Every once in awhile, it’s not unusual to feel despair, regret, and other negative emotions and feelings that suggest you’re not satisfied with your life. While it’s not a bad thing to wake up one or several mornings feeling like you’re not doing enough with your life, it can easily be the road to stress and depression if someone is not careful. But hey, this tends to come from a series of events combined with certain decisions and environmental factors. Most importantly, it has got everything to do with the mindset and perception of what life is all about, what it was, and what it should be. When it happens to someone, they’ll likely feel less fulfilled, sadder, or even stressed. The bad news is that it can happen to anyone, but the good news is that anyone can come out of it by simply fine-tuning some things.

So, you want a more fulfilling life? Here are some ways you can do just that.

Help Others Whenever You Can

If you’ve ever donated to charity or genuinely helped someone else in need, you probably know how fulfilling it can feel to serve and contribute to others. It doesn’t even have to be money that you’re donating. In some cases, sacrificing your time or expertise to help others can actually be more precious than writing a big fat check for them.

Once you achieve a certain milestone from your contribution, it kindles your energy and makes you feel better about yourself. It puts your mind at ease and it can actually help you battle the many stresses of life. As you will notice from this non-profit organization that helps the poor and homeless, the effect is even larger when it’s kids you’re helping. If you can contribute money, well and good… if you can donate your time, expertise, or hands, it’s even more fulfilling. Some people actually get their purpose in life from helping others. They make it their life mission!

Learn to Forgive

Many people live in frustration and bitterness, just because they lack space in their hearts to forgive people who wronged them in the past. It could be your partner who cheated on you and your relationship ended up in divorce, or perhaps your brother betrayed you by selling your property behind your back. Maybe a parent abandoned you while you were young. Refusing to forgive others will only leave you with bitterness, which attracts negative energy and leaves you emotionally disturbed. This can have a huge effect on your own perception and focus in life. It can put a toll on your ability to accomplish your goals in a way, which ultimately affects your overall happiness.

Work Towards Financial Stability

This one is absolutely a no-brainer. When drowning in debt, struggling to pay your bills on time and your financial security is hanging in the balance, life can be tough, frustrating, and less fulfilling. It’s not unusual to find yourself asking, “what am I doing with my life” over and over again. But in most cases, financial trouble stems from the lack of proper management of personal funds, the lack of long-term goals, failure to save, and getting in debt without thinking about it carefully. If you learn how to be financially stable, life can be more fulfilling now and enjoyable in the future.

Avoid Regrets at All Costs

Dwelling in the past is another common reason people feel their lives are less fulfilling. The truth is, life is a battlefield, and sometimes you lose, sometimes you win… you win some, you lose some! When things don’t go your way, it’s important to avoid dwelling in the past and instead, focus on what you can do to make it better. Being optimistic and having realistic expectations in life can make you stronger and happier than you even imagined, so say goodbye to regrets and there’s a huge chance you’ll never regret this move.

Make Friends

Nothing makes life feel unworthy living than being in solitude. Part of the reason we excel (or fail) in what we do is the people around us. However, you will never go wrong by making new friends whenever you get the chance to, provided you make the right friends and stay social. As a matter of fact, we all need friends at those moments we feel down and out. If you have good friends, they’ll always come through for you when you need them most, serve as a support circle when life gives you a huge blow, and encourage you to fight on.

Friends bring out the best in you (and some enemies too). So the next time you’re waiting in the line for the mid-morning latte or at the grocery store, be sure to talk to the person next to you or at least say hi. If they’re interested, you’ll know it and you never know where that goes. While at it, remember to build relationships; not possessions.

Finally, enjoy life and have fun when you can. Stay focused and adopt healthier lifestyle habits like working out regularly and sticking to a healthy diet. Life is more fulfilling when you live it with a positive vibe.