The Secret Of Happiness

“Happiness is not something readymade.
It comes from your own actions”

– Dalai Lama

What does happiness mean to you?

There’s a lot of searching going on these days for the elusive emotion of ‘being happy’.

Where do you find it? How do you get it? Is it something that will come in the future? What does ‘being happy’ actually mean?

Here’s the secret about ‘being happy’: happiness is not just for a lucky few who were born with it or who have attained it by what they’ve achieved in their lives.

You see, happiness isn’t something you can reach out and touch or put in the refrigerator and take a sip when you need it. Happiness is not found on a beach in Hawaii (really!) or in a perfect body. It’s not even in that perfect relationship that we’re constantly being sold in TV adverts. Yet from the images bombarding us every day, it’s easy to believe that happiness will arrive when we have that new car, the best clothes, a fancy home, the latest phone, isn’t it? It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that if you could just find the right person or live in the right area, you’d magically become happy. But all this type of thinking does is convince you that happiness is something to be found outside of yourself. And that’s where you get off track.

Because the real secret is that happiness is simply a by-product of creating and living a life that works for you, a life that you enjoy - whatever that is for you. Happiness comes from doing what you want, where you want to do it, who you want to do it with, and so on. More specifically, happiness comes from within you.

You see, happiness starts by believing that you have control over your life; and then grows by making choices that will give you a sense of well-being and satisfaction. Happiness comes from making choices that are in line with your highest values and that make you feel inspired. Happiness comes from deciding what YOU want to do, and not what others want you to do.

Happiness is about making the best choices you can about who you spend your time with; how you make your living; what, and how much, you learn; what you eat and drink; how you live; and how you spend your time. Because when you feel good about the space you’re in, when you’re with people you admire and respect and they admire and respect you, when you’re working on a project that’s meaningful to you - happiness will shine right through.

So, decide today to stop chasing happiness, and instead choose three things that you love to do, that contribute to your feeling of well-being and satisfaction, and that inspire you. Schedule time for them, every day if possible, every week at the very least. It doesn’t have to be for a long time, just 10 minutes a day will help you create the happiness that you’re looking for.