What makes you happy?
by Che Garman
The world is full of people living each day in 'have to' mode. Duties, responsibilities, and obligations, begin as soon as they wake up each morning. Often their faces portray an expression of gloom throughout the entire day, until their head finally hits the pillow at night, and their expression finally slips into neutral.
The problem persists through many people's lives for one basic reason. They are constantly searching for happiness but unable to find it. They see their circumstances as being the root of this problem, and feel helpless to change it. They don't like their job, but have to work everyday to pay the bills. They come home from work to a house and family that demands yet more of their time. Weekends may offer short relief, but the precious little 'me time' they manage to squeeze in, hardly compensates for the expediency with which Monday morning rears its head. They see themselves on a treadmill that negates all possibility of happiness.
H. Jackson Brown
If only they were wealthy. Then they wouldn't have to work. Many people actually believe this. It is the reason so much money is spent on lottery tickets. People believe that happiness is the freedom to do as they please. And for a few, this might be true. But human beings are not meant to be idle creatures. That domain belongs to cats. For humans to be truly happy, their life needs purpose.
Happiness comes from doing what you love. Happiness comes from sharing that love with others. Happiness is a state of mind that is achieved by living a meaningful life. It is not more money, or a nicer home, or taking extended holidays. Happiness is an attitude, and once you have it, external circumstances really don't matter. If only it were that simple, right?
Actually it can be. We can't make it happen over night, but we can make it happen.
We all know what makes us unhappy. In fact, most people could give you a long list. But asked what would make them happy and you will likely get a very short one - usually including money or material things, or vague descriptions of what freedom means to them. Ask them what job would make them happy and they struggle, because most of the time they relate happiness to not having to work.
Ask them again what job would make them happy (assuming they had to have a job) and most would not be able to answer. Ask them, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" or "What would you do if money was not an issue?" Most people really don't know the answer to this. Why? Because they have been looking for happiness outside themselves. They haven't accepted that happiness comes from within.
People who are truly happy know this secret. Happiness is a mindset. It is knowing what makes them happy, and living that happiness every chance they get. It's sharing that happiness with others. It's a reason to jump out of bed in the morning and welcome each day with enthusiasm. Look at young children. Happiness is playing, learning, experimenting, laughing, taking on new challenges, exploring. Happiness is having big dreams, and believing that you can achieve them.
Happiness is an inside job.
If you want true happiness in your life, start thinking seriously about what would make you happy - not what makes you miserable. Shift your focus from what you don't like to what you would like. And then redesign your life so this becomes your daily focus. Find your dream and start making it real, and it won't matter how many hours it takes you, because you will be happy just doing it.
Confucius
