The Road to Happiness
Ten Steps to Build Contentment
It is your life, so take time to be happy. It does not matter if you have a family or not, possessions or not, many friends or few; you can still be happy if you make up your mind that is what you want.
Ten Steps on the Road to Happiness
- Be worry-free. Anxiety can make you physically sick. So be proactive with a problem and remember that most worried-about things never happen. In case you have to act in the future, keep strong by putting troubles on hold on an undisturbed mental shelf.
- Accept responsibility. Take time to make decisions then stand by them. Do not feel guilty for a much-thought-about plan that reflects your thinking. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
- Think positive. Find the good in people; do not malign them with gossip. As time goes on, an optimist improves her health and happiness with a positive attitude.
- Stifle jealousy. Being envious of others makes decisions in your life dependent on them. Instead, keep control of your life and turn a covetous situation into a role model of what you can accomplish.
- Forgive. You do not have to forget wrongdoings, just do not be consumed by hate; your happiness is at stake. You cannot control how others act but you can control your reactions to others.
- Extend kindness, especially to animals. Reach outside yourself; internalize the thought that no act of kindness is ever wasted. A 2006 MORI (Market and Opinion Research International) Poll found that 81% of 2000 people rated their happiness index significantly improved after becoming a dog owner.
- Appreciate. Count your blessings and remember nothing is perfect. Sometimes the little things mean a lot, like a fantastic sunset, a family member’s smile, a friend’s email, a bouncy puppy, a beautiful bird or a walk in the woods. Assessing how you are grateful each day can even strengthen your immune system.
- Socialize. Spend time with happy people and they will influence you, especially those living nearby. Researchers found, in a recent study appearing in the British Medical Journal, that happy emotions spread through social networks.
- Expect change. Do not be upset with change, it is inevitable, it is the norm; kids will grow up, people will pass on and jobs will come and go. Use acceptance and change to work toward your happiness.
- Stay healthy and happy. Happiness lengthens lives of healthy people, according to a recent research study reported in The Journal of Happiness Studies.
Monitor Your Happiness Level
Everyone has their up-and-down days, but for overall happiness in your life strive for being worry-free, taking responsibility for your decisions and thinking positive thoughts. Keep balanced by eliminating jealousy, granting forgiveness, extending kindness and counting your blessings. Develop a social network, accept change and keep healthy and happy for a long life.
This is an educational article. Your physician should evaluate chronic unhappiness.
Reference
Leonhardt, David. Climb Your Stairway to Heaven: The 9 Habits of Maximum Happiness. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse.com, Inc., 2001.
Dog owners rate high in happiness.
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