by David Leonhardt
Hugs have a long and honorable tradition, going back to the day the caveman first squeezed his wife and discovered that no ketchup squeezed out. Since then, he found that his wife makes an awesome teddy bear, and he can always squeeze a rhinoceros when he wants ketchup for his hotdog (which gave him the necessary motivation to go hunting when his wife asked him to).
Hugs remain an important part of our daily happiness, but some cultures raise better huggers. For instance, North Americans exchange way too few hugs, depriving themselves of an abundant source of warmth and comfort.
So for a little motivation to increase your happiness, here are the top five reasons to hug somebody today:
1. Save on your heating bills (good for the environment, too!).
2. Keep your shnookums from eating that extra piece of double-fudge choco-blaster
cake.
3. Hugging sure beats crying.
4. Love makes the world go 'round, hugs help you gather it in.
5. The warm glow of a good hug lasts for hours.
So go forth and hug somebody. No, not the parking lot attendant. It's too cold this time of year for that. But hug someone who wants to be hugged, and see if you might just bump each of your happiness up a notch.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Top Ten Ways to Cultivate Happiness
by Ruth Hegarty
In 1776, when John Hancock (and 55 others) signed the Declaration of Independence, they were well aware of the fact that "the pursuit of happiness" is vital to the welfare of individuals. The following list constitutes some of the important lessons I have learned in my own pursuit of happiness. Use these ten simple, powerful and practical strategies to invite more happiness into your life.
1. Work on your attitude. Charles Swindoll was right: life IS ninety-percent how we react to what happens. A positive attitude is vital to our happiness. The great thing about attitudes is that they can be changed. If you see yourself as a pessimist, make a concerted effort to see the positive side of every situation.
2. Recognize all that you have for which to be grateful. When you think things aren't going your way, think about all the people in the world who would see what you have as truly bountiful. Think of your friends and family, your ability to see the beauty of a sunset, your sense of humor, and spend some time thinking about what your life would be like without them. Make a list of 100+ things you are grateful for in your life.
3. Practice Extreme Self-Care. Find more time in your schedule to spend with yourself and your loved ones, eat healthy, take up a hobby that has always interested you, don't take work home on the weekends, etc. Treat yourself with the kindness and respect you deserve.
4. Spend time in nature. Nature has a peaceful healing quality that city dwellers don't often recognize. The blues of the ocean, the greens of fields and forests, the delicious smell of wildflowers, and beautiful music of song birds make us feel happy on a primal level. Spending time in nature has the power to rejuvenate and sustain us.
5. Think outside the box - use your creativity! The creative part of ourselves is where we find our ability to play and innovate. These are qualities small children have in abundance. Take some time to watch youngsters at play and try to emulate them in your own life. I revived my ability to have fun by playing with my three year old nephew. From him I learned to use my creativity to find happiness in odd places - like cement mixers and rusty horse shoes.
6. Stay physically fit. This works on several levels. For one thing, exercise releases endorphins in your body that create a sense of well-being. Being in decent shape also opens up the field of activities you can engage in to bring more fun into your life (i.e. you can play volley ball, soft ball, etc). Engaging in these types of activities also helps keep you in shape which will reduce illness and injury. Now that has to make you happy. Consult with your doctor for information on diet and exercise before you begin any new program.
7. Choose happiness - no matter what happens. A great line from the movie Thelma & Louise is "You get what you settle for." It is possible to settle for happiness. Read biographies of people who have overcome adversity in their lives (Hellen Keller for example) to see how it can be done. Let the stories of others inspire you to put your own troubles in perspective and settle for happiness.
8. Ask for help. It isn't easy to change a life long habit of pessimism, but it is possible. Talk to people whom you see as having a positive attitude and ask them how they do it. Ask your friends and family to support you while you upgrade to a happy life by providing feedback, nudges, and playmates. Hire a coach to help you define and implement changes in your life that will enhance your happiness.
9. Give something away. Volunteer your time or money to give back to the community. Find a cause you believe in and support it. Help an elderly neighbor by mowing their lawn or shoveling their walk. Giving of yourself to others is tremendously rewarding.
