Have you ever noticed how much more rewarding life becomes when you go back to basics? Head out to the beach, go camping, or just take a walk, and you’ll be rejuvenated and refreshed. When we turn on the TV, we are told that happiness is smart phones, fast cars, and sexy women. Not that those things aren’t fantastic, but they aren’t exactly a secret either. These things also only bring happiness for a short while before you need to “top up” and indulge again.
If you are looking for a way to inject a little more joy in your life on the long-term, and let’s face it, aren’t we all, we have exciting tips for you! Keep reading to discover how to unlock The Secret to True Happiness in your daily life.
Your State of Mind
“Happiness, true happiness, is an inner quality. It is a state of mind. If your mind is at peace, you are happy. If your mind is at peace, but you have nothing else, you can behappy. If you have everything the world can give – pleasure, possessions, power – but lack peace of mind, you can never be happy.”
The first step in unlocking true happiness is to accept, and not resist, the fact that happiness is a state of mind, not a state of possession as we are so often led to believe. Many people think that to become happier, they must change their surroundings, and they will be able to be happier, when in fact, you must be happier to create change, or appreciate them. This is why many people go through cycles of positive and rewarding patterns, then become frustrated by how shortlived their good intentions appear.
For example, if you are in a bad relationship, and have low self-esteem, you will not be happier or think more of yourself if you leave that person. You must find that change within you regardless of your relationship status. The same thing happens when people try to lose weight and go to their fridge. It doesn’t matter how many salads you buy or how many good intentions you have; if you do not address your lifestyle choices and why you overeat you will never be able to shed the weight, or keep it off.
Your State of Being
The next step in the secret to happiness is to lower your expectations. No one will tell you this in a consumer driven world, but the truth is when we expect less, we are happier. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t shoot for the moon, but as the great Bruce Lee says, look beyond the finger (there’s a whole galaxy of stars out there). If you only focus on your goals, you’ll miss out on simple yet life changing opportunities that happen to you every day. Happiness is all around, but rarely do we notice or welcome it into our lives.
The Secret to True Happiness is to actively pursue gratitude every day. Look for ways to show your appreciation. Be that person who does a good deed. Buy a coffee for a homeless man on a cold morning. Help a lady cross the street. Give up your seat. Doing these small but meaningful deeds each day will create what the Dali Lama calls a cultivation of happiness. Rather than relying on something or someone else to make you happy, you train your brain to make you happy, and you become your beacon.
Don’t forget, you can check out other excellent tips suggested by our friends at Men’s Health.
