The pace at which we live life today is so hectic that you shouldn't be surprised if you often end up handing over the keys to your happiness to a whole other team. As a result, we simply exist, getting through the day, checking things off our to-do lists and focus on surviving.
Until one day, when we wake up. Something or someone triggers the question: are we happy? And we hesitate to say yes.
We don't have to sacrifice our happiness for our busy-ness.
Here are ten keys to finding that happiness and keeping it.When we make these into a habit, we'll find that we're more contented with life. We don't have to settle. And the next time someone asks if we're happy, we can say yes without hesitation.
10 keys to your happiness
1. Live with intention
Do what makes you happy. Find your "why". Find activities that make your heart sing. If you need to learn new skills to do this, learn. When we do this, we feel joyfully alive and connected to our purpose. Learn how to be happy at work.
The alternative? Be unhappy and desperate and live without purpose.
2. Find happiness now
There's a reason why right now is called "present". It's a gift to you from the Universe. Live in the present moment. The past is gone and the future is uncertain. Enjoy the spark of life right now.
Sure you can create misery waiting for a better day instead of taking matters in your hands.
3. Take responsibility for your life
Only you can create your reality and your emotions and your response to these. You have the power and focus to attain your dreams.
Of course, you can prefer to play the blame game and whine, assuming that your life, as it is now, is something created by someone else, and not you. You know what they say-as within, so without. Take responsibility for it.
4. Be bold
Embrace challenges, set high goals. The stumbling blocks in life bring some of the happiest experiences and learning.
Although, you do have an option. You can be miserable by playing it safe. Do not budge out of your comfort zone. Stay away from all things risky. Pamper your fears and allow them to rule your life. But if you want happiness, tackle them head on. Feel the fear, take action.
5. Expect happiness
The great thing about happy people is they always hope and expect good things to happen. It is true that when you wish for something, Universe conspires to make it happen. We can choose our thoughts, what we want to visualize in our mind. Why not imagine finding happiness?
On the other hand, despair stems from being utterly pessimistic and always expecting the negative. We do get what we expect, most of the time. So why not expect happiness?
6. Be more aware
Be conscious of your emotions. What are your core beliefs? Pledge to learn and grow from the inside and watch the attitudes, habits and behaviors you don't want simply disappear.
Being unaware simply leads to misery and apathy. When you are afraid to explore your beliefs, you stay in that dark unconscious place clouded with doubts and fear.
7. Strengthen your relationships
Life is more meaningful when our connections with others are strong. Strong relationships keep us happy.
Isolating ourselves just makes us miserable and lonely. If we don't believe we're connected with others, it is easy to be delusional and feel even worse when others drag us down.
8. Keep on learning
Our connections and our learning keep us growing. Read more, learn more, build your friends circle. As we grow, so does our happiness.
We can certainly prevent happiness from entering our lives by avoiding people and resisting learning. We can stay exactly as we are, holding on to our jaded ideas. Or we can choose to learn and grow.
9. Do things for others
We live in a community with people who have needs and wants just like our own. We have the ability to make others smile. Why not find ways to do it? Add value to the lives of people you meet. Service to others is one of the golden keys to finding happiness. Volunteer.
Being selfish is an option-make others miserable or ignore them. Be concerned only with your own needs. Act as if others don't exist. Your choice.
10. Learn to prioritize
Take stock of your goals and purpose in life. Then take action with faith. Be focused, act with purpose. Be aware of why you do what you do. Reflect on which tasks connect with your goals.
It is easy to minimize your joys by cramming your day with a long list of things that may or may not add value to your life or to others'. Be busy, busy, busy. Again, your choice!