What makes you happy? This seemingly simple question is one of the toughest to answer when you think about it deeply. Happiness is such a sought after yet such a vague concept.
The same thing can't make two people happy. In fact, the same thing may not even make the same person happy over a period of time. This makes it impossible for any individual to consistently make another person happy.
So the question to be asked is, whose responsibility is it to make me happy? Is it someone else's: that someone hasn't the slightest idea about what I like, about what brings me joy, what excites me and makes me happy. Or is it I who is the author of my happy story, who is the architect of my blissville? This question although obvious in its answer is the toughest one to ask ourselves. It takes serious efforts to be happier in your life. Let me share with you a list of things to try. I thank The Happiness Project author Gretchen Rubin for this list of simple yet difficult things to try and embark on a personal journey of happiness.
- Go to sleep earlier
- Exercise smarter
- Toss, Restore, Organize your stuff
- Tackle a nagging task
- Act more energetic
- Quit nagging everybody
- Don’t expect praise or appreciation.
- No dumping your sorrows on others
- Give proof of love to loved ones
- Launch a blog of your own
- Enjoy the fun of failure
- Ask for help from others
- Work smart always
- Enjoy the here and now
- Sing in the morning hours
- Acknowledge people’s feelings
- Make a treasure of happy memories
- Take time for small personal projects
- Find more fun in everything
- Take time to be silly
- Go off the usual path
- Start a collection of things
- Remember birthdays
- Be generous
- Show up for things
- Don’t gossip about anyone
- Make three new friends every month
- Indulge in a modest splurge
- Buy needful things
- Give something up
- Read memoirs of catastrophe
- Keep a gratitude notebook
- Imitate a spiritual master
- Write a novel/story/something creative
- Make time for things
- Forget about results
- Master a new technology
- Meditate on Koans
- Examine True Rules
- Stimulate the mind in new ways
- Keep a food diary
- Laugh out loud
- Use good manners
- Give positive reviews
- Find an area of refuge
- Look to perfect above practices
Happiness is definitely not a destination but a journey. So travel long and travel light!
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