In memory of Robin Williams and the loss of a distant relative in the same manner, I am dedicating this segment of the newsletter in their memory. Some folks seem so happy from the outside, yet the true inner struggles they face day in-day out, go unseen.
Let me shed some light on this and help you with what so many desire, yet don’t know how to feel: Happiness and Joy.
Are you happy? Do you feel happy? Do you even know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves. The problem is that in our quest to happiness, we often forget to be happy now. As we strive to achieve our goals, we postpone happiness…for later. Some even hold back showing their happiness because a family member or friend close to them is not happy.
We somehow think that even though all we want is to be happy, it’s ok not to be happy now. As if happiness is a faraway destination that you hope to visit someday, rather than a feeling, an emotion you can call to the surface if you truly desire it.
I live my life to maintain my own happiness while doing my best to not cause unhappiness to anyone else. If you want to be happy you need to understand that you can be happy, right now and always. You must also understand that you must be happy. Many people make the mistake of believing that they don’t deserve happiness and accept their unhappy state as their destiny. The truth of the matter is that happiness, like anything else in life, needs to be nurtured.
Being kind is also a habit that consistently makes people happier. Research has found that performing acts of kindness once a week leads to the most happiness.
The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life. You can apply it right away, and you don’t need to wait until you graduate, move into the new house, get your dream job, or find the love of your life to feel that happiness boost.
- You were not born to make someone else happy.
- Understand what it is that will make you happy. Everyone has unique requirements for attaining happiness and what makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy. Revel in your individuality and do not worry about whether or not your desires are comparable to those of your peers.
- Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your mood will very likely increase as your pursue your goal because you will feel better about yourself for going after something you value.
- Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. Conversely, if you are around people who are happy their emotional state will be infectious.
- When something goes wrong, figure out a solution instead of wallowing in self pity. Truly happy people don’t allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the circumstances back to their favor.
- Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy. It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.
- Finding the humor 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.
- Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness. Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your mood. Additionally, exercise has been known to release endorphin’s that give you a feeling of happiness.
- Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness. Those who believe that they are not worthy of happiness may subconsciously sabotage their efforts to achieve happiness. If necessary, tell yourself each day that you deserve to be happy and remind yourself what steps you will take to achieve the happiness you desire.
Happiness is hard to define but most people are aware of whether they are happy or not. Many people believe that happiness is a form of luck and that some people are destined to be happy while others are destined to be unhappy. The tips in this segment are small but meaningful steps that you can take each day to lead you to true happiness.
Live purposefully and happily,
Liza