10. Connect with something spiritual. Be it religion or meditation, having a spiritual connection in our lives provides an outlet for deep contemplation and an opportunity to connect with like minded people. Find a spiritual practice that feels right for you and set aside time each day to pray/meditate on the deeper meanings of life.
In 1776, when John Hancock (and 55 others) signed the Declaration of Independence, they were well aware of the fact that "the pursuit of happiness" is vital to the welfare of individuals. The following list constitutes some of the important lessons I have learned in my own pursuit of happiness. Use these ten simple, powerful and practical strategies to invite more happiness into your life.
1. Work on your attitude. Charles Swindoll was right: life IS ninety-percent how we react to what happens. A positive attitude is vital to our happiness. The great thing about attitudes is that they can be changed. If you see yourself as a pessimist, make a concerted effort to see the positive side of every situation.
2. Recognize all that you have for which to be grateful. When you think things aren't going your way, think about all the people in the world who would see what you have as truly bountiful. Think of your friends and family, your ability to see the beauty of a sunset, your sense of humor, and spend some time thinking about what your life would be like without them. Make a list of 100+ things you are grateful for in your life.
3. Practice Extreme Self-Care. Find more time in your schedule to spend with yourself and your loved ones, eat healthy, take up a hobby that has always interested you, don't take work home on the weekends, etc. Treat yourself with the kindness and respect you deserve.
4. Spend time in nature. Nature has a peaceful healing quality that city dwellers don't often recognize. The blues of the ocean, the greens of fields and forests, the delicious smell of wildflowers, and beautiful music of song birds make us feel happy on a primal level. Spending time in nature has the power to rejuvenate and sustain us.
5. Think outside the box - use your creativity! The creative part of ourselves is where we find our ability to play and innovate. These are qualities small children have in abundance. Take some time to watch youngsters at play and try to emulate them in your own life. I revived my ability to have fun by playing with my three year old nephew. From him I learned to use my creativity to find happiness in odd places - like cement mixers and rusty horse shoes.
6. Stay physically fit. This works on several levels. For one thing, exercise releases endorphins in your body that create a sense of well-being. Being in decent shape also opens up the field of activities you can engage in to bring more fun into your life (i.e. you can play volley ball, soft ball, etc). Engaging in these types of activities also helps keep you in shape which will reduce illness and injury. Now that has to make you happy. Consult with your doctor for information on diet and exercise before you begin any new program.
7. Choose happiness - no matter what happens. A great line from the movie Thelma & Louise is "You get what you settle for." It is possible to settle for happiness. Read biographies of people who have overcome adversity in their lives (Hellen Keller for example) to see how it can be done. Let the stories of others inspire you to put your own troubles in perspective and settle for happiness.
8. Ask for help. It isn't easy to change a life long habit of pessimism, but it is possible. Talk to people whom you see as having a positive attitude and ask them how they do it. Ask your friends and family to support you while you upgrade to a happy life by providing feedback, nudges, and playmates. Hire a coach to help you define and implement changes in your life that will enhance your happiness.
9. Give something away. Volunteer your time or money to give back to the community. Find a cause you believe in and support it. Help an elderly neighbor by mowing their lawn or shoveling their walk. Giving of yourself to others is tremendously rewarding.
10. Connect with something spiritual. Be it religion or meditation, having a spiritual connection in our lives provides an outlet for deep contemplation and an opportunity to connect with like minded people. Find a spiritual practice that feels right for you and set aside time each day to pray/meditate on the deeper meanings of life.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Finding Real Happiness in Life
by Carolyn Anderson
What exactly are the keys to a happy life? Are we constantly searching for a source of happiness that is elusive? Are we looking for happiness in the right places? For sure, everyone wants to live a happy life and enjoy a life that we always wanted, but we are probably searching for happiness in the wrong things. Here are some ways to help you find real happiness in life.
Love your work. One of the keys to a happy life is loving your work. If you have a career that you love and a work that you love doing, then this should not be difficult for you. However, if you think you are stuck with a job you hate, then it is probably high time for you to find something that you love doing. Having a career you love is indeed one of the essentials in being happy everyday.
