“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” —Mahatma Gandhi.
Introduction
Happiness is a mindset. It isn’t something you can see, taste, or touch, but it's real and worth pursuing. It's not easy to achieve happiness. Researchers have found that achieving happiness usually involves times of discomfort. Happiness is influenced by a variety of factors including genetic makeup, life circumstances, achievements, personal relationships, social relationships, and even your neighbours.
Happiness is a choice. This means you can choose to be happy or unhappy. If you choose to be happy, then you will be happy. Below are factors that help you to remain happy. Happy people still feel anger, frustration, loneliness, boredom, and even sadness occasionally.
Remember that happiness isn't a state of constant euphoria. It is a general feeling of well-being, rather than being affected by more negative than positive emotions. Happy-focused people look for solutions to their problems and believe that they have the tools to make things happen. It is also usually these people who are the most successful. Happiness Definition: The state of being happy. Source: Oxford Online Dictionary.
Happiness In Our World
The World Happiness Report is a reliable source of cross-country data on self-reported life satisfaction. This report is based on surveys of individuals in over 150 countries, and it ranks countries by their average happiness levels. This report has been published annually since 2012, and it provides valuable insights into global happiness levels and trends.
This report is based on data from the Gallup World Poll, which asks individuals to rate their life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10. It ranks countries based on their average happiness levels, with the happiest countries typically scoring five or higher. The report is released annually and is widely used by policymakers, academics, and the media. Check it out here: https://ourworldindata.org/happiness-and-life-satisfaction
What Is Your Level of Happiness?
If you're anything like the average person, you spend much of your day thinking about happiness. But what does happiness really mean? And how can you tell if you're truly happy?
The concept of happiness is difficult to define, but most people would agree that it involves feeling positive emotions like joy, love, and contentment. It also involves having a sense of satisfaction with your life and feeling like you are living in alignment with your values.
So, what's your level of happiness? This can be a personal question depending on your state of mind. Do you have a sense of purpose and feel emotionally stable? If so, you're probably happy most of the time. But everyone has different things that make them happy.
Some people are happiest when they're surrounded by family and friends, while others find solace in nature or in their hobbies. Whatever makes you happy, it's important to hold on to those things and cherish them. Ask yourself, what's your level of happiness? And if you're not as happy as you could be, what can you do to change that?
Habits That Prevent Happiness
Many habits contribute to your happiness, while others detract from it. You may not even realize how some of your everyday habits are slowly chipping away at your happiness. Brushing your teeth, taking a shower, and making your bed are all great examples of habits that will help contribute to your happiness. There are, however, many habits that prevent happiness, so being aware of them is important.
Expenditure that is Unnecessary
Financial issues are one of the biggest stressors in life. It is difficult to find happiness when you're in debt up to your eyeballs. One of the most common causes of divorce and misery is financial pressure. Consider budgeting, learning to save or some type of financial coaching. Be proactive and don’t let things get out of control.
Putting Your Life on Hold
You may think that putting your life on hold will help you achieve happiness, but in reality, it only controls your ability to move forward. Living in the past can prevent you from enjoying the present and planning for the future.
Before acting, we always wait for something to happen. When starting a diet, we usually wait for the first of the month. When starting an online business, we always have an excuse. It is never the right time to take that big step. Get started today and manage your circumstances as best as you can. Don't let your happiness depend on someone else or something else outside of your control. We can never get back the time we have lost, but we can make the most of the time we have now.
Clutter
A clean house is a happy house - or so they say. But what happens when your home is overflowing with stuff? For some people, too much stuff can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. When you spend too much, you accumulate a lot of stuff. It’s always in the way, serving as a constant reminder of what you should have spent less on.
Getting rid of excess stuff can be liberating and help you feel more in control of your life.
1. Start small. Don't try to tackle your entire house all at once. Instead, focus on one area at a time.
2. Set aside sometime each day to declutter. Even just 15 minutes can make a big difference.
3. Be ruthless. If you haven't used something in 6 months, chances are you don't need it. Donate or sell items that you no longer need or want.
4. Create a system that works for you.
Of course, it's important not to get rid of everything - keep items that bring you joy and make your home feel like a haven. But if you're holding onto things you don't need, it's time to let them go. Get rid of clutter in your life to live a happier life!
