8 Fool-Proof Steps to Becoming Truly Happy
In today’s current environment of doom, gloom, and uncertainty, does happiness even stand a chance? The answer is … yes, it most certainly does. It does because people can learn to make themselves happy. And with God, this happiness actually becomes uninterrupted joy; a joy that never ends no matter the circumstance of life.
Happiness is not the result of an external environment, but rather the result of your own internal environment. Simply put, happiness is a choice. Unhappiness is a habit, and you can make the choice to break that habit every minute of the day.
Below are 8 Fool-Proof Steps to Becoming Truly Happy. The steps mentioned herein are actually eight possible shifts in thinking that can help you achieve this goal starting today. Are you ready? Let’s get into it.
8 Fool-Proof Steps to Becoming Truly Happy
1. Be grateful and focus on positivity
Bring into focus what you have and what is good rather than what you don’t have and what is not good. It is surprising how quickly what people focus on takes on a life of its own. In order to measure this, you can maintain a gratitude journal, count your blessings and express sincere thanks to God throughout the day, grab a good cup of coffee, slow it all down, smile, and make a point to enjoy what you have!
While you’re in this vibe, learn to recognize and acknowledge the positives that have come out of every challenge you’ve faced in the past. Remember, God is always with you and if He is with you who dare be against you?
2. Let go of negativity
Forgiving those who have hurt you in the past will allow you to move on with your life, untethered and free. Forgiving others is an exhortation from Almighty God because He knows that we cannot move forward if we’re hanging onto bitterness, anger, and forgiveness.
Additionally, embracing your failures and shortcomings and learning from them allows you to grow toward your potential and opens you up to the possibility of even more success in the future. Let go of the need to please others. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and let go of the need for perfectionism and control. There will always be things you cannot control in life. In fact, the only things you really have control over are your thoughts, behaviors, how you interpret things that are happening outside of you, how you react, and how much you allow them to affect you longterm.
3. Remember that this, too, shall pass
Expect everything to eventually come to an end and give way to something different and new. Nothing is permanent, nothing lasts forever, not the ups nor the downs. If you are on a high, knowing that the high will eventually end keeps you grounded. If you are on a low, knowing that the low will eventually end keeps you hopeful. Remember that God giveth and taketh away, and all of it is okay (better than okay!) if it is His will. Trust where He is leading you in both the good and not-so-good times and your happiness will be unscathed.
4. Take care of yourself
First and foremost, the closer you are to God the better you will feel. On the more physical side of things, make sure to exercise, eat healthy, sleep well, and take care of your body. On the spiritual side, practice nonjudgmental awareness and acceptance of the person you are; smile, laugh, and have fun; cut out all comparisons; simplify your wants and declutter your spaces; reconnect with nature; listen to good, relaxing music (Gregorian Chant is a must!); visualize your happiness; learn something new, take a class, be creative, or pursue a hobby; meditate, journey inwards with honesty; surround yourself with good, God-fearing people, and discover new meaning in and about yourself and the world around you. All of this will help nourish and nurture your spirit.
5. Live in the moment
The past is over, my friend. There is nothing you can do to change it. The future isn’t here yet and no one can say with certainty what it holds. So, just savor the present moment because that is all there is right now and in real time. Slow things down, try to enjoy that lunch you’re so fortunate to have; enjoy the smooth flow of warm water over your body while in the bath instead of ruminating over the argument with a colleague, friend, or neighbor last week. Really enjoy the game of Monopoly you’re playing with a child instead of checking email and social media. Stop and smell the roses, listen to the birds, focus on what is right in front of you.
6. Nurture human connections
Human connections can be sustained by reaching out in many ways; physical contact and closeness are not the only ways. Technology has allowed everyone to be able to connect freely. Are you using the technology to connect with others by reaching out, or are you using it to isolate further by staying in your cocoon and binge-watching shows? That is a choice everyone has to make nowadays. No man is an island. Everyone needs a community; every person needs to feel the warmth and love of human connection. If you’ve been bad at it lately, recharge the social battery!
7. Make your life meaningful to others
Shift the focus away from yourself and begin focusing more on others. How can you help them? Are you able to give happiness to another in some way? Can you volunteer your time and/or resources to bring them some relief or joy, or even just a smile? Can you look for opportunities to practice kindness every day? If you do these small gestures every single day, it has the power to transform your life.
8. Asking for help is a sign of strength
There is a common perception that people need to deal with life’s struggles and challenges on their own. If they don’t, they will be perceived as weak. However, asking for help is one of the most difficult things to do and requires immense courage. It also allows others to exercise their virtue of charity and help a neighbor in need. So if asking for help is indeed that difficult, then being able to do it is a sign of great strength.
To conclude
At first glance, this pursuit of happiness seems like a tall order and possibly lofty goal. But it really isn’t. You need to break it down into smaller goals that you can work on each day, maybe one at a time. In that journey, remember that you can indeed always reach out for help. Also along that journey, remember that Almighty God is always with you.
“Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you” -Matthew 6:33.
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