Saturday, January 3, 2009

Tips for true happiness

By Ethan Beh

I have always been fascinated with happiness. It seems so easily attainable for some people, whereas for others it is like an elusive treasure that cannot be found. I have a friend who is always genuinely happy. He seems happy almost all the time. It is a real joy to hang out with him.

Even when bad things happen, he may feel upset for a while but then quickly bounces back to his old self. I've always wondered how he does that. To me, that is a very admirable and enviable trait to have.

Happiness comes from within and not from external things. What money and external possessions provide are only distractions from the unhappiness and lack of fulfillment in one's life. We can only gain brief pleasures through external things. It will never last for long and slowly those things will lose it's initial appeal. Sadly, many people respond to that through looking for more external things to distract them.

When seeking happiness, don't seek for these brief pleasures. Instead of constantly chasing toys and things to be happy, focus on having true lasting happiness that comes from within. Live a lifestyle that cultivates true lasting happiness.

The main difference between happy people and unhappy people is in their mindset and attitude about life. Happy people see things and think differently from unhappy people. Happy people always focus on the positive. They are able to put things into perspective. For example, happy people know that every failure is an opportunity for growth and they know not to take life too seriously. Happy people are grateful to be alive and cherish every moment of their life.

To experience more happiness, you must change your outlook on life. Here are some tips to cultivate and bring out true happiness.

1. Spend time daily to be grateful and remember all that life have given you 2. Regularly read inspirational stories and quotes about happiness 3. Smile and laugh as often as possible 4. Regularly set aside time to do a hobby or activity that you enjoy 5. Help others 6. Listen to music or songs that are uplifting and happy 7. Learn to appreciate the beauty in the world

Often times we fail to give happiness the priority it deserves. We don't commit and give importance to making ourselves happy. No wonder we're always unhappy. Commit to happiness and consistently do the actions in the list above. Happiness like everything else, requires effort too. - 16759

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