Are you happy?
If so, how do you know?
Happiness is not something that can be measured, and is very hard to define. It is one of those things where you just know it when it happens.
I recently came across this book: The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. I found the idea of spending a year looking for ways to be happy quite intriguing. I haven’t put together my own Happiness Project yet but I have spent the past two months finding ways to inject a more positive outlook on life in general.
If you follow me on Twitter you will notice I start most days with a “I’m here to help” message. The intent is genuine. If I can help you, I will. It feels good to help others. It helps to make me happy.
Is every day unicorns and rainbows for me? Not without medication, no. But I have learned that I am the one that decides if I am happy, no one else can control that but me.
I was thinking about some ways to help others understand what it takes to be happy most of the time. Here are my ten tips for being happy (inspired by CopyBlogger):
- Be happy
- Be happy more often
- Be happy some more
- Be happy even more than that
- Be happy even when you don’t want to be happy
- Be happy when you want to be happy
- Be happy when you have something to be happy about
- Be happy even when you have nothing to be happy about
- Be happy every day
- Keep being happy
Here’s a direct quote from the book:
“To eke out the most happiness from an experience, we must anticipate it, savor it as it unfolds, express happiness, and recall a happy memory.”
You can check out more quotes and the Eight Splendid Truths on Happiness here. Notice the one that says how it makes yourself happy to make others happy? Yeah, we all need more of that.
That’s about as close as a definition as I can find on how to be happy.
Now think about how those ten tips can get you there.
You know what made me happy today? This line right here:
“Is every day unicorns and rainbows for me? Not without medication, no. ”
That was downright funny.
Seriously, though, making other people happy does increase one’s happiness. I can attest to that. And for some reason, that happiness is multiplied by a couple of factors when you can make kids laugh. That kind of happiness is infectious.
Thanks Jeff, glad I could help you today.
My kids always seem to be laughing. I hope they are always so happy in life.
I like the Life is Good slogan. Do what you like. Like what you do. Optimism can take you anywhere.
Michael,
I sign my book this way: “Life is Good, but it’s better with bacon.”
Agree that optimism can take you anywhere.
Stay in the moment as Matt says here. http://www.ted.com/talks/matt_killingsworth_want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment.html
Petur,
That’s wonderful, thanks for sharing the link!