The Secret Key To Making Happiness A Thing For Yourself
Does happiness seem like an elusive concept? We all want it and we all can have it. I'm sharing with you the secret key to making happiness a "thing" for you!
In my 20's I spent the whole decade running from insecurities and chasing "happiness" through success in my career and empty happiness in material things. This changed during a humbling trip to Southeast Asia in 2013 and reconfirmed itself during our 18-months of continuous digital nomad travel in 2014/2015.
I know what you're thinking, travel and epiphanies... So cliché. I know. But it's true. (You can read more about that here and here.)
At 31, I'm learning not to take myself too seriously. But most importantly, in my 20's, I've learned that being happy is just as important as being healthy. And happiness is not about having more money or better stuff. It’s not about more friends or a nicer house. There's a difference between empty happiness and real happiness.
Empty happiness is all the things that we think will that bring us happiness. It's those superficial and materialistic things. Real, genuine happiness are the things that bring us joy. They are the unconditional love from family and friendships, the feeling of adopting a pet from a shelter or helping others. It's that warm fuzy feeling we feel inside.
Shift Your Attitude and Perspective
Each one of us is in the pursuit of happiness. We aren’t on Earth just to exist. We want a full life. We want to make the most of our days. Yet for many of us, happiness is a mercurial and elusive concept. Maybe a shift in attitude and perspective is the answer?
Life can unfair, which means the odds will sometimes be in your favor and sometimes they won't. Instead of having a pity party, think about all the good in your life.
Maybe your life isn't exactly what you had envisioned for yourself. And, that's okay.
We all have images in our minds of what the future holds and what we want. Maybe you wanted children that play on a soccer team or a husband with a full head of hair or a dope career paying six figures. Maybe it was a big house or a flashy car.
Life often shifts and welcomes things we didn’t expect, but instead of focusing on what you thought, focus on how it brought in. You may have a bald husband, but he may also treat you better than any man ever has. Your kids may be "computer nerds" instead of athletes, but already they are showing signs of academic greatness. Your job pays just O.K., but your excelling and love what you do and enjoy where you work. The truth is that most people simply "don't know" what they truly want, which is why you should enjoy what you have because you chose it.
Happiness Starts With Gratitude
If you can't pull yourself out of a funk, remember that happiness starts with gratitude.
Gratitude is the “quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.” The next time you're throwing yourself a pity party, flip the script and think of everything you're grateful for. This might be your family, your friends, your health, etc. Redirect your focus, and you’ll see that while your life isn't perfect, it's not bad either.
We Are In Control of Our Own Happiness
Know that; we are all in control of our lives and our own happiness. Only YOU can change that. If you can't pull yourself out of a funk, remember that happiness starts with gratitude.
Gratitude is the “quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.” The next time you're throwing yourself a pity party, flip the script and think of everything you're grateful for. This might be your family, your friends, your health, etc. Redirect your focus, and you’ll see that while your life isn't perfect, it's not bad either.
No matter how much money and success you earn in your life, you always stand the chance of feeling like something is missing. Most of us tend to concentrate so hard on what is missing that we make ourselves unhappy. That's why you need to realize the difference between empty happiness and real happiness. Once you find the latter, you'll feel like your life is complete.
Ask yourself, what are you grateful for?
