember:

1. Happiness is a choice. Happiness is not based on external circumstances, other people, or the things that you buy or have. Happiness is a feeling that comes from within. So, no matter what you’re going through (whether it’s good or bad), you can decide to be happy and feel grateful for all your blessings.
2. You create your life. No matter what you might have thought or believed, you are the ultimate Creator of your own destiny. People who have faced tremendous adversity and struggle only to come out victors have proven that our past does not necessarily mean it’s our future. We have the choice each day to decide how we want to live, what our future looks like, and how we’ll feel throughout the journey.
3. Positive thoughts create positive actions. If you want to be happy and live your best life, you need to be mindful of your thoughts. Scientists have determined that we have about 60,000 thoughts passing through our brains each day. Of these thoughts, which are self-defeating, negative, or fear-based vs. positive, encouraging, and faith-oriented? Learning how to drown out fear and pessimism by over-shadowing these negative thoughts with empowering thoughts of faith, gratitude and positivity will not only make you a happier person, it will also greatly influence the direction of your life. Your actions follow your thoughts, so be mindful of what you’re thinking each and every day.

To keep you feeling inspired throughout the month of October, bookmark this page and come back daily to focus on a new and rewarding mantra for the day that will bring you a greater sense of happiness and inner joy.

Below are 31 ways to celebrate Optimistic October. From “writing down your most important goals for this month” to “being kind to yourself”, as you do something positive each day, you not only become a happier person, you also start to live a more inspired life. 

[Image credits: Haute Stock; Calendar c/o Action for Happiness]