How to be Happy in Life?
Life is a gift from God. God has given us a beautiful life, now it depends on us to find ways to be happy in life. In the days of childhood, we can’t imagine how challenging life would be, but as we cross our teenage life, we learn to know the harshness of ups and downs in life. Learning to be happy in life, with or without a partner and whether or not you have money, is one of the best things you can make in your life. Being happy with yourself with all desires, all limitations, and without depending on anyone is important since external situations always change incurable. Try your best to be happy in life. Keep people happier connected to you.
Many people consider the chase of happiness should be the ultimate goal in life, although very few know how to describe it. In general, we could say that happiness is a feeling of personal satisfaction with our lives. As well as the ability to enjoy everything we have whether the material or the spiritual is called happiness.
Types of Happiness:
According to Seligman, an author who has extensively studied the concept of happiness, we can find 3 types of happiness in life:
1. Hedonistic happiness:
It refers to everything that momentarily brings you happiness, such as a pleasant dinner, an afternoon at a sanatorium, and a day at the beach, etc.
For some people, this is the only type of happiness chased, by thinking that achieving it; they will have a satisfied and happier life. However, it is something short-lived, the consequences of which do not usually last over time.
If you want to have more lasting happiness, you must combine this with the following types:
2. Happiness due to your abilities:
What is your greatest achievement in life?
Certainly, you might have experienced a feeling of pleasure and well-being when someone has congratulated you on your achievement. Being competent in a particular field and putting your abilities into practice, gives you a more stable and lasting amount of happiness. For example, having a good command of new digital technologies, having several degrees, being good in business management, or being good at sports, etc.
3. Happiness that comes from giving meaning to your life:
This type is the most complex and a bit harder to achieve. It is about the well-being produced by valuing the sacrifices you make in your life, with the aim of improving that of others.
You can obtain this type of happiness by contributing your help in social works, paying back to your society, being an attentive father/mother, adding values to others’ lives, defending the rights of animals, among others.
What does your happiness depend on?
Research has shown that happiness depends 50% on our genetics; that is, on the tendency we have at birth to be people who view life with optimism or pessimism.
Does this mean that we can’t anything to change our happiness?
Absolutely: In fact, the remaining large percentage 40% depends on yourself, on everything you do to pursue your happiness. You can get the entire 100% by focusing your concentration on the only 40%. Learn to exhaust your emotions and find the ways that give your soul never-ending satisfaction.
Therefore, we have 10% that these researchers attribute to the events that take place around us. Therefore, although many times you think that you are happy or sad about what has happened in your life, circumstances are not the only cause of how you feel.
Practical Tips to be happy in life!
1. Respect your free time by making it precious:
According to Seligman, there are numerous activities that bring you happiness in your daily life. Learn to value everything that makes you feel good, that brings you satisfaction, and do these activities more frequently.
Surely, you can think of many different examples of pleasant activities:
A bike ride to work, enjoy reading a good book, preparing your favorite food, doing sports, running, photography, Pilates, singing, spinning, swimming, etc.
As you can see, there are numerous options that you have in your everyday life for your personal satisfaction.
Take advantage of all the opportunities you have during your free time, since if you spend it sitting in front of the television or playing with your mobile, your satisfaction and happiness will be much less.
2. Make your activities a habit:
If doing activities is important, making them a habit is even a good option. It is not enough that you do physical exercise infrequently. In fact, this will not add to your sense of well-being.
However, doing some type of activity on a routine basis, such as going for a run, going to Pilates, or practicing yoga, will bring you numerous physical and emotional health benefits and satisfaction in life.
Commit yourself to what truly brings you comfort, focusing your attention on the activity you are doing at that moment, and now to fully enjoy it.
Therefore, it is not enough to go for a run, you have to pay attention to your surroundings, enjoy nature, feel how clean air enters your body, imagine how beautiful the world is, sing a sweet song while taking a bath, the pleasant sensation after the shower, etc.
