Are you happy? It seems many people aren't. Do you want to know where to find it? Then read this article and learn the surprising answer!
Are you happy? It seems many people aren’t. Just look at the proliferation of books that offer ways to achieve happiness. Some think they can find happiness from a book. Others think that it comes from having riches or material things. Then how come many wealthy people are still unhappy (J.Paul Getty , an oil magnate and billionaire recluse once said “ I would give away my (millions) for a happy marriage”)?
So where can you really find it? How can you achieve it? Here are four pointers on how to be happy and truly enjoy your life.
Choose to be happy!
Do you want to know the real source of happiness? It doesn’t come from the outside. It is WITHIN you. Happiness is a STATE OF MIND. There is no need to buy books, seek the services of a shrink, or accumulate material things in order to be happy.
It is as simple as making a decision- from now on, I will CHOOSE to be happy! Remember those nine words. Write them down on paper. Put it in your wallet or purse. The next time you are feeling blue, take it out and read it.
Stop whining, complaining or seeing the negative side in every situation. Revise your thinking and your whole outlook. Forget yourself. People aren’t interested in you anyway. They are all interested in themselves. Focus on others. Then you will find out that there is a happy and enjoyable life out there. The choice is yours.
Learn to be content!
Remember the adage: godliness with contentment is great gain? It is never truer today in our materialistic world. There is an overwhelming pressure to buy, buy , buy. You need this car. You need this furniture. You need these shoes. But the truth is, you probably don’t need them. Getting on the consumption merry go round will benefit only the marketers, those who want to profit from you.
Don’t fall for this consumption trap! A roof over your head, the clothes on your back and three square meals a day should basically be it.
So stop keeping up with the Joneses. Quit living a lifestyle that you cannot afford.
Tell yourself, less is better. Follow the KISS approach (Keep It Simple Sweetie! ).
Be content with what you have. You will feel richer for it.
Improve yourself!
This might sound like a contradiction to the previous pointer but actually this complements it. This pointer adds balance to your life. There are many areas where we can improve ourselves. It may be financial, physical ( health-see companion article How to Be Healthy and Happy ), social, or emotional in nature.
Set goals for yourself. A person without a goal is like a ship without a rudder. Goals give you purpose and direction. They make your life worth living. Try to set short, easy objectives for a start. A cleaner room, better grooming and appearance, improved punctuality if you are always tardy, more patience ,etc., are some examples.
As you achieve your goals, they give you a sense of fulfillment and encourage you to try to improve some more. Remember, the greatest room in the world is the room for improvement.
Appreciate Every Waking Moment!
Try to recall one of your most enjoyable childhood experiences. Was it the trip to the beach, the baseball bat or toy doll from dad and mom? Or having to eat a bowl of strawberry ice cream all by yourself? Remember how you felt then.
Shouldn’t you continue to experience those feelings, with perhaps even more intensity , now that you are grown up? Savor every waking moment in life. Life is such a tremendous blessing. That fact that you are alive should make you happy. See the good in every situation and be thankful and appreciate it. If you maintain this outlook, the joy and happiness that builds up inside of you will eventually overflow. People will notice that you are a different person. They will want to be near you. To them, you will be like a breath of fresh air.
Do you want to be happy? Most everybody does! Just follow these four pointers and see and experience a dramatic change in your life. Don’t wait for happiness to come to your life. Make it happen now!