Work on your relationships. Great relationships are indeed one of the great keys to a happy life. Somehow, you can probably say you are blessed because you have a good family, great friends and a loving spouse. But you also have to work on being a good spouse, a great family member and a good friend to them. That way, you will not only be at the receiving end of the people's kindness but also a giver of happiness.
Take care of yourself. Your health is an essential aspect of being happy. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to be happy if we are feeling pain and discomfort, so strive to be healthy. Have a good exercise every morning. This will not only help you stay fit and healthy, it will also help you manage stress that is one major cause of the many unhappiness and negative energies in life.
Enjoy the things that you love doing. Whether it is a game of tennis or swimming, or you love dancing or singing, find time to enjoy these things. Share your talent and your abilities. Putting them in good use can make you feel your worth and your purpose in life.
Be a blessing to others. Do not just live your life for yourself. Learn to give, share and help others. Share what you have to the needy and help others who need your help. Remember that it is in giving that you receive more.
Pursue your goals. One of the keys to a happy life is having a direction in life, and you can find that direction if you have goals. Work on your goals and you will find your happiness soaring high as you achieve your goals one by one.
Stay positive in life. Being positive in life - having positive thoughts, doing positive things to others, and believing in yourself are indeed among the keys to a happy life.
Being able to appreciate the simplest things in life is indeed one of the great ways to be happy. Being thankful of whatever you have while working on your goals, building great relationships, being a blessing to others and loving yourself are indeed the main keys to a happy life.
What exactly are the keys to a happy life? Are we constantly searching for a source of happiness that is elusive? Are we looking for happiness in the right places? For sure, everyone wants to live a happy life and enjoy a life that we always wanted, but we are probably searching for happiness in the wrong things. Here are some ways to help you find real happiness in life.
Love your work. One of the keys to a happy life is loving your work. If you have a career that you love and a work that you love doing, then this should not be difficult for you. However, if you think you are stuck with a job you hate, then it is probably high time for you to find something that you love doing. Having a career you love is indeed one of the essentials in being happy everyday.
Work on your relationships. Great relationships are indeed one of the great keys to a happy life. Somehow, you can probably say you are blessed because you have a good family, great friends and a loving spouse. But you also have to work on being a good spouse, a great family member and a good friend to them. That way, you will not only be at the receiving end of the people's kindness but also a giver of happiness.
Take care of yourself. Your health is an essential aspect of being happy. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to be happy if we are feeling pain and discomfort, so strive to be healthy. Have a good exercise every morning. This will not only help you stay fit and healthy, it will also help you manage stress that is one major cause of the many unhappiness and negative energies in life.
Enjoy the things that you love doing. Whether it is a game of tennis or swimming, or you love dancing or singing, find time to enjoy these things. Share your talent and your abilities. Putting them in good use can make you feel your worth and your purpose in life.
Be a blessing to others. Do not just live your life for yourself. Learn to give, share and help others. Share what you have to the needy and help others who need your help. Remember that it is in giving that you receive more.
Pursue your goals. One of the keys to a happy life is having a direction in life, and you can find that direction if you have goals. Work on your goals and you will find your happiness soaring high as you achieve your goals one by one.
Stay positive in life. Being positive in life - having positive thoughts, doing positive things to others, and believing in yourself are indeed among the keys to a happy life.
Being able to appreciate the simplest things in life is indeed one of the great ways to be happy. Being thankful of whatever you have while working on your goals, building great relationships, being a blessing to others and loving yourself are indeed the main keys to a happy life.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Happiness Defined
by Doug Hart
Today's topic is one that has been pondered for centuries, the true meaning of happiness. Aristotle said "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence". Do you agree?
Ok, in the big picture of things nearly everything we do on a daily basis is in one way or another related to obtaining happiness, or at the very least avoiding pain (some people work to not have their car repossessed!). But we all know there are different levels of happiness, many indeed. Some people may be happy because they were raised to be that way, having parents that always saw the best of any situation. Unfortunately, some people are miserable not matter how circumstances are treating them in life. Why?
