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Happiness is a true measure of personal success. Making other people happy is the utmost expression of success. It’s almost impossible to make others happy if you don’t feel the same. What is the story behind people’s happiness? Why are some people happier than others? A very big question.
Time and again we unconsciously hold on to a few obsessive habits that creates stress and unhappiness. Even when we are aware that something is not right, we fail to make amends and change for the better. Rather we cling to what’s not working, simply because it’s what we’re habituated to.
A habit is a regularly repeated action or pattern of behavior, one that is repeated so often that it becomes typical of a person. It’s time to break loose from the circle that has held you down all these years, disassociate from those habits that no longer serve your well-being and cling to the positive changes you need to be happy.
Start each day with expectations
One fact about life is that no matter how hard you try, it usually lives up to your expectations. Therefore, when you wake up in the morning; make a point of channeling your first thought towards “something wonderful.” A positive thought from the break of day goes a long way.
Prioritize (Take time to plan)
The most common source of stress is the acuity that you’ve got too much work to do. Most times the mind can blow things out of proportion, making some things look impossible. Create a scale of preference, and break activities into fragments. Rather than procrastinating about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will most positively affect the day and lift your mood.
Stop living in the past
Keeping your thoughts stuck in the past is detrimental to your contentment. Thinking about what happened in the past, at the complete expense of your today is counterproductive. Harboring resentment, anger or other negative feelings from your past, only keeps you there. Dust your feet and move on, the present is a new chapter. Be positive in all you do.
Have an open mind
To have an unbiased mind will cause you no harm. As long as you can’t read the minds of people, you can’t really say what lies beneath. Imputing evil motives to other people’s strange behaviour adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leave you open to reconciliation. When you judge someone else, you suffer. It is an outward display of inward inferiority and anger. An open and free mind is key to inner peace.
Stop unhealthy comparison
It is healthy to notice what others are doing from time to time. After all, it keeps us on track of what we crave to achieve in life. But comparing oneself to everyone else neck to neck in all they do and possess is extreme. When this happens, you lose your identity and gradually become a shadow of yourself. Be yourself, everyone else is taken. Remember you are unique.
Stop worrying
Worry is inimical to your happiness. Worry steals all your joy and happiness, creating an illusion of negative things that are not. People worry for all sorts of reasons: to escape reality, fear of the unknown, resistance to change, lack of confidence, etc. Whatever brings joy and happiness to your life should start now, stop worrying. Be the master of your thoughts not the reverse.
End each day with thanks (Gratitude)
Every day is a gift not a given right. Seeing the end of the day should fill you with thanks, praise and gratitude. Just before you go to bed at night, write down at least one beautiful thing that happened to you. Whatever the deed was, be grateful for that day, history was made and it will never be the same again.
