The quest for happiness is not always successful, because many people try to find it where it does not exist. No amount of money can make you content, if you are severely unhappy from inside and plagued by internal fears and contradictions. The main idea of this article is to bring to your notice that it is YOU who is the main source of your own happiness. Anyone can achieve this source. Here’s how…
Spend time with people who make you happy
When you hang out with Negative Nandu and Dinu Downer, there’s no wonder you’re in the doldrums. Surround yourself with positive, inspiring people who you love to be around.This seems like a bit of a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how often we keep people around just because they are familiar or because we don’t want to rock the boat.
Make a choice
According to Abraham Lincoln, people can only be as happy as they believe they can. Happiness can be chosen. If you want to be happy, you must make a choice to be happy too. Your perspective will result in the choice of happiness, whether it is made deliberately or not. In order to find happiness within yourself, it is important that you purposely choose to be happy always.
Meditate
There is an overwhelming amount of research showing how meditation changes the circuits in the part of the brain associated with contentment and happiness and stimulates the “feel-good” factor. Meditating on love and kindness makes you much, much happier! And the only way to know this is to try it, so don’t hesitate.
Now is the moment
The past is just a memory. The future is a mental projection. You can choose to dwell back in the past for learning and joyous reflection. You can choose to dwell in the future for visualization and practical planning. However, any time your awareness floats away to the past or future frequently for negative purposes, you are suffocating your ability to thrive in the only moment you ever have…he now.
Choose a healthy lifestyle
Keep a daily routine. Wake up at the same time every morning, preferably early. Setting yourself to a natural biorhythm will make it easier to wake up and feel energized. Get enough sleep as proper sleep is linked to positive personality characteristics like optimism, improved self-esteem, and even problem solving.
Do things you love
Maybe you can’t skydive every day or take vacations every season, but as long as you get to do the things you love every once in a while, you will find greater happiness.
Follow your joy
There is a world of difference between searching for happiness and following your joy. Following your joy is about listening to your heart’s desires, noticing what truly inspires you and recognizing your soul’s purpose. A good starting point is to reflect on the question “When am I at my happiest?”
Invest in relationships
No matter what many people may tell you, money will never buy you happiness. What money buys are things and only if you can share these things will you be able to be happy. On the other hand, you can be happy if you don’t have things to share as well, so long as you have people around you that love you and care for you. Their positive emotions and feelings will reflect on to you and you can give the same back to them.
Do something good for someone else
If you can’t put a smile on your face, put a smile on someone else’s. Doing a good deed will often result in that good, bubbly feeling of joy. When you’ve made someone’s day, how can you avoid a smile?
Top it up with Humour
Finding the humour in situations can also lead to happiness. While there are times that require you to be serious, when it is appropriate, find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you unhappy.
Do let the sun go down on anger
I had always scrupulously aired every irritation as soon as possible, to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of anger catharsis is poppycock. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allows it to dissipate.
Learn to breathe
We have a tendency to pressure ourselves into doing things quickly. Step back a little bit and watch yourself in action. What is the worst thing that could happen if you don’t get your tasks done immediately? Would you rather stay overwhelmed or would you rather enjoy your journey as you are completing your tasks?
Focus on what you can control
Trying to change things beyond your control will only frustrate you. Recognize what you can and can’t control, and focus solely on the things you can control. For instance, you can’t change how people around you behave, but you can change yours. So focus on changing your own behavior instead of changing theirs.
Don’t expect things to be the same again
When the tide comes back in, whatever was written on the sand before is gone. Accept that what you are going through is a life changing event. Your new life may look nothing like the old one. Wear the scar and move on to that new life, whatever it is. Write new things in the sand.
Detach
Do your best to stay detached, when things do not proceed as intended and desired. Detachment will help you stay calm and control your moods and reactions. Detachment is not indifference. It is the acceptance of the good and the bad and staying balanced. Detachment has much to do with inner peace, and inner peace is conductive to happiness
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