Happiness is something that every man and woman desires and works towards attaining. No matter what it is that you want to bring more of into your life, finding happiness is all about taking an honest look within and being willing to make the changes necessary to get what you want.
When you can be honest with yourself and the world around you, then you can take things in the right way and work positively towards what you want to achieve. One good way to learn about yourself and the world around you is to turn to the past. They say the past is doomed to be repeated if people fail to learn from it, but there are also good lessons we can gleam from our ancestors.
1. Appreciate the little things.
“That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.” – Henry David Thoreau
When you take the time to appreciate the little things in life, you’ll realize just how important and pleasurable they are. Desiring expensive things seems to be normal in today’s society. Many people are so materialistic that they just seem to never stop wanting more stuff. Even when you get the newest smart phone, car and that fancy Internet-enabled television, will you be truly happy? Stuff is nice, but that is not what happiness is all about. Happiness is about having people to share smiles and laughs with on any given day. It is enjoying the summer’s sun and feeling comfort from a cool breeze. No amount of stuff is going to fill a void in your heart. Learn to find joy in life in the simple things, and appreciate those around you.
2. Do that which makes you happy.
“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Many of desire financial success, but is getting a hefty paycheck really something that alone is going to make you happy? Just having money will not bring happiness into your life. In order to be happy with what you are doing you need to be doing something that you like. When you work towards achieving goals in a field that you are passionate about, your life will seem so much richer. Even if you were wary about taking that teaching job because they don’t make as much money as you would like, if that is where your passion lies then you should not deny yourself that career path. The act of helping mold the minds of our youth might be the thing that brings you the greatest joy. Making a difference in a child’s life is a great achievement after all.
3. Get up and go for it!
“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” – Benjamin Disraeli
Although sometimes actions can have negative consequences, you can’t let the fear of that keep you from doing something. In order to achieve happiness in life one needs to be able to take action towards achieving their goals. Remaining stationary in life will only serve to bring depression and restlessness to a person’s spirit. Don’t be afraid to go after something that you want. Even the act of pursuing something that you want to achieve can bring a certain level of happiness. Knowing that you are working towards something that you desire in life will bring positive emotions with it. Remember that nothing ventured is nothing gained. When you do make it to your goal the feeling of joy you will feel will be absolutely great.
4. Find people to share your life with.
“Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it.” – Bernard Meltzer
You will never be truly happy if you do not have people to share the joys of life with. Life is something that is richer when you have people around you to share experiences with. Just having friends to shoot the breeze with can be something that can make a person happy in and of itself. When you have great friends, great family and a romantic love of your life then you feel much more like a complete person. If you lack these people in your life, then do not fret because you can attract great friends into your life. If you have people in place then appreciate them and show them that you are grateful for their presence.
5. Appreciate what you have.
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” – Frederick Keonig
If you cannot be content with that which you already possess, then you will forever feel like you are chasing something elusive. When you have a spirit of always wanting more, it will never be satiated. You need to be grateful for that which you already possess. Realize that you have a life of abundance already, and that all the joy you need is already surrounding you. You need only embrace an attitude of gratitude to feel the happiness present in life. Don’t take what you have for granted. The people in your life and the things you are blessed with are important, so treat them as such.
6. Live in the here and now.
“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.” – James Oppenheim
Remember that you live in the present. What you do today will affect your future. You cannot just wait for the future to come to you, and hope that it will be a happy one. You must live in the present, embrace it and make it into your ideal life. Happiness is something that you create for yourself. It is not something that you wait for or should worry about not having done in the past. Your happiness exists in the here and now. Seize it with conviction.
7. Your outlook on life matters.
“Most people are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” – Abraham Lincoln
Happiness is something that exists within the mind. If you can maintain a positive outlook on life, then you are far more likely to attain happiness. Looking at things from positive angles allows you to see the good in things. If you stay pessimistic then you will definitely feel unhappy, and like things are not how you wish them to be. Try to be a happy person. Look at your life with eyes of positivity. When you make up your mind and state clearly that you are determined to lead a happy life, then that life will be attracted towards you.
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