I think there are several reasons for this, but mostly we are as happy as we make up our minds to be (Abraham Lincoln said that first, not me!) So why don't we all just make up our minds to be happy? Great question - I'll try to answer it.
It starts with our "version" of reality, our perceptions of what reality is to us as an individual. Now, depending on your circumstances growing up, you literally had millions of different events that influenced your reality, so every person has a different version. The way you experience a trip to the beach may be totally different than my way, due to some incident that occurred to you as a child. Say you nearly were eaten by a shark once - that probably gave you "bad taste" in your mouth when trips to the beach are mentioned. See what I mean?
Yes! But I'm an adult now, I can believe anything I want to believe! True, but think about some of the things you believe in. What do you believe would make you happy? Do you have all of those things? If not, then why not? Ah-hah! That's what I thought - very few people actually have what they feel would make them happy! Do you even know, in great detail, what would make you happy? And don't say a million dollars, because that by itself rarely makes people happy. I know, at least you could try, right? Ok, make a list!
Find out what you believe in your heart would make you happy...
Ok, how about peace of mind? A totally perfect relationship with your spouse? A large home in the mountains with a beautiful view? How about a career that really makes you want to go to work every day? What would it take to have all of the things on your list, if you don't already have them? You probably need to change yourself. But what if you have all of those things and more, but still aren't happy? I believe many people achieve all they set out to achieve, yet true happiness still eludes them. First, find your passion in life.
Chances are if you haven't found your true passion in life, then you aren't happy. Or maybe you are "conditionally happy", in other words if all is going well then your happy for the moment. But I believe to be truly happy on very deep level on a daily basis, a happiness that is unbending and unwavering not matter what the circumstances, you must first find your passion in life. So what are you waiting for? In my next newsletter I give some tips on how to find that very passion in life, until then...
Today's topic is one that has been pondered for centuries, the true meaning of happiness. Aristotle said "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence". Do you agree?
Ok, in the big picture of things nearly everything we do on a daily basis is in one way or another related to obtaining happiness, or at the very least avoiding pain (some people work to not have their car repossessed!). But we all know there are different levels of happiness, many indeed. Some people may be happy because they were raised to be that way, having parents that always saw the best of any situation. Unfortunately, some people are miserable not matter how circumstances are treating them in life. Why?
I think there are several reasons for this, but mostly we are as happy as we make up our minds to be (Abraham Lincoln said that first, not me!) So why don't we all just make up our minds to be happy? Great question - I'll try to answer it.
It starts with our "version" of reality, our perceptions of what reality is to us as an individual. Now, depending on your circumstances growing up, you literally had millions of different events that influenced your reality, so every person has a different version. The way you experience a trip to the beach may be totally different than my way, due to some incident that occurred to you as a child. Say you nearly were eaten by a shark once - that probably gave you "bad taste" in your mouth when trips to the beach are mentioned. See what I mean?
Yes! But I'm an adult now, I can believe anything I want to believe! True, but think about some of the things you believe in. What do you believe would make you happy? Do you have all of those things? If not, then why not? Ah-hah! That's what I thought - very few people actually have what they feel would make them happy! Do you even know, in great detail, what would make you happy? And don't say a million dollars, because that by itself rarely makes people happy. I know, at least you could try, right? Ok, make a list!
Find out what you believe in your heart would make you happy...
Ok, how about peace of mind? A totally perfect relationship with your spouse? A large home in the mountains with a beautiful view? How about a career that really makes you want to go to work every day? What would it take to have all of the things on your list, if you don't already have them? You probably need to change yourself. But what if you have all of those things and more, but still aren't happy? I believe many people achieve all they set out to achieve, yet true happiness still eludes them. First, find your passion in life.
