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Happiness seems to be the ultimate, yet most elusive of goals. We do things and meet people to be happy, to retain the happiness. Happiness means different to each and every individual, to some it's how one lives, to some it is keeping good relations with friends, family or colleagues, to some it is related to being a reputed person, to some it is possessing the comforts and luxuries of life, to some it is only after certain goals are met, to some it is only at certain age groups, to some it is in walking with the time and the world, to some it is in their dear ones, to some it in the old and sweet memories, to some it is doing something exciting and being happening, to some it is in getting desired educational qualifications and dream jobs, to some it is in serving and helping others, to some it is in exploring, travelling and discovering places or things, and many other different viewpoints, all having some significant meaning and influence in our life. All such positive viewpoints help in some way to keep a person happy. Let us see and learn how to be happy and how to live a happier life:
Do not look after keeping busy, busyness is not equal to happiness. Keeping yourself occupied is great, but do not let the busy schedule overpower your life. Enjoy the time gap while going to take the next taxi to office, while shopping the grocery store for buying daily use products, while going to morning or evening walk without thinking of the work pending.
Be what you are. Pretending yourself to be someone else, keeping artificial behaviours to impress someone, trying to make all happy around us in reality makes yourself burdened and consumes the time and effort which would have otherwise been utilized in being self. Do not feel inferior of anything, if someone doesn't like what you are or who you are, then it's good to keep at a distance from such persons. This is because such persons do not like you, they their own perception of yours in their mind.
Try to live in the present. Thinking of the past and keeping worried about the future, all these make the time pass by without any happy results. Memories are usually unexplained, can not not told to the extent of realizing their value, can not be forgotten easily and affects the life and the decisions. Keeping or remembering good memories is good, but avoid the memories overwhelm yourself by comparing them to the present situations or times.
If this interests you, try to learn things, how simple or less useful they might appear. Enjoy learning them without setting timelines or thinking about their usefulness in the longer run, these might be as simple as gardening, painting or anything that is in harmony with your interests.
Forgive. Try not to keep any hard impressions of any thing, situations or persons for long. Try to practice forgiveness, if this does not makes you happy, it will at least definitely lighten your burden.
Appreciate what you have. When realizing that there can always be gratefulness for what you do have, you will be one step closer to peace.
Do not try to be a performer of all things and do not take the ownership of everything. Do your work and duties and leave the rest to the Almighty, it is not that if we stop worrying about things or situations, the sun will not rise the next day.
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. {1 Corinthians 3:6, 7}
Do not try to make everyone happy intentionally. In an attempt to do so, we will find ourselves burdened with the expectations of others and in turn might earn their disrespect. If our unintentional efforts bring smile to someone's face then it is good and appreciable.
Be a doer of the word. Follow and keep the commandments and the holy law of the scriptures.
But he that keepeth the law, happy is he. {Proverbs 29:18}
Happiness is not for sale. Money can certainly buy you things, luxuries or comforts of life, but it can not make you feel happy. The happiness of buying or possessing anything is of short duration. Try to enjoy the experience of buying than the cost of buying, even if it is a simple and normal to appear purchasing.
Be patient. Life is always consisting of tough times in frequent manner, if any thing bad happens or if anything goes wrong or does not go as expected, then take your own time, observe patience and think of anything good happened in the recent times or even in the past. Try to find something good, that despite the unexpected results, how good things have worked out.
In your patience possess ye your souls. {Luke 21:19}
Trust the Almighty irrespective of the circumstances and situations of life.
And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. {Proverbs 16:20}
Keep a control of your emotions and expectations. Keeping high expectations bring disappointments when not fulfilled, and appear normal when fulfilled. If you get what you expect, you will not be grateful for getting it. Do not let your emotions and feelings drive you or your decisions, rather, with a sound and relaxed mind, let your noble thoughts control your emotions and decisions.
It is good sometimes to be as simple as a child when anger, anxiety start to build up. Be like a child and enjoy the rainbow, the flower, the river, the mountains, the sunny day, the rainy day and observe the quietness and calmness.
Be kind and helpful. Try not to be self-centered all the time, try to look at and help others. Being a helping hand, to be of any good purpose, providing money to charity or for a good cause bring about a sense of contentment and happiness. The amount need not be high in value, it should be as one can afford, since it is not the price of charity but the act of charity that matters. Remember not to keep the donation provided or help offered in the mind, as it replaces the happiness and contentment. Also provide charity in a usual or normal way and not to think of it much intentionally, if we would have not done charity, someone else might have.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. {Acts 20:35}
If you can not change the things, change the way you look at the things. In other words, after doing and trying our level best as commanded by the scriptures, if we do not notice any positive change, then change the way to look at those things, considering that it is the will of the Almighty. Having a positive outlook, keeping our trust in Him, significantly changes our life for the better, although the events and things might remain the same.
One of the toughest conflict is our perception towards life and happiness. We have made our own set of pre defined patterns of how things should be, what should happen next, what should be the behaviour and attitude of my friends, colleagues or family members, how should my education be, how the work should be assigned, what should happen next in life. We are pre-occupied with the ideas and notions about life and happiness, all these do not add to happiness. We should try not to indulge in, what should be and what should not be. Try to accept how things and people are, do not try to change things or people to your own likeness, however, put your good efforts as is acceptable to do any better and try not to offend anyone.
Be thankful. Life is a gift of the Almighty, He has created us and provided all those things we need to live. We often keep looking at the things we did not achieve, while ignoring other little but important things in life. We keep high desires to be fulfilled to feel happy. Realize the little things in life, the food we consume, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the home we are living in, that the Almighty keeps the life supporting systems of our body running even when we are sleeping, the many countless blessings He has bestowed upon us, be thankful as and when any such blessing is brought to notice. If you feel that what is so different in these small things, it is the same to every person, why to be thankful, then consider your life if He takes any of these small things back. Every seemingly little or small blessing is important whether we realize it or not.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. {1 Thessalonians 5:18}
When you are stuck in traffic on the way to work, you can complain about it or you can be grateful that you have a vehicle. If it's sunny in that traffic jam, be grateful for the beautiful day. If it's raining, be grateful that you got a chance to enjoy and appreciate the raindrops. If you do not feel the gratitude, no problem, try to avoid the negative thoughts make place. Whenever you feel like the negative thoughts or emotions are piling up, shift focus away to anything good, try to ignore the bad experiences or feelings and try to recall any good experience or instance.
Try to spend some time away of city life. If possible, try to go to some natural sight mountains, lakes, sea, green grassy areas. Observe the silence and peace of such places, keeping your gadgets switched off for some time. If time and circumstances allow, close your eyes and practice some meditation or prayer in your own pace and time.
And as directed in the below verse, try to think on any and all positive or good thoughts.
Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {Philippians 4:8}
If all the above listed were more or less known to you, try to apply them to your life!
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. {John 13:17}
If all the above listed, at some point in time appear to be saturated and meaningless, remember Yahushua.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. {Psalms 33:21}
It is a common perception that life will always be better in the future: when we have a larger home, a nicer car, a corner office; when we are married, have children, or get divorced; once we finish a difficult task at work, or change jobs altogether. Making fruitful decisions, what we think is best as the next move, might be, to some extent bring about some positive changes. Happiness does not depend much on the decisions we take nor does happiness correlate with age. In spite of searching happiness, if we adapt ourselves to the changes, situations of life with a positive and normal approach, we will observe a state of happiness and bliss. Keeping happy at any age of life is depending on our own thought process, lifestyle and viewpoints. Our trust and faith in the Almighty and His word will help us attain the happiness, bliss and contentment.
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