Blaming Others
We all have the power to make positive changes in our lives, but too often we give away our power by blaming others for our problems. We make excuses for not taking responsibility for our own happiness. We allow other people and circumstances to control us, instead of taking charge of our own lives.
When you blame others, you lose control. It isn't easy to take responsibility for the unpleasant things in your life, but what other choice do you have? No one else can fix it for you. Even if you have been abused and used, you still need to deal with the aftermath. It's up to each one of us to create our own happiness. When we take responsibility for our own well-being, we are empowered to make positive changes in our lives. We can't always control what happens to us, but we can always control how we react to it.
Don't let the challenge of blame stand in the way of your success; it will only rob you of enjoyment and fulfilment.
Not Being Authentic
"The first step to being your authentic self is to know who you are," said therapist Mary Jo Rapini. "You have to be comfortable in your own skin."
Source: How to Be Authentic: Express Yourself
Figuring out who you are can be tough, but it's worth it to live an authentic life. "It's so important for people to express themselves," said Rapini. "And the more we do that, the more we get in touch with our true selves."
There are lots of ways you can express yourself. You can try new things, convey your opinions, let people see the real you, swear if you must, and experiment. These are all choices that you can make in order to express yourself. You don't have to conform to society's expectations in order to be happy and successful.
The important thing is to stay true to yourself and make choices that feel right for you.
Living an inauthentic life is exhausting. You're constantly trying to keep up appearances and put on a brave face, even when you're feeling scared or alone. It's time to stop pretending and start living your life for yourself.
Be brave and be you. Express yourself authentically, even if it means risking rejection from others. At the end of the day, only you can make yourself happy. Don't let anyone else control your happiness - it's your life, so live it on your own terms!
Why Do You Feel Unhappy?
If you are constantly feeling blue and can't recall the last time you felt happy and free, then you need to figure out why. An unhappy state is obviously not ideal for any sane individual since unhappiness can quickly turn into depression. In addition, unhappiness can cause physical problems if it is not addressed promptly. Those who are unhappy may find they suffer from headaches, back pain, and other physical ailments more frequently than those who are content with the lives they live.
You must find out the (root) cause of your unhappiness, not just for your physical and mental health, but to move on and be happy again.
Some people use positive psychology techniques to increase happiness. Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life worth living. It is a relatively new field constantly evolving. Happiness is one of the main goals of positive psychology. Many different techniques have been developed to increase happiness. Some of these techniques include gratitude journaling, savouring positive experiences, and practicing acts of kindness.
So, question everything in your life, use positive psychological techniques and talk to your closest friends to get to the bottom of your unhappiness. When you figure out why you're unhappy, you'll be able to take action and make the necessary changes.
Some excellent resources at this website: https://positivepsychology.com/
Questions To Ask
Question One: What are you doing to fulfil your dreams?
Take a moment to ask yourself this very important question. If you answered "no," then what are you doing to make things better?
What steps are you taking towards the career or job you want?
Maybe you feel trapped in a day job you don't like, but you stay in it because it pays the bills.
Can you explore other financial options that can help you move forward?
What can you change to get closer to fulfilling your dream?
Question Two: Do your thoughts make you unhappy?
There is a choice you can make about what goes on in your mind; you can choose what thoughts run through your mind. You can choose to think positively or negatively. You can tell yourself not to think negatively. However, this is easier said than done. No matter how much we bump our heads, negative thoughts will still linger in the background. Some people go crazy because of this. It is impossible for them to stop listening to voices no matter what they do or how hard they try.
Who am I, really?
What worries me most about the future?
What am I scared of?
Am I holding on to something I need to let go of?
Am I scared of being happy? Why?
What should I change about myself?
To overcome negative thoughts, visualization is crucial. Self-awareness and paying attention to your thoughts are also important. You can try this trick right now: whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively, tell yourself to stop. Imagine your whole body is coated in oil, and the negativity slides off you. After you have banished negativity from your mind, you can let positive thoughts take over.
Question Three: Why do you strive for perfection?
There are lots of other things you can strive for; aiming for perfection isn't one of them. How come? Often, perfection hides behind a facade of happiness. This is because, in our society, we are taught that we must be perfect to be happy. However, happiness comes from within and is not contingent upon perfection. When we strive for perfection, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment and frustration. No one is perfect, and we should all strive to be the best we can be.
· What do you think your perfectionism is trying to protect you from?
· What are you afraid will happen if you remove your perfectionism shield?