Chances are if you haven't found your true passion in life, then you aren't happy. Or maybe you are "conditionally happy", in other words if all is going well then your happy for the moment. But I believe to be truly happy on very deep level on a daily basis, a happiness that is unbending and unwavering not matter what the circumstances, you must first find your passion in life. So what are you waiting for? In my next newsletter I give some tips on how to find that very passion in life, until then...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Finding Happiness From Life
by Jared Akers
Finding happiness in life seems to be the goal of most people. However, maybe the better way to look at this is finding happiness in spite of life. Learning to accept life on life's terms and extract happiness from life can sometimes be quite a challenge. Happiness can be elusive but here's an amazing secret, you can't find happiness, happiness finds you! Thinking we can wrestle things out of life if we just manage better, can be an uphill battle, especially when being happy is one of the goals. Many times the key to finding something is to stop looking so hard. The universe often conspires against us if we insist on doing everything ourselves.
Happiness is a by-product of living a life well lived. Most people have an ideal self which they strive for, but many times they fall short, and thus find themselves unhappy. At times, people need to learn to be less harsh on themselves in areas they find themselves falling short. There's nothing wrong with striving for greatness, but just because we fail sometimes, does not mean we deserve to be happy.
Most happy people have something in common; they have found happiness within themselves. As a result of inner peace, they're less dependent on happiness from outside sources. Meaning things that happen around them in life have less effect on their happiness. It's important to think about things in life and what effect we allow them to have on our inner peace; remembering that things in life happen around us, not to us.
Instead of searching for happiness, start with searching within yourself. Learning what our sincere wants and desires are is an important step in designing a future which will lead us to being happy. Being content with our lives begins with being content with ourselves through self-acceptance and love.
Today's expectations are tomorrow's resentments. One way of finding happiness is to minimize our expectations. Think about it, how often do we find ourselves unhappy as the result of something not turning out the way we expected? Thus by lowering our expectations, we're less likely to have something not turn out the way we intended. Some may say this is unrealistic, but it can be done, it just takes practice. Another cute saying along this line is "expectations are resentments in training."
Learning techniques to help us stay in the moment is another powerful tool to reduce unrealistic expectations. By staying in the moment and open to all the possibilities that it possesses, we're less likely to be thinking about the future and what we "hope" it may entail.
Finding happiness in life seems to be the goal of most people. However, maybe the better way to look at this is finding happiness in spite of life. Learning to accept life on life's terms and extract happiness from life can sometimes be quite a challenge. Happiness can be elusive but here's an amazing secret, you can't find happiness, happiness finds you! Thinking we can wrestle things out of life if we just manage better, can be an uphill battle, especially when being happy is one of the goals. Many times the key to finding something is to stop looking so hard. The universe often conspires against us if we insist on doing everything ourselves.
Happiness is a by-product of living a life well lived. Most people have an ideal self which they strive for, but many times they fall short, and thus find themselves unhappy. At times, people need to learn to be less harsh on themselves in areas they find themselves falling short. There's nothing wrong with striving for greatness, but just because we fail sometimes, does not mean we deserve to be happy.
Most happy people have something in common; they have found happiness within themselves. As a result of inner peace, they're less dependent on happiness from outside sources. Meaning things that happen around them in life have less effect on their happiness. It's important to think about things in life and what effect we allow them to have on our inner peace; remembering that things in life happen around us, not to us.
Instead of searching for happiness, start with searching within yourself. Learning what our sincere wants and desires are is an important step in designing a future which will lead us to being happy. Being content with our lives begins with being content with ourselves through self-acceptance and love.
Today's expectations are tomorrow's resentments. One way of finding happiness is to minimize our expectations. Think about it, how often do we find ourselves unhappy as the result of something not turning out the way we expected? Thus by lowering our expectations, we're less likely to have something not turn out the way we intended. Some may say this is unrealistic, but it can be done, it just takes practice. Another cute saying along this line is "expectations are resentments in training."
Learning techniques to help us stay in the moment is another powerful tool to reduce unrealistic expectations. By staying in the moment and open to all the possibilities that it possesses, we're less likely to be thinking about the future and what we "hope" it may entail.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The Trick to Finding Happiness in Little Things
by Matt George
With the way that all the things in the world are going on today - what with all the wars, conflicts, low economic status, capped by the ever-changing yet busy lives that most of the people lead - it has become difficult for us when it comes to finding happiness. Not only that, we also find it difficult to keep up an emotional connection with people whom we do not spend a lot of time with. Basically, while we do manage to stay connected with one another, half the time this connection is not done in an emotional way. Sure, we keep in touch through phone calls and emails, but when was the last time that we really took the time to give a little something that would convey whatever emotion we feel towards the person we are giving the said gift to?
