Happiness is...........

"Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have;

it depends solely on what you think."

~Dale Carnegie~

 

 

Happiness is a highly wanted state for most people but it remains to be a lifelong quest for everyone. No one can just claim happiness for one moment, sit back, and watch it linger and stay. It does not discriminate too.

Happiness is often associated with big smiles and boisterous laughter. There is more to happiness than those two. You will discover as you go along the book that happiness is not only defined by happy moments in one’s life. If this were the case, then no one would ever have the right to claim happiness.

There are traits that happy people share, regardless of what personality they have. However, happiness is not limited to one type of personality. An outgoing, friendly person is not happier than a shy, reserved person simply because the former is more expressive of whatever happiness he or she has.

Higher Self-worth

The most visible trait of happy people is an adequate sense of self-worth. They know that they have imperfections but they also recognize their beauty and strengths. Moreover, they do not let their weaknesses rule over their lives. Feelings of insecurity may threaten to harm one’s self-image once in a while but it does not have to destroy the entire state of happiness. Happy people know how to deal with and overcome their insecurities. They recognize their weaknesses but they never dwell in fault-finding. Fault-

finding is very damaging to one’s emotional health and well-being. Rather, happy people see their weaknesses as an opportunity to improve.

Sharing Low Moments

Happy people also have their share of low moments in life. They do not have it easy all the time. What sets them apart from miserable people is their positivity. Positivity is not a blind sense of optimism. To have a blind sense of optimism is to set expectations to high that they do not synchronize with reality anymore. Even in the face of despair, happy people still find the strength to remain positive. Although positivity will not give them definite and instant solutions to their problems, they know that doses of positivity will give them the energy and strength to weather any kind of problem. It is all about the mindset.

Contentment

Happy people know the meaning of contentment and know how to live by it. They know that they cannot have everything they want whenever they want it but it does not mean that it should be a reason to mope around and be miserable. Even if obstacles come their way, happy people know how to acknowledge their blessings and be thankful for them. Contentment is being satisfied with whatever one has. However, it should not be confused with complacency. A person can still be content even in pursuit of an ambition. The important thing is not to take the existing blessings for granted.

Because a happy person is the epitome of contentment, he or she should be able to know how to show appreciation and gratitude to the people around. Happiness is a state worthy of celebration, which should be manifested by appreciation and gratitude. It goes beyond saying "thank you" to the people who make one happy, although expressing gratitude towards other people plays a big role in happiness. It is tied with contentment and positivity. Even if there are bleak moments in life, it should not stop a person from expressing gratitude for the smallest blessings.

Laughter Is The Best Medicine


Laughter is always linked to happy people. Happy people have a sense of humor and know when to have a good laugh, even when they are facing a huge problem. It is not only the comedians that have a wicked sense of humor. One need not laugh only at things that are intentionally funny. Happy people know how to laugh at themselves once in a while. They do not take life too seriously because embarrassing things happen every now and then. Dealing with problems is a lot easier with a little sense of humor.


Pursue Of Passion


Happy people know that there is an active dimension in happiness. It is not merely a concept or a state. They live and exemplify happiness by doing what they love and what puts a smile on their faces. A happy person pursues passions relentlessly. They cultivate their talents and develop their interests. The joy that they get in pursuing their passions is what gives them fuel to live life to the fullest and attain happiness. Happy individuals do not waste time in doing things that bore them and stunt their growth and self-fulfillment. They heed the call of their passions in order to become the best individuals that they can be. They get happiness in pursuing their passions because it enables them to be the best in their field.


Be Assertive


A sign of happiness is assertiveness too. Assertive is not always linked with aggression. When a person is assertive, it does not necessarily mean that he or she will employ intimidation and violence to get the job done. Rather, an assertive person will make sure that his or her thoughts are expressed clearly. A person can be assertive while still being sensitive to other people’s feelings and needs. Assertiveness is important in happiness because some circumstances will push the person to the ground. Assertiveness will let oneself and the whole world know that he or she is not happy with something. Assertiveness is doing something about things that need to be changed.

Spread Happiness

Happiness is infectious. Happy people know how to spread the happiness they feel to the people they interact with, whether through a one-time encounter or regular basis. There are even studies that show that happy people tend to have more stable and strong relationships. Genuinely happy people treat others with kindness, respect, and sincerity – just the way they want to be treated. Happy individuals find it easy to connect with other people because they are able to look past the flaws and imperfections of others. Positivity should be exercised not only in situations concerning the self. Life is a lot easier when you focus on the good traits of other people too. It will be easier for people to be kinder to you if they see that you are willing to focus on their good side. A healthy social interaction with people is undeniably crucial to happiness.


Forgiving


Mistakes are inevitable, even in human relationships. Even happy people are vulnerable to hurt and pain inflicted by their loved ones. Nobody is perfect. Happy people know this but they do not let it ruin their lives. As hard as it may seem, happy people know how to practice the art of forgiveness. When they get hurt, they allow themselves an ample amount of time to heal and lick their own wounds. But after that, they start opening themselves to the possibility of forgiving those that have hurt them. Happy people know that when they are finally ready to forgive, they will set themselves and the people that have hurt them free from anguish and guilt.

As you can see, traits (and not personality types) are listed above. Both shy and outgoing people can have a good sense of humor. Conservative and liberal-minded people can share the same kind of optimism, even if they have opposing views on different issues. Happiness is not exclusive to one personality. It can be achieved by anyone that can exemplify the minimum traits listed above.