Happiness is not something you can beg for, buy, or barter. However, you can create and sustain it. If you want to be happier long-term, make creating and sustaining happiness a priority by applying the following principles.
The old adage, "people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be," holds true. Choose to live a life of happiness. When you are not happy, ask yourself why and begin to eliminate your happiness blocks.
At any moment, all we have is that moment. Focusing on the past or the future makes it impossible to fully experience the present. One way to remind yourself to be present is to take a deep breath whenever you notice you are worrying about the future or regretting the past. Remember, yesterday is history, the future is a mystery, and this moment is life’s true gift to you.
Your deepest, richest, most profound happiness in life will come from your relationships: the people you love, the people you meet who touch you, and the people whose lives you reach out to touch. Often, we focus on the results we want rather than the relationships that enrich our lives. Put your relationships first and the results you are pursuing second, and happiness will rarely elude you.
Adding acknowledgment to a relationship always makes it better. When we express our appreciation to others, we tell them that they matter to us and that we are grateful for their contribution to our lives. Everyone can take in much more acknowledgment than they are currently receiving. Acknowledge someone you love for sharing their feelings with you, tell your long-time friends how much they mean to you, and acknowledge your partner for all the little things. When you acknowledge others, you also acknowledge to yourself how good your life is, which sustains your happiness.
Part of what makes us unhappy is doing things we do not want to do. If you are doing things out of a sense of obligation or societal, family, or community pressure, you will be unhappy. Decide that you are going to approve of whatever you do. Instead of asking yourself, "Should I do this?" ask yourself, "Do I approve of me doing this?" Whatever you do, make sure it is okay with you.
Fundamental to your happiness is being truthful about who you are, what you want, how you feel, and every aspect of your life. It is important to develop the ability to say what you want to say without blaming, shaming, or making anybody else wrong. When you are concerned with being right or placing blame, you create distance rather than intimacy in your relationships. Take responsibility for your thoughts and feelings and communicate in a way that makes other people feel that they too can speak their truth. This way, all your relationships will be more authentic and fulfilling.
Do not wait for people to make you sweet offers, and do not fall into the trap of assuming people should know what you want. Ask for what you want every time you want something, and you will get more of what you want more often.
You deserve to live the life you want to live. That and fulfilling relationships are what bring true happiness. Allow other people the ability to live the life they choose without your judgment and criticism. You can only control your life; putting your attention on how other people ought to live their lives will cause you nothing but disappointment and frustration.
One way to stop judging others is to stop thinking about what other people think of you. Trying to live up to other people’s expectations is hard, never-ending work. This is your life. You are the only one who has to approve of how you live it.
Happiness is less elusive than you might think. It is also contagious. One way to be happy is to be with happy people. Share this information with your happy friends, and you can all support each other in enjoying long-term happiness.
By integrating these principles into your life, you can create a sustainable path to happiness that not only benefits you but also those around you.
Are You Seeing a Vision?
Creating a vivid and compelling vision is the first step towards elevating your business and personal life to unprecedented heights. Unlike simple goals, a vision encompasses a dynamic and colorful mental image of your ideal future, engaging both your emotions and intellect. This emotional connection makes the vision a powerful motivator, far surpassing the efficacy of mere goal-setting. In this article, we explore the transformative power of a well-crafted vision and provide practical steps to help you visualize and achieve your ultimate aspirations.
Expect Success to Stay Self-Motivated and Get Great Results
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