3. Spend more time with your family:
Friends and family are the most essential part of your life and your happiness in life strongly depends on them. Satisfactory social relationships have a great impact on a happy life. If you carry out any of the above-mentioned activities with your friends or family members, your satisfaction and enjoyment will be even greater.
We, humans, are social beings, and we love to enjoy the company of others and it is one of our basic needs. So, it will be better if you spend a little more time enjoying the company of others, especially the people spiritually or emotionally closer to you in your life.
For example, if you are a parent, you could propose to spend more time with your children in the park, read them a bedtime story (instead of watching TV). If you are a student, spend some time with your classmates after class, where you can talk about your concerns, dreams, interests, etc.
4. Accept what you cannot Change:
In life, you will always encounter obstacles, difficulties, and unforeseen events that can negatively affect you and that are beyond your control. Situations and happenings in life do not always remain the same. It would not be incorrect that you can go through sudden shocks which are a part of life and can never be regretted. The death of a loved one or your partner leaving you is an example of things that do not depend on you.
Be true to yourself. The only thing you can do about it is to make a compromise with yourself so that you can move on and make your life as happier as possible, even with the circumstances that surround you.
Face your emotions and learn to manage them in a positive way, such as through writing, relying on the people around you, etc. Someone has nicely said that; never let your emotions overpower your intelligence.
Although this cannot be achieved instantly, you have to give yourself time to gradually recover from it, accepting everything over which are out of control and focusing your concentration on what you can change.
5. Learn to know yourself:
Having greater self-knowledge, keeping in mind your abilities and flaws will help you become a better version of yourself. To achieve this, take time to reflect on your concerns, your fears, your limitations, and your personal goals.
Note down the things you would like to change about yourself and point out those with which you feel satisfied. Don’t feel weak by showing yourself as a sensitive person, but as a person with enough strength to accept yourself for who you are.
6. Spend money on people around you:
The study has shown that sometimes money does bring happiness. This occurs when; you spend some money on people around you instead of spending money on yourself, which is usually used on unnecessary objects.
Thus, when buying a gift for your partner, family member, or friend you will achieve a state of well-being that will increase your apparent level of happiness.
Put this advice into practice by surprising someone closest to you, even if you don’t have a specific reason such as a gift on birthday, anniversary, Christmas, etc., and even if it is a detail that is not very expensive.
7. Respect your sleep routine:
There is no exact number of hours of sleep that is adequate for all people, although in general, about 7-8 hours per night are highly recommended.
Try to keep a regular sleep routine, avoid staying up late at night or sleeping exceptionally, subsequently in both cases, you will be less rested because you will not be able to appreciate the little pleasures of the day-to-day.
To sleep better you must be careful of: have dinner on time; not too late, avoiding heavy meals, and do not have distractions in the room like mobile, television, electronic devices, etc.
8. Set Goals in your Life:
Set Goals in your life as it is very much important if you want to be happier. Sure there are many dreams and visions you have in mind but you never find the time to carry them out.
Don’t wait for a good time to come. Just start today to fight for what you dream and what want to achieve in life.
Having something to fight for will encourage you to get out of bed each day and you will be able to sleep peacefully at night, thinking that you have gotten a little closer to your dreams.
The big goals will take time to achieve but they are the ones that are really worth it and will contribute the most to your feeling of well-being and happiness.
Set clear goals for yourself, such as a successful destination, a career in your business area, learning to be a better person, or to be an unbeatable sportsman, etc. The important thing is that you have to set your own goals based on your personal interests.
If you propose to start a new activity to please a friend or your partner, the activity in question will not bring you anything, so you will end up abandoning it.
If it is a complicated goal, break it down into small attainable steps, so you will have a better understanding of where you are and it will be easier to straight your direction.
For example, if you want to become a software engineer, you should think about choosing a good academy of a software house, then attending classes to obtain a Basic software engineering certificate in a specific programming language, then another intermediate, and so on.
However, setting an unrealistic goal will increase your frustration and exhaustion, you will feel overwhelmed and you will prefer to quit your goal. On the other hand, realistic goals will give you satisfaction and will help you stay happy in life.
So, what other tips do you think are important to be happy?
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