Choosing Happiness

Goals in life change from time to time. As soon as one goal is achieved, a person usually moves on to the next one. But there is one common goal that binds humanity – happiness. No one can ever dictate what makes a person happy but there are certain guidelines that one can follow to reach personal happiness. These general guidelines are meant to be flexible. They should be tweaked according to one’s lifestyle, goals, and principles. You will find that a happy life is not a privilege. It is something that you work for. Happiness is a both a choice and a responsibility.

Taking Care of the Body



Although happiness does not rest on the physical body, one’s lifestyle is affected by health and (to a certain degree) physical appearance. As they say, you feel good when you look good. Also, you will have more determination and zest for life if your body is in good shape. You need physical energy to work for your happiness. Your physical energy will affect your emotional, spiritual, and mental energy. Your physical health also affects your mood, which is a building block of happiness.

The rules for good health are simple yet difficult to follow for most people – right diet, regular exercise, enough sleep, regulated stress levels, avoidance of vices, etc. It is not just about the maintenance of weight. Nowadays,

taking care of the health seems to be equated with losing weight and keeping the body slender and trim. A person needs to take care of the health to ensure that all the faculties in the body are functioning well enough for daily activities. There have been studies conducted on the clinically depressed, showing how regular exercise significantly improved their mood and disposition. A person is more likely to feel a sense of self-worth with good health.

Rely on a Solid Support Group



It is part of human nature to be a social being. There have been studies showing that mortality rates are doubled for people who spend most of their lives in loneliness. Life’s problems are easier to deal with when you have a supportive set of family and friends so that you have someone you can share experiences with. Even people that constantly keep to themselves seek the company of their family and/or circle of friends. Every human being needs to feel that he or she is connected with someone. Everyone needs to feel like they are a part of something.

To be happy, a person can’t just surround himself or herself with any group of people. The people you are with will have a big impact on your disposition. If you stay with people that are constantly bitter, chances are their bitterness will rub off on you. The same principle applies if you are surrounded by a cheerful and optimistic bunch. Even if you have a mind of your own, you can still imbibe the habits of other people. Keep your distance from negative-minded people and emotional vampires. Seek the support of happy and optimistic people. Let happy people influence your life.

Make an effort to spend time with those you love and nurture existing relationships. There are so many things that you can do, from a phone call to a short visit to a conversation over a few bottles of beer. You should also build new, quality relationships if you can.

Set Goals and Pursue Your Passions



Spontaneity adds zest to life but too much of it will lead a person astray. Having a direction in life is essential to one’s happiness. Man needs to be guided by certainty up to a particular degree. Everyone needs some kind of direction. The sense of accomplishment one experiences when a goal is reached is exhilarating. Human beings thrive in challenges and will always aim for something new and stimulating. Achievements are also a healthy booster for the ego. Any attained goal will make a person happy. It will keep him or her inspired.

You should set aside some time to ponder on your long-term goals in life. You should ensure that you want your goals enough to stick to them even you stumble upon trials along the way. At the same time, you should leave enough room for changes and flexibility. After all, you will never know what will happen along the way. Once you have made your long-term goals, probe deeper into them and extract short-term goals out of them. What can you accomplish in a shorter period of time from a long-term goal? Dividing your goal into manageable pieces will keep your motivated in achieving your goals.

Never set your goals haphazardly. If your heart is not into it, then do not make something your goal. You should live your life fulfilling your dreams and pursuing your passions. If you have a passion for something, embrace it. Pursue it relentlessly but smartly. If you love it enough, you will set aside time for a carefully-crafted plan. It is only by living out your passions will you ever get the endless energy needed to be happy.

Always have a Reality Check



"Reality check" may already have a negative connotation because it is associated with the harsh truth. However, no one can be happy in this world if the happiness that one perceives only exists in a world that does not even exist. It is perfectly fine to ask work for something that you do not have but do not detach yourself from this world completely. In creating a

goal or pursuing a path, you should always remind yourself to make your moves attainable. Disappointment comes from unmet expectations.

No one should settle for anything less. However, no one will ever get anywhere if they reach too high for the sky but do not keep their feet firmly planted on the ground.