· If you take down your perfectionism shield and let people know the real you, how might your life be better?
Rather than striving for perfection, aim for excellence. Even though it's still higher on the achievement scale, it's more attainable. No one is perfect, so why strive for it? To put it bluntly, perfection is overrated. If you strive for perfection, you can lose everything you've worked so hard for if you make a single, tiny mistake.
By striving for excellence, however, you give yourself the best chance of succeeding. Because you're confident that you'll succeed, taking risks won't scare you. Learning comes from mistakes and failures.
Ways of Improving Happiness in Your Life
The thing about happiness is there are ways you can improve it. Like a fine wine, happiness can improve with age and maturity. We need to implement strategies to keep happiness growing, though, since it doesn't always happen automatically. As we get older, we have more life experience and wisdom, which can lead to a more contented outlook on life. We may also have more financial stability and close relationships, both of which can contribute to happiness. Of course, age and maturity don't guarantee happiness, but they can help. By implementing simple strategies, we can keep happiness growing as we age.
Take Time to Build Quality Relationships With Supportive People
One of the most important things you can do in life is to take the time to build quality relationships with supportive people. These are the people who will be there for you when you need them and help you to achieve your goals. They will encourage you when you are feeling down, and they will celebrate your successes with you.
Choose your friends carefully, as they will have a big impact on your life. Surround yourself with positive, motivated people who will support your dreams and help you to achieve them. Avoid negative people who will bring you down and make you feel bad about yourself.
Investing time in relationships is one of the best things you can do for your happiness and success. So, take the time to find the right people to be around, and build strong, supportive relationships with them.
Focus on the Positives in Your Life
It's so easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of life. We dwell on the things that went wrong, the things we didn't do, and the things we wish we could change. But what if we took a step back and focused on the positives?
Focusing on the positives doesn't mean ignoring the negatives, it just means putting more emphasis on the good. When we focus on the positive, we open ourselves up to happiness. We see the good in ourselves and in others. We find things to be grateful for.
It's not always easy to focus on the positive, but it's worth it. When we try to find the good, we make our lives better.
Find a Sense of Purpose
Finding a sense of purpose in life can be a very meaningful and rewarding experience. It can give you a sense of direction and help you achieve happiness and fulfilment. There are many ways to find a sense of purpose, and it is different for everyone. You may find it through your work, your hobbies, your relationships, or your spirituality. It is important to find what works for you and to find what makes you happy. Once you have found your purpose, you can lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Give Yourself a Break and Learn to Relax
Happiness is a state of mind. It's not about what's going on around you but how you choose to react to it. If you're constantly stressed and uptight, you will not be happy. Learning to relax and take a break is an important part of being happy.
Evaluate your life and see where you can make changes. Maybe you need to learn to say "no" more often. Maybe you need to delegate some of your responsibilities to others. Whatever it is, make sure you're taking care of yourself. Once you do that, you'll be on your way to a happier, more relaxed life.
Don't Let Your Inner Critic Control Your Happiness
Happiness is a state of mind we can cultivate regardless of our circumstances. Our inner critic is that voice in our head that tells us we're not good enough, that we can't do something, or that we're not worthy of happiness. Our inner critic can often hinder our happiness if we allow it to control us. By learning to quiet this negative voice, we can open ourselves up to a greater sense of happiness. Mindfulness is key to keeping our inner critic in check.
We can be happy despite what our inner critic tells us. By being mindful of our thoughts and focusing on what makes us happy, we can control our own happiness. This means surrounding yourself with positive people, doing things you enjoy, and setting goals that make you excited.
Our thoughts are like a to-do list. We can cancel them anytime we want. It's up to us whether we want to be happy. Our thoughts are powerful and can determine our mood and outlook on life. If we focus on positive thoughts, we'll have a more positive outlook on life. We can't control everything that happens to us, but we can control our thoughts. So, if you're having negative thoughts, cancel them and think more positive ones instead. It's up to you how you want to live your life. Choose happiness!
Focusing on the positive things in your life will help you lead a happier life overall. So pay attention to the little things that make you smile and watch your happiness level soar!
Create a Sense of Freedom and Life Satisfaction
There's nothing like the feeling of happiness and satisfaction that comes from creating a life that you love. For many people, this means finding a career that they're passionate about and making a difference in the world. Others find joy in simple pleasures and making the most of everyday life.