There is no doubt about it, but gift giving is a very simple trick in finding happiness. As little kids, whenever we were feeling blue or came home crying from a fight, a wound or a bad grade, our parents would give us little treats to cheer us up. We used to love getting gifts for whatever reason and occasion possible. Our faces would light up as we opened the packages that were set before us. We would excitedly tear into all the wrapping in order to get to the things that each box or package held. Also, we would squeal with joy as we unearthed the treasures that each package held within.
Suffice to say that finding happiness can be achieve when you open that little box or package that holds a treasure that someone has chosen especially with you in mind. Some people might say that it is a shallow way of finding happiness, getting gifts. However shallow it may seem, it is not actually the gift itself that is the key to bring happy, but the thought that someone in our life thought well enough of us to go and send a little token of his or her love, appreciation or for whatever other reason there is to send such a gift. It is not the gift itself that it important, but the thought that we are special enough o be worth sending a little present to.
Doesn't it seem like a great thing to come home after a really crappy day and find an unexpected little surprise waiting for you at home? What more if the unexpected gift is from someone who you have not even been close to for a long time, if at all. That would surely put a smile on your face and a spring in your step for the rest of the day.
With the way that all the things in the world are going on today - what with all the wars, conflicts, low economic status, capped by the ever-changing yet busy lives that most of the people lead - it has become difficult for us when it comes to finding happiness. Not only that, we also find it difficult to keep up an emotional connection with people whom we do not spend a lot of time with. Basically, while we do manage to stay connected with one another, half the time this connection is not done in an emotional way. Sure, we keep in touch through phone calls and emails, but when was the last time that we really took the time to give a little something that would convey whatever emotion we feel towards the person we are giving the said gift to?
There is no doubt about it, but gift giving is a very simple trick in finding happiness. As little kids, whenever we were feeling blue or came home crying from a fight, a wound or a bad grade, our parents would give us little treats to cheer us up. We used to love getting gifts for whatever reason and occasion possible. Our faces would light up as we opened the packages that were set before us. We would excitedly tear into all the wrapping in order to get to the things that each box or package held. Also, we would squeal with joy as we unearthed the treasures that each package held within.
Suffice to say that finding happiness can be achieve when you open that little box or package that holds a treasure that someone has chosen especially with you in mind. Some people might say that it is a shallow way of finding happiness, getting gifts. However shallow it may seem, it is not actually the gift itself that is the key to bring happy, but the thought that someone in our life thought well enough of us to go and send a little token of his or her love, appreciation or for whatever other reason there is to send such a gift. It is not the gift itself that it important, but the thought that we are special enough o be worth sending a little present to.
Doesn't it seem like a great thing to come home after a really crappy day and find an unexpected little surprise waiting for you at home? What more if the unexpected gift is from someone who you have not even been close to for a long time, if at all. That would surely put a smile on your face and a spring in your step for the rest of the day.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Find Your Happiness Again
by Ryan Critchett
What is happiness? How do we achieve it? Does it just come to us or do we have to seek it out? I believe that happiness is complete fulfillment and inner peace. I believe happiness is finding what you love to do, and then doing it! I believe happiness is helping other people to be happy, contributing to something great and living your life from an optimistic point of view. I stand firm on the idea that in order to achieve happiness, you have to want it, seek it out and find it!
When we were kids, we were happy. We were happy up until the point where we started to see negativity in our lives and that roots from many different things. When we hit adulthood and venture into the world on our own, we come in touch with happiness every now and then but most of us are not living our lives the way it is supposed to be lived. We are getting by, day by day and not really appreciating the finer things in life. Some of us can say that at some times in our lives, we are happy but how many can say they have achieved an indefinite state of happiness?