Random Acts of Kindness



A little kindness never hurt anyone. As a matter of fact, a little kindness will take you a long way when it comes to happiness. It was mentioned earlier that human beings cannot live by their lonesome forever. In relation to that, kindness in human relations is essential to attaining happiness. You should not be blindly kind to anyone by giving away your trust with abandon. Not everyone in this world is to be trusted right away. However, give kindness that is due to each person that you encounter. Did your husband have a long day at work? Offer to take his turn with the chores. Is your mother having a difficult time coping with menopause? Talk to her calmly, even if she snaps at you for no reason at all. Have you noticed that your colleague has been spending extra hours in the office? Offer to help him or her in any way you can. Even acts as simple as opening doors or letting the old lady have your seat in the train will help in making you happy. When you make people smile, you make yourself smile too.

Stay Positive



You have heard this many times but you should know by now that this is easier said than done. Nonetheless, it should not stop you from staying positive. Happy people do not wait for optimism to come into their lives because create opportunities of optimism for themselves. No matter how many unfortunate events plague them, they still find a way to let optimism rule the situation. People who stay positive know how to look for opportunities in trying times. It is not easy to become an optimistic person when you hit the ground really hard. It takes courage to find opportunities

to grow in times of trial but people that are able to do so learn new lessons and emerge as stronger individuals.

Being optimistic does not mean that you should turn a blind eye on reality. Optimistic people still keep their feet firmly planted on the ground. They know that bad things can turn up unexpectedly but nonetheless, they still believe that they can do something about it. Genuinely happy people know that happiness is not determined by the events that happen in his life. Rather, it depends on how they react to it. When negative thoughts start rushing through your head, replace them with more positive and pro-active thoughts.

Avoid Comparison With Others



Your happiness is in danger the moment you start comparing yourself to other people. Comparing yourself to other people will spark envy and jealousy, two of the most prominent causes of unhappiness. Your happiness is your own responsibility and other people’s happiness is theirs. Everyone has different experiences so there is really no point of comparing. You can only relate your experiences with others and perhaps, learn from them. But social comparison will lead you nowhere. When you compare yourself to others, you ignore all the progress that you have made with yourself. Comparing yourself with other people does not make you a happier person. It will only generate bitterness. Everyone deserves to be happy, including you. The only person you should compare yourself with is your older version. Strive to become a better person every day. As for other people, be happy for them. Do not compare yourself to them. If you see admirable traits and achievements in a person, let them serve as your inspiration.

Never Keep Grudges



Hurt and pain are a natural part of human existence. You cannot control the bad things that are happening around you. You can only do so much to avoid getting hurt but there will be no assurance that you will be immune to it. When you get hurt, you should give yourself time to lick your wounds

and comfort yourself. However, you should not let the hurt linger longer than it should. You may have been hurt by a family member, friend, or someone else you know. It comes to a certain point when you should stop hurting for your own benefit. You will put yourself in danger when you stay angry, bitter, and hurt for too long. Let go of your grudges to save on emotional space. Save that emotional space for happiness.

Count Your Blessings and Show Gratitude



Humans always seek more than what they have. They love the feeling of accomplishing something, obtaining new things, and enjoying more blessings. In the quest for such, they tend to take things for granted and forget that they already have existing blessings. They get so caught up with their huge ambitions that they forget their small accomplishments. The big things can bring in great joys but the little things also make a big difference in your life. Savor the little accomplishments and show gratitude for the blessings that you encounter on a daily basis. A lot of happiness can be found in the little blessings too. Take your time to enjoy them.

Keep a Wicked Sense of Humor and Learn How to Relax



Life without laughter is an unimaginable life. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest but it should not be taken too seriously. You can never control certain events so you need to learn to laugh, even when something embarrassing or humiliating happens.

There are scientific studies that prove that laughter significantly benefits the health. It brings down blood pressure and stress hormones. It also boosts the immune system and triggers the release of endorphins, otherwise known as the "happy hormones". Laughter gives the person an improved sense of well-being because by learning how to laugh in problematic times, the person learns how to view the problem in a new and lighter perspective. When you laugh at a problem, you are reassuring

yourself that you can handle it. Laughter reinforces optimism and positive thoughts within you.

People ought to learn how to relax nowadays. The world is getting busier by the minute and relaxation is now becoming a luxury. There should be a time for everything, including relaxation. Your senses have to be recharged once in a while. Besides, stressed people find it really hard to be unhappy.

The following listed above are just guidelines. It is highly encouraged that you follow them but you should modify them according to your lifestyle as well.