Being a happy person is not always easy- in fact, sometimes it can feel like a full-time job. To most of us the journey to find satisfaction is one we are all on, and sometimes a few key ingredients make the difference between “OKAY” and “AWESOME.” Here are some of things to help you become a happy person;
The ability to be okay with, not always being okay,
Happy people are not the ones who are happy all the time, they are the ones who can process through all of their emotions and experiences gracefully, with the knowing that everything is impermanent, everything turns out okay in the end, and feeling negative serves as a signal to you that is just as important, maybe even more so- than feeling positive about something does.
Humility,
Being okay with your humanness, being able to say you were wrong, to ask for help, to get medication, to objectively evaluate how your actions factor into an equation. This is the root of being able to change yourself. People are usually blocked from humility out of fear and shame of losing that sense of control that comes with portraying perfection, but it is a backwards logic that causes infinitely more problems in the end.
A few close friends from different parts of your life who fulfill different aspects of your personality,
Aside from it being generally unsustainable to have too many friendships, having a few intimate relationships with people who you are completely, unabashedly yourself with is really, really important. These are the people who you can be comfortable around, actually enjoy your life with, who will tell you like it is and won’t placate you into remaining stuck in your old habits.
The ability to realize that everything you experience is a reflection of who you are.
The second you realize that everything you feel and experience is a reflection of who you are and a manifestation of what you are, you become your own locus of control. You realize that you are in control of your experiences, and that you can choose happiness through matter of course.
A health-wellness-mind-body-spirit routine,
You are a being within a being, and for the time being, you have to keep it functioning. This isn’t about devoting your entire life to unrealistic and unaffordable health regimens. This is about drinking water. Finding foods that are good for you that you enjoy, taking a walk with someone you love. Meditating for calmness, reading for clarity, the ability to listen to your body and keep it healthy. It is hard to enjoy much else until this is done.
Gratitude,
People think that they can only be grateful for the things they want, but gratitude is something you cultivate. It is realizing that every experience serves you in some way, and the simple ability to know where your next meal is coming from, to have access to the Internet to be able to read this to be literate, are not things everybody is guaranteed in life.
Simplicity,
Being able to devote your mind, attention and time to just the few things that matter, keeps you grounded and satisfied. Clearing your space of the things you do not need, the people who do not serve you and the thoughts that weigh on you lets you live a lighter, fuller, happier life. Most things are meant to be simple; we just complicate them in our minds.
Purpose,
This is the most important fundamental of happiness: a sense of greater purpose. Whether that is to be the best athlete, to become a person who change lives, to serve whatever God you believe in… a sense of purpose gives meaning to the sometimes frustrating ins-and-outs of everyday life.
A few rough and tumble experiences,
The best people the most loving and caring and honest and down-to-Earth — are the ones that have seen some shit in their day. Happy people know suffering more than anybody else. That’s how they see how beautiful their lives are.