For me, stimulating my brain makes me happy. Helping other people to become happy people makes me happy. Learning new things and engaging in new projects makes me happy and the empowering feeling of accomplishing a goal makes me happy. However, these things weren't always present; I wasn't always happy. At one point in my life, I was the complete opposite. I think that everyone who isn't happy, knows it and I also believe that those who know it, also know some of the ways to achieve it but do not take the action to do so. Some believe that in taking the action to be happy, the security of their everyday lives will be at stake. Some people will stay at their dreaded jobs for 5 years because they fear taking the risk to go and do what they really love to do and many do not take the time to look inside themselves to find out exactly what that would be.
We get caught up in the everyday motion of things and accept that as our reality. Our minds are easily influenced by what is around us and let's face it, there is a lot of negativity out there. Negative people bring about negative circumstances in their lives and they also love the company of another negative person. Without intentionally doing it, unhappy people will subconsciously do things to make others unhappy and people will be influenced by that. When someone makes an absolute and permanent shift towards happiness, it feels natural. It normally comes by reaching rock bottom, or at least a point where you know you have to make a choice.
Don't let your life continue the way it has been. You have the right to be as happy as you were when you were a kid, using your imagination and smiling all day long. You just have to find it! You have to want to find it and you have to make the conscious decision that you will. If you want to reclaim your happiness, say this out loud to yourself as many times a day as it takes: "I deserve to be happy. I will reclaim my right to live a peaceful life because I was born that way and I should continue to be that way. I will not let the circumstances around me create a negative and unhappy existence for myself but rather, I will invent the happiest of circumstances I could ever exist in. My happiness is out there, with my name on it and it's up to me to go find it and when I do, I will know it's the right thing."
What is happiness? How do we achieve it? Does it just come to us or do we have to seek it out? I believe that happiness is complete fulfillment and inner peace. I believe happiness is finding what you love to do, and then doing it! I believe happiness is helping other people to be happy, contributing to something great and living your life from an optimistic point of view. I stand firm on the idea that in order to achieve happiness, you have to want it, seek it out and find it!
When we were kids, we were happy. We were happy up until the point where we started to see negativity in our lives and that roots from many different things. When we hit adulthood and venture into the world on our own, we come in touch with happiness every now and then but most of us are not living our lives the way it is supposed to be lived. We are getting by, day by day and not really appreciating the finer things in life. Some of us can say that at some times in our lives, we are happy but how many can say they have achieved an indefinite state of happiness?
For me, stimulating my brain makes me happy. Helping other people to become happy people makes me happy. Learning new things and engaging in new projects makes me happy and the empowering feeling of accomplishing a goal makes me happy. However, these things weren't always present; I wasn't always happy. At one point in my life, I was the complete opposite. I think that everyone who isn't happy, knows it and I also believe that those who know it, also know some of the ways to achieve it but do not take the action to do so. Some believe that in taking the action to be happy, the security of their everyday lives will be at stake. Some people will stay at their dreaded jobs for 5 years because they fear taking the risk to go and do what they really love to do and many do not take the time to look inside themselves to find out exactly what that would be.
We get caught up in the everyday motion of things and accept that as our reality. Our minds are easily influenced by what is around us and let's face it, there is a lot of negativity out there. Negative people bring about negative circumstances in their lives and they also love the company of another negative person. Without intentionally doing it, unhappy people will subconsciously do things to make others unhappy and people will be influenced by that. When someone makes an absolute and permanent shift towards happiness, it feels natural. It normally comes by reaching rock bottom, or at least a point where you know you have to make a choice.
Don't let your life continue the way it has been. You have the right to be as happy as you were when you were a kid, using your imagination and smiling all day long. You just have to find it! You have to want to find it and you have to make the conscious decision that you will. If you want to reclaim your happiness, say this out loud to yourself as many times a day as it takes: "I deserve to be happy. I will reclaim my right to live a peaceful life because I was born that way and I should continue to be that way. I will not let the circumstances around me create a negative and unhappy existence for myself but rather, I will invent the happiest of circumstances I could ever exist in. My happiness is out there, with my name on it and it's up to me to go find it and when I do, I will know it's the right thing."
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