Just how happy are you with your life? Are you always wishing for more?
And are you waiting to start living your life to the fullest before you are truly happy?
Many people think and wish that “if only I had so-and-so, then I will be happy, then I can start enjoying my life”.
However, once they achieve that goal, the next desire manifests. And of course there is no end to human desires.
A desire is like a bottomless pit which can never be filled, resulting in our unhappiness, jealousy and maybe even some sleepless nights.
So what is the solution for being happy right now?
Being content with what you have is one of the best ways to achieve happiness in our lives.
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” – Lao Tzu
There are various ways to be content.
Now this does not mean not having goals or not wanting to do your best. It is more about being content with what you already have.
This is the way I see it – goals are for improving yourselves and your life, whereas desires are mostly about wanting more stuff.
Leo Babauta of Zen Habits covered this subject really well when he talked about the incredible power of contentment.
For some people, the grass is always greener on the other side – this type of mentality will keep them from truly enjoying both their grass and life. I know, I myself have been there before.
Here are a few lessons that I have learned along the way to find joy in my life again, which I want to share with you.
1. Choose to be Happy
Some of you may wonder at this statement – yes, you have a choice be happy or sad. It is totally up to you. While it is easier said than done, it is possible.
Sometimes when I have to do something I am not fond of and I cannot seem to get out of, I tell myself I am going to have fun no matter what happens.
And sure enough it happens that I end up having a great time, despite the adverse task.
Try it once, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results.
Also, check out these 17 tips to become happy!
2. Volunteer and Help Others
In my early days of volunteering, I got to meet many wonderful people and children from all walks of life – many of whom were far happier than I was, despite not having had enough to eat for the whole day.
As I became aware of the zest for life in these people, I realized that it was not I who helped them, rather they helped me find my own self, my lost happiness!
Whenever I travel to India, I see happiness on human faces even in the harshest living conditions. I see dreams and hopes and most of all, I see them smiling while working in extreme conditions.
Seeing their smiling faces, my complaints for silly things vanished, and instead, fresh inspiration and a new energy emerged.
3. Feel Gratitude
No matter how bad your condition might be, there are still many things going great for you.
Counting your blessings and feeling gratitude from the heart can do wonders for your perspective!
Why wait until the next thanksgiving holiday to be thankful – instead be thankful, each and every day!
Live with an attitude of gratitude.
Right now, my partner Zenguy is between projects – and instead of being sad about this situation, I can count my blessings for having him more at home to spend time with me and the kids.
I also feel thankful for having simplified our life, where we can survive with our little savings until another job prospect comes along.
Ups and downs are part of life, it is our attitude towards them that makes the difference.
And you can always do the gratitude dance!
I challenge you to look at the video clip below and NOT smile!
From now onwards, instead of focusing on what your life is missing, be grateful for what you DO have and do the Gratitude Dance!
4. Up the Positivity
Even when things are looking bad, I am sure there are still lots of positives in your life.
Look at what you already have and what’s going great for you already.
Many of us call to complain when a product or a service were not the best, but how many of us actually call to compliment someone for a great product and exceptional service? Sadly, we don’t do so very often.
Why not?
This is because most of us tend to focus on the negative – we simply need to learn how to be more positive to live a happier life.
5. Do Something you Enjoy Today
Even if you do not have job, business or blog going your way, you can still do something you can enjoy in smaller chunks.
For example, when I am having a bad day, I read my favourite book yet again or cook something, and that really cheers me up.
Sometimes, just taking a walk outside for 15 minutes will recharge you to tackle life’s issues. Sometimes all one needs is a little nap or to drink a hot chai tea, like I do.
There are many simple ways you can be happier in your daily life.
Check out these 10 simple things that make me happy.
Have goals to improve yourself and your life, and not gather more material possessions.
Be compassionate towards others, be thankful for what you have and enjoy yourself today.
Do not wait another day for your life to start some day, one day.
You are happy today because you are free and alive today!
Now, let me ask you, what makes you happy? Please do share below.
This is a guest post from Preeti Bhatt.
Read more inspiring articles from Preeti also known as Zengirl at Happy Heart and Mind, where she writes about life improvement by focussing on finding a simple harmony between your heart and your mind.
Image courtesy of Mike Baird
The illusion of happiness. All it takes is a choice and change of mind set.
Funny how human being want to be happy instead of being content.
‘If only’ should be banned from speech because it only focuses your thoughts on lack.
Most of our happiness is linked to an emotion which is linked to a possession or something material.
We should be striving for joy which is internal and not related to the sense realm.
Your point of helping someone else is very true as ‘Happiness is something that multiplies with division.’
By the way, the grass is always greener on the other side but at least you don’t have to cut it.
Andre,
Thanks for the comment, Yes, we all have these illusion of happiness, what usually makes us happy are people and experience and not money and things money can buy,
I like your last sentence, that at least we do not have to cut the greener grass on the other side 🙂 Made me chuckle!
Some great points! I think giving gratitude is a great way to become grounded, kind of like hitting the reset button, and getting your mind in a good place. When I give gratitude, which is typically always in the car in the morning on my way to work – I get this amazing boost of energy and become very focused on the day in front of me.
Mike,
Thank you for commenting. I like this idea of yours, starting your day with a gratitude, on your way to work! What a wonderful idea. I am sure it just makes your day that much focused. Thanks for sharing that idea.
Arvind,
I wanted to thank you for hosting my guest post here. It is finally here! I have always loved your blog and learned a lot from here so I feel honor to be a guest writer for today. I like the image you have selected, the kid is so happy with a genuine laugh. Thank you for this opportunity Arvind.