On the one hand, it's widely accepted that a sense of satisfaction comes from doing what you're meant to do and living a life truly fulfilling. However, it's also worth considering the role that negative affect can play in this process.
For example, some researchers have suggested that a certain amount of dissatisfaction is necessary for us to appreciate the good things in life. If we were always satisfied with our lives, we might not be motivated to strive for more. This suggests there may be a delicate balance between positive and negative effects necessary for a sense of satisfaction.
It's difficult to find a balance between doing what you love and making a living, but it's important to remember that your happiness should always come first. If you're not happy with your current situation, make a change. Life is too short to waste time doing something you don't love. When you're fulfilling your potential and living a life that feels good to you, it's hard to not feel a sense of freedom and happiness. Ultimately, it's up to everyone to find what creates a sense of satisfaction in their own life.
Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health
When you feel good about yourself, your happiness will increase, and you will be more likely to make healthier choices in all areas of your life. This is because your levels of well-being are directly linked to your overall happiness. When you are happy, you are more likely to take care of yourself and make healthy choices. Therefore, focus on increasing your levels of well-being to improve your overall health and happiness. There are many ways to increase your levels of well-being such as practising self-care, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing hobbies or activities that make you happy.
Eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and maintaining a good sleep schedule all work together to keep our minds clear and focused. But what about when our mental health is struggling? What can we do to help improve it without neglecting our physical well-being?
Luckily, there are plenty of things we can do to take care of both our mental and physical health simultaneously! For starters, try incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. They are not only good for you physically, but they also have been shown to improve moods and increase happiness. Additionally, get enough exercise; it not only helps keep your body healthy, but it can also be effective in reducing stress levels.
Happiness and good well-being may provide health benefits, such as:
Increased life span
Lower rates of depression
Lower levels of distress and pain
Greater resistance to illnesses
Better psychological and physical well-being
Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and strokes
Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
Slightly changing your daily routine can have a big impact on your happiness and well-being. Remember that it takes time and effort to see results. Be patient with yourself and keep up the good work!
Stop The Pursuit of Happiness and Learn to Have Some Fun
Our culture defines happiness as having a life that continuously meets our needs and wants. We are told that, if we work hard enough and do all the right things, we will eventually achieve happiness. However, this way of thinking is flawed. Pursuing happiness is often unsuccessful and can actually lead to more unhappiness.
Instead of pursuing happiness, we should focus on having fun.
When is the last time you had fun? What were you doing?
When we enjoy ourselves and have fun, happiness often follows naturally. Few things in life are ever perfect. We all experience negative emotions and difficult life events. But that doesn't mean we can't be happy. Happiness comes from within. It is a state of mind. It is how we view the world and our place in it.
Do things that make you laugh, spend time with friends and family, and participate in activities you enjoy.
Ask yourself: what would make me feel good right now? And then go do that thing!
Being happy does not mean that life is perfect – it just means you have learned how to be satisfied with what you have and appreciate the good moments when they come.
Embrace And Welcome Change
Change will happen in your life, no matter what. Your life and environment are not static. They are constantly changing, and you have the power to change them if you don't like the way things are going. If you're not happy with your job, your relationships, or your life, you can do something about it. You need to figure out the steps you need to take to improve your current situation.
When something changes in your life, step back and evaluate what that change means for you. Is it a good change or a bad change? If it's a good change, then embrace it! Enjoy the new experience and savour the moment. If it's a bad change, then don't despair. Change can be difficult, but it can also lead to positive things. View the change as an opportunity to grow and learn. Allow change for you to live a meaningful life so you become better versions of yourself. With every change, we have the chance to improve our lives. Let's view change as an exciting opportunity instead of something to fear.
No matter what happens in life, remember that change is always happening. Embrace the good changes, and learn from the bad ones. Be open to new experiences and find joy in each one!
Conclusion
You are the key to your happiness. Whenever you feel unhappy, look deep within yourself for answers. Identify the reasons you're unhappy and then work on improving yourself and building more positive relationships. Make yourself happy first by loving yourself. You can't make others happy if you can't even be happy yourself. Make the right decisions and the right choices. Put an end to your bad habits by replacing them with positive ones. Only then can you be content and at peace with yourself. Happiness is a sign you are open to new experiences and ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Regards, Paula
Careers and Personal Growth Coach
⭐If you're beginning your journey or seeking a new path, I can help you plan your next steps. ⭐If you need to chat about your career dilemma?
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