As I travel along my life-long journey of discovery and positive growth, the following article summarizes much of what I have learned so far. After many ups and downs in life, with the help of countless teachers and mentors, I now live most often in a state of contentment and happiness.
Even though I still have a lot to learn, I wanted to share what I've found most helpful so far. Having a positive mental attitude is truly within the power of each individual. To attain happiness, one must, therefore, make the decision to do so. You can do that by following these helpful tips.
1. Having self-worth
If you do not have self-worth, happiness will always elude you. Self-worth can be measured along a continuum, of course. There is no such thing as having it or not having it. You can have varying degrees, and those degrees can change depending on the circumstances of your life.
In general, the happiest people have a healthy sense of self-worth without an inflated sense of importance. Between confidence and arrogance, there is a fine line to be walked.
While recognizing that we are all cogs in a very large wheel, confidence implies a certain sense of surety. Everyone is equal in importance. A person with a high sense of self-worth knows what their life's purpose is.
With a clear mission in mind, they go about trying to accomplish it. In addition, they recognize the value of everyone else with whom they share space.
People who are arrogant recognize their own worth, but then they look down on those they deem unworthy. On the other end of the continuum, there are those who acknowledge the importance of others but do not believe they deserve to live.
A healthy balance of self-worth is the key.
2. Thankfulness
Gratitude is the second key to happiness. We are prone to enumerating things that are not the way we wish they were. We are programmed to notice when things are not right, and not always appreciate things as they should be.
As a result, maintaining an attitude of gratitude can be a challenge, but one that we should strive for nonetheless. According to Universal Law, we attract what we think about the most. Gratitude attracts more blessings in our lives.
Someone I know lives his life according to the belief that no good deed goes unpunished. I know another person who always says I have the worst luck. I never have any good luck. What do you know? The right thing to do!
They receive exactly what they expect from the Universe. People have had similar bad luck in the past but have persevered or learned from it. In return, they find more happiness and contentment.
Another aspect of gratitude is to be thankful for what you have. There is a line in the song that reads, "It's not about having what you want; it's about wanting what you have!".
If you are grateful along the way, there is nothing wrong with wanting to do better than you are. Even when things are bad, there is always something positive to take away from them. There is perfect balance and order in life. When we are of this mind, anything with a lot of pain can also have a lot of positive aspects to it.
3. Framing your life positively
Positive life framing is the third key to happiness. Any piece of information can be viewed positively, negatively, or neutrally. The best way to deal with information in life is to view it neutrally. It allows us to stop resisting what is actually happening at any given time and accept everything as it is. It is a difficult one for many of us.
Finding a way to reframe life's negative events in a positive manner is an incremental step that is helpful. It is possible to find something positive in life's tragedies.
In retrospect, we can usually see the benefits. The real benefit comes when we are able to see the benefit as the tragedy unfolds, or at least remain open to the possibility that there is a benefit, even if we cannot see it at the moment.
The same as there cannot be a neutron without a proton in physics, there cannot be a negative event without a corresponding positive one in life.
4. Locus of Control Internal
Possessing an internal locus of control is the fourth key to happiness. With an internal locus of control, people believe that they are responsible for their own behavior and results based on their own decisions and efforts.
A locus of control external to the individual contrasts with this. They believe that their behavior is determined by external factors, such as other people, fate, luck, or circumstances beyond their control.
A positive attitude is generated by internal control. A sense of helplessness results from an external locus of control. Despite the fact that people with an internal locus of control still encounter situations that are beyond their control, they will still attempt to take some steps to improve the situation.
A bad thing did not happen to them, so they don't waste time complaining about it. To turn things around, they look for opportunities for decisive action.
An individual is able to take charge of their own destiny in this way. In order to achieve greater life satisfaction, they may have to reject the role of the victim.
5. Learning is a lifelong process
To be happy, one must adopt the attitude of lifelong learning. Each day, you should strive to learn something new. When you meet new people or situations, try to extract wisdom from them. In particular, to uncover the lesson of a mistake. Every experience can teach us something.
There is a time when we are in trouble when we think we know everything. It is when we stop learning from the people and events we encounter that we stop learning. If we stop looking for the lessons, we begin to blame things outside of ourselves for the pain we experience rather than seeking to learn whatever we need to know for our life's journey.
6. Love
Happiness is a function of love. This does not refer to loving someone who is close to you. In other words, I'm talking about having love inside of you that is just bursting out of you.
Love is a concept we all strive for, unfortunately, most of us are looking to receive it rather than give it. No matter if it's your life partner, your mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, foster parent, friend, or puppy, you are truly blessed to have the unconditional love of someone!
Unconditional love is rare and should be cherished. However, ask yourself, how many times have you shown unconditional love? Have you ever loved another person unconditionally?
Happiness comes from this kind of love. It doesn't matter if that special someone doesn't love you back, what matters is what's in your heart. Do you love as much as you feel you are loved in return?
There's nothing unconditional about that! In order to attract love into your life, you must be loving. Love without expectation of return leads to ultimate happiness. Give it a try.
7. Contribution
Contribution is the last key to happiness. Life purpose is a combination of knowing and following one's life purpose.
It is amazing how much good is done for mankind when people understand their purpose in life and then pursue that purpose. In order to be happy, you need meaningful work and to leave a legacy.
We touch lives when we do the work we were meant to do. No matter what one's purpose is - whether it is to clean public restrooms or to find a cure for AIDS - following your divine purpose will bring about a strong sense of fulfillment that can not be experienced any other way. Happiness depends on contribution.
It is not easy to implement these seven keys to happiness in your life. It can be helpful to receive personal coaching if you are trying to change some old, harmful habits into more productive, happiness-inducing ones. Participating in some kind of coaching program is at the top of the list of what successful people do to accelerate their path to success.
A coach helps you clarify your vision and goals, supports you through your fears, keeps you focused, confronts your unconscious behaviors and old patterns, expects you to do your best, helps you live by your values, and shows you how to earn more while working less. What's stopping you? Try it out!