Thanks Preeti for writing this post for my blog and for being a such a loyal reader and commentator over the last year
And thanks too for your patience as we crafted this article – glad you liked the image:-)
Arvind,
I enjoyed writing this post as it is really what I have learned after many trials and errors in my life, how to be content and I am almost there 🙂 Journey is still happening.
The post took some time to show up here, but it sure was worth the wait! Thank you again.
Great post and reminders of what is important in life. When I was out of work, I would still treat myself to flowers each week. They brighten my day.
Spending time outdoors and hiking is another the way I shift gears. It is great for quieting the mind and for creative ideas. I find I can be more in the present moment in nature. It is easy for me to just marvel at the beauty of a tree, listen to the sound of birds or relax in the warmth of the sun.
Wendy,
I think it is a wonderful idea to treat yourself when you down as long as you can afford the flowers. I hope you have gotten a job now and treat yourself to flowers and much more.
Nature, and sunshine are two wonderful ways to cheer ourselves up, thank you for sharing these wonderful suggestions.
Hi, Preeti. Good job. I’m enjoying getting to know you.
I hope you get lots of visitors to your site from this guest post. I did from mine last week, and lots of nice new subscribers like you. That’s one of the things that makes me happy.
Walking and writing are the two things that make me happiest, and I’m glad to be doing more of both recently.
Gip
Gip,
It is nice to see you again here. Walking and writing are two great things to do. I am glad you are doing those that means you are happy right now.
We need reminders like that Preeti else we can carry on running through life without enjoying where we have been. Stephen Leacock put it nicely; “Why are we such fools – such tragic fools? How strange it is, our little procession of life. The child says, ‘when I am a big boy’. But what is that? the big boy says, ‘when I grow up’. And then, grown up, he says, ‘when I get married’. But to be married, what is that after all? The thought changes to, ‘when I retire’. And then when retirement comes, he looks back over the landscape traversed; a cold wind seems to sweep over it; somehow he has missed it all, and it is gone. Life, we learn too late, is in the living, in the tissue of every day and hour”.
Thanks for the reminder.
Grandpa Ken,
I guess you and Stephen Lecock are both very wise. I have been once like that waiting to start a life, such as when I graduate, when I get a job, when I get married…and so on, I was waiting for my life to start living, that start never came until I took control over it and started living.
Wise words, Ken, Thanks for sharing it with us.
Preeti: Great guest post. I was excited when I saw you were the author of this guest post. I thought what you said about setting personal goals for your development was really important. We really do have to set the goal posts not only for what we want to accomplish in life, but also for how we want to develop and grow. I think we always need to be pursuing the continual development and clarity of our understanding about life and who we are. And, that really means we need to have consistent focus and energy devoted to it. Great insights. Thanks for sharing.
Sibyl,
Thank you liking the guest post and commenting here. Personal goals are important with being content with what we have makes us a focused person. It is great to have focus and energy devoted to your goals, but take a break once in while and smell roses too to recharge.
Thanks for detailed analysis comment.
You know – I do all the things you talk about and my life is certainly not sad or bad. But it is INTENSELY lonely (and yes, I participate in groups and classes and all the tings you’re supposed to do to alleviate loneliness – but company is just not the same thing as companionship). Calm – yes. Peaceful – yes. Contented – no. Happy? I’ve been there and never want to go back. The pain and grief that comes when happiness ends is too much; being happy is not worth it.
Lisa,
I am so sorry that you are going through a lonely phase, I have been there too, I was alone in a crowd once. So, I know what you are talking about. Take one day at the time, be good to your self and be kind and compassionate towards others. See my volunteer tip, when I was helping others, I realize how content they were unlike me, and it is them who helped me elevate my sadness. Being content and being happy (like you are not high) are two different things.
Try doing small volunteer work or do random act of kindness, start slow. I think you can do it. I do not have your email or web site, else I would have sent you email as well, you can send me one. Take care.
Hey Preeti, nicely done and thanks for introducing me to that gratitude video! One of the things I do is listen to my favourite pieces of music! Like Guru Josh Infinity or the Jackson 5 Can you feel it! 🙂
Amit,
Thank you for kind words. Yes, Video is great to dance to and cheers us up. However the credit for gratitude video should go to Arvind. I have to check out Guru Josh though. I love Micheal Jackson’s all videos and have tried to do moon walking un-successfully many times. Dance is another great way to feel happy when we dance to nice beat and music.
Preeti –
A lovely guide to the simple things that can make life happier and better – thank you indeed. I am a huge fan of gratitude and positivity – they can transform our mood so quickly. We all have a lot to be thankful for, so better get doing that gratitude dance.
Phil
Phil,
Thank you for liking my little post. Gratitude and positivity surely can elevate the mood. For those of us who are living in Western world have a lot of things that others do not, we have a lot to be thankful for. It is all in perspective.
Great points. I’m an avid volunteer. I agree not only do you get to help people, but you meet some wonderful things in the process. Nothing helps you fill more fulfilled and happy than helping others. When I turned 40 I decided to get rid of the negative influences in my life. Life it to short. I believe in finding the positive in life and laughing off the bad stuff. I think a few wrinkles disappeared in the process. 🙂
Melinda,
Thanks for visiting me here as well. Yes, I agree volunteering has many benefits and I am glad you are feeling and looking young doing it 🙂
I have to believe that happiness is ultimately a choice- choose to be happy and you will be!
We spent 4 months in India working with the leprosy affected. It certainly makes you grateful.
Rachel,
I think you are right, as I wrote in article that being happy is a choice we make for ourselves. It takes some effort on our part but can be done.
How was your experience helping in India? What made you go and help people there? We should all help whenever we can. Good for you.