Happiness
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We are as happy as we make up our minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln / lawyer, politician, president of the United States / 1809–1865
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Many think that they will be happy once they achieve certain goals or acquire certain things in life, but that bases happiness on conditions that may not come about, meaning those with that mindset may spend a great deal of time being unhappy. Even if such conditions are met, people may experience brief periods of joy, but then their conditional approach to happiness will leave them wanting more and lead to feelings of emptiness or unhappiness once again. Conditional happiness is short lived and unsustainable. How do you attain true happiness and hold on to it throughout life? Simply put, you must choose to be happy without any strings attached. You can facilitate happiness through the practice of humor, optimism, acceptance, detachment, kindness, and gratitude. For example, find reasons to smile more often, and see the humor in life. Another powerful tool that can enhance your level of happiness is meditation, which can help by allowing you to clear your mind, relieve stress, and correct your focus. In addition, it’s important to exercise regularly because physical activity releases endorphins in the brain that make you feel better. If you find that you’re down for some reason, then transition into a physical activity as quickly as possible, even if it’s as simple as taking a short walk or doing some stretching. Activity stokes your energy, builds endurance, and improves your self-confidence, all of which enhance your state of mind.
The Dalai Lama once said, “Happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors.” No matter what state you’re in or what’s going on around you, the ability to be happy primarily stems from a proper mind-set. Keeping life in perspective, maintaining balance, and seeing things in a positive light are all key elements in this regard. Happiness is also often considered the antithesis of suffering, and suffering stems from wanting things to be other than they are. If we learn to consistently accept what is and seek satisfaction from what exists in our lives currently, then happiness will naturally arise. Remember that each of us interprets things differently, and those interpretations form perspective. It’s your perspective that guides your thoughts, moods, and actions from moment to moment, and it’s that same perspective that creates your reality. When you realize that you have the ability to manipulate your interpretations and you strive to do just that, you can then create a more positive reality that will lead to inner peace and happiness.
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