We all want to have more happiness in our lives. However, we often encounter situations and events that do not allow us to be happy.
We might face failure or rejection, have to deal with unpleasant or difficult people, work at a job we do not like, or our plans might not work out. These events prevent us from experiencing happiness and satisfaction, and their memory lingers or, affecting our mind and behavior long afterwards.
Going through bad experiences, conditions the mind to expect problems, difficulties and unhappiness. This leads to a negative mindset, so that when there is happiness, one expects something bad to happen and take the happiness away.
People fear that any happiness they experience is soon going to be replaced with something bad. To become a happier person, you should eliminate this destructive habit.
Happiness and Attitude
We usually associate happiness with external events, like finding love, getting a promotion or having a good time at a party.
These events might trigger happiness, but you do not need to depend on them to for happiness. You do not need to wait for certain events to happen so that you enjoy happiness. You can intentionally involve yourself in certain activities that produce happiness.
With a little change of attitude, you can make happiness a habit. You can create your happiness.
Though happiness seems to result from outside events and activities, it actually comes from within you, when for some reason, temporarily, you forget about your problems and difficulties.
This happens when you do something that you love and enjoy doing, and when you are calm and relaxed. It happens when hear good news, and when something good happens that takes your mind away from the things that are troubling you.
Happiness is more a matter of attitude and state of mind, and does not depend on people, circumstances or events.
This means that we can experience happiness in spite of bad experiences and difficult situations. Believing otherwise, puts your happiness, your state of mind, and how you feel, at the mercy of other people, and this is not a good idea.
Happiness is a subjective feeling. It is a feeling of content, satisfaction, completeness and calmness. When you are happy, you do not feel stressed, do not worry, and you do not think negative thoughts.
This might seem like an impossible thing, but it is not. I am sure you have had many moments of happiness in your life, no matter what kind of life you are living and what experiences you passed through. Even in the bleakest situations, there are some moments of happiness.
When you are happy, you feel free, and for a while, you forget about your troubles, problems and difficulties and enjoy inner peace.
I would like to offer a few habits to adopt, which would bring more happiness into your life. These are simple habits, but you need to repeat them often, until they become automatic and part of your life.
8 Simple Habits for a Happier Life
1. Look for joy in the small things around you
Do not wait for something exceptional to happen, to make you happy. Exceptional events do not happen every day, but small things you can enjoy are abound. Here are a few examples:
- Taking a short walk in the early morning
- Preparing and eating a good breakfast before leaving home to work
Reading a good book - Watching a funny movie
- Spending time with your children
You can find many simple activities you can enjoy, which will make you feel happy.
These activities bring a sense of happiness, because they calm the mind and feelings, and for a while, you forget anything that is troubling you.
2. Find time to be out in nature
Go to a park, to the beach, to a river or lake. Being out, close to nature, you experience a sense of peace, tranquility and joy, which are the main ingredients of happiness.
3. Enjoy the company of friends
When with friends, try to enjoy every moment you are with them. Focus on love, joy and fun, and enjoy the conversation, the laughter and the food.
Share your happy experiences with you friends, and listen to theirs’.
If there are problems you want to discuss, or if your friends want to talk about matters that are bothering them, choose some special time and place for this, not while you are having fun.
4. Avoid jealousy
Instead of being jealous of other people’s success, be inspired by it, learn how they achieved it, and follow their steps. There is enough success for everyone and there is no need to be jealous of anyone.
Being jealous is like telling your subconscious mind and the Universe that you are no good and a failure.
Participating in the happiness of other people’s success makes you more magnetic to success, and puts you in a better position to attract success into your life.
5. Be kind and considerate of other people.
If you treat people with kindness and considerateness, you will get the same treatment from them, and this will lead to contentment and inner peace.
6. Learn to accept things as they are
It is tough to be content with life and accept it, when you face difficulties and problems. However, if you accept things as they are, you make peace with yourself, and this will take away anger, resentment and unhappiness.
This does not mean that you should not try to improve your life. On the contrary, do your best to improve it. The knowledge that you are improving your life will bring you a sense of content, inner peace and happiness.
7. What people say and think is their business
Do not allow your happiness to depend on what people say and do.
People might think, say and do things you do not like or criticize you, but there is no reason to take it personally, and let this make you unhappy. It is your choice to allow them affect how you feel, or refuse to do so.
What people think or say is their business, it is their opinion, and there is no reason why you should let this affect you. Do not take anything too personally, and you will have more happiness in your life.
8. Do not depend on external events to make you happy
You are not always in control of every situation you encounter. If you depend on external factors for your happiness, you might get disappointed over and again.
You do not need someone to tell you how wonderful you are to make you feel happy. You can be happy irrespective of your financial situation, occupation, where you live, or the people you encounter.
The sooner you realize and accept this idea, the sooner happiness will become a habit in your life and you would experience it more often.
