Happiness
“The greatest happiness you can have is to know that you do not necessarily require happiness.”
The above quote brings home the idea that we ourselves are responsible for our happiness or for the absence of our happiness. It is a journey, and not a destination.
Happiness is a mental or emotional state, including positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.
Happiness can sometimes come from things. “When I get this car, or these shoes, or this job, man, will I be happy.” And you do, you get the position and you drive to your new job in your new car with your shiny new shoes on. The world is oh so perfect! Then with time, one realises that the fancy moves from one object to the other, from a smaller one to a bigger one and that this is non-ending illusion.
This is what needs to be remembered:
Your happiness cannot come from the outside world. It must come from within you.
When you are able to accept that happiness already exists within you, pressure will release because you’ll no longer feel pushed around by the need to gather or achieve more.
Still, it is important to know that true happiness may not always feel great. Realizing true happiness doesn’t mean you will be smiling, laughing, and dancing at all times.
You will have bad days. You will feel overwhelmed with normal life at times. You may even look beyond the horizon to see what lies ahead. This is all okay.
Happiness doesn’t have to look like a fairy tale. Happiness is simply the realization that life is just fine as it is. Happiness is accepting that is and not mourning over what isn’t.
True happiness is only possible when you are able to accept yourself fully including your faults, shortcomings, and your greatness. Happiness is to know that you are in control of your life and that no situation, surroundings, or people can take that power away from you. You are the master of your happiness!
Some techniques that can be used to enhance happiness are living in gratitude, focusing on good enough instead of perfect, doing what you love, choosing your friends that uplift you, spending money wisely, learning new skills, enjoying the funny side of life, reframing obstacles and performing random acts of kindness.
Personal well-being, health, and diet are important pillars to your happiness. Self-care is of prime importance. Exercising, getting enough sleep, traveling, meditation, and listening to the music of your choice are all great ways of boosting your happiness.
Happiness is not a long-lasting, permanent feature but a changeable state. To control your happiness you essentially need two things. You need to have a conscious awareness that includes perspectives and interpretations based on love, compassion, respect, and humor. You also need to have control over your attention so you can shift to these perspectives when you choose. The more personal power you have, the more you will be able to shift your attention to these points of view in challenging circumstances.
You are already complete. When you realize this, there will be happiness in everything you do!
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