We search for miracle pills, clothes, cars, jewelry, or even drugs to bring us the happiness we seek. Sure the new flashy car or pretty dress is a quick fix. It’s also a temporary fix. Soon enough we’re on the search for the next solution.

The truth is that happiness is inside of us! We’ve suppressed it to the point of forgetting it even existed. Think back to when you were a child and how the simplest of things made you happy. Perhaps all it took was a scoop of your favorite ice cream on top of a sugar cone to brighten up your day.

If you don’t remember many instances from your childhood, watch children at play. They roll around the dirt laughing and having a grand old time! Sure they fall and scrape their knees and even cry a little, but they get back up and go at it again. Children don’t even think about how to be happy. They just are happy. Unfortunately, many adults have forgotten how to be happy.

Rolling around in the dirt and eating ice cream may not be your idea of being happy. Well, maybe eating ice cream is! No matter where you are in your life, you too can learn again how to be happy.

• Search within. Finding happiness by collecting things will only go so far. Eventually you’ll search for something else to replace the first thing once that object no longer satisfies you. You’ll continue on that cycle.

  Depending on people for your happiness will give you a false sense of true happiness. If you’re solely finding happiness through your boyfriend or girlfriend, you’ll feel crushed when the relationship ends. Break-ups are always hard, but if you remember that happiness is found within you you’ll be able to move on from the break-up easier and continue to feel happy. This is true for any relationship or friendship you have with another person.

• Be detached. Remember that everything in life is in constant motion and impermanent. Sadness comes when we lose something we’ve become attached to. Adapt to change and accept the things that come into your life as well as the things that leave your life.
• Be appreciative. Be happy for the great qualities you have that make you the magnificent being you are! Be grateful for food, the sunset, people, and nature, but don’t become attached! (Read above) Appreciate the things that make you wonderful and appreciate the things in others that make them special. That brings us to our next point.
• Don’t compare yourself. You possess certain qualities that make you unique. Everyone has something special to contribute to society. Chances are that you’ll come across someone who is stronger, smarter, or more talented than you. The same holds true for somebody else! You are stronger, smarter, and more talented than another person! That doesn’t make one person better or worse than another.

  Comparing yourself to someone you think is better than you is self-sabotaging. You’ll become disappointed in yourself and jealous of the other person. Both of which are very unhealthy.
  
  Comparing yourself to someone who you think you’re better than is a result of the ego talking. Thinking negatively of another person serves no purpose but to momentarily make you feel better about yourself. That is until that person achieves whatever it is that you thought was making you better than him or her. Instead compare yourself to yourself. Focus on building confidence and let everyone else focus on themselves.

• Experience, learn, then move on! Your outlook on life directly correlates to your happiness. Take your life situations as learning experiences then move on to the next experience. Don’t dwell on something that didn’t go as planned. This takes self discipline, but it’s very doable.
• Do things you enjoy. Simple enough! Being happy is easy when you’re doing things that make you smile. It could be anything from knitting, gardening, dancing, reading, or watching a movie. Start a new project or continue one that you’ve been putting off. Click here for fun ideas to enjoy life!
• Remind yourself to be happy. Being happy is a state of mind. Take yourself back to a moment when you were filled with happiness and focus on that emotion until you feel it in the present. Decide to let go of the anger, resentment, and sadness. Happiness will remain.

Keep a list of these ideas to remind yourself how to be happy. Sooner or later you’ll have others approaching you for the key to finding happiness!

Watch this video with an Ex-Buddhist monk on finding happiness

Guy Finley

Inspiring Women

Reiki Therapy

Return from How to Be Happy to Spiritual and Alternative Healing