Are you happy right now? Do you spend time being happy?
Do you really believe that your happiness depends solely on external events happening around you?
Is it really possible to be happy when the circumstances around you are inherently unpleasant or discouraging? Can one genuinely find joy despite the challenges life presents? Let’s explore the concept of defying adversity and seeking happiness within the most unlikely situations.
Life is just one big confusing mess, isn’t it? I suppose I could try to give you some insight into how to maintain happiness, but let’s be honest, is there really a secret formula?
Happiness is commonly defined as a state of well-being and contentment, as per the Merriam-Webster dictionary. The renowned theologian Charles Spurgeon astutely observed that true happiness lies not in the abundance of possessions, but in our ability to derive genuine enjoyment from what we already have.
It’s true that even if you get everything in this world. It makes no sense if you are not happy with what you have. There’s.no value at all.
People are searching for happiness because they feel clueless or have a meaningless life. Sometimes, we compare with other people, become bored or restless, and keep feelings of guilt or shame.
Causes of Unhappiness
According to Selig of Psychology Today, 10 ways cause our own unhappiness. These are:
- Inventing and dwelling upon painful inner dramas that have little or no basis in fact
- Judging yourself in a harsh way
- Thinking that mistakes, setbacks, and failures doom your life.
- Blaming yourself for things you cannot control
- Blaming other people and situations for something you can control or passively accepting what you could change
- Creating suffering through bad habits and addictions
- Comparing yourself to others
- Not being yourself
- Falling for the belief that you cannot change
- Thinking that you have to do it all yourself.
Let us dig deeper about the causes of unhappiness.
Meaningless
A meaningful life has a purpose. Living a meaningful life begins in your thoughts.
Competition
A competitive attitude makes it harder to relate to other people. Connectivity can boost your happiness.
Boredom
When boredom strikes you, it gets you into a state of feeling lonely or hopeless. These can hurt your state of being and result in unhappiness.
Fatigue
Fatigue is common to a lot of people. Maybe because they were a bit in serious business life. We may be in a repetitive pattern of failing relationships or staying in an uncaring environment. This also reduces our happiness.
Envy
This is so common among many people, especially nowadays when we are bombarded by social media. Often, pictures posted make us envious because we keep on looking forward to what others have. Focusing on those and comparing makes us feel belittled.
Guilt and Shame
When people always feel guilt and shame, it feels like everything we are doing is not enough. We question ourselves, “Why am I not enough?”
Pride
When there is an underestimation of oneself, there is also pride. Pride makes us feel very important as human beings, making us seek people to manipulate.
Fear of Public Opinion
Of course, these things, especially taken personally, affect our emotions and mental focus. It creates a lack of self-esteem, which makes sadness in our lives.
Did any of the causes of unhappiness mentioned above remind you of yourself? What hinders you from being happy?
Here are some tips to help you get out with these patterns, behaviors, and habits causing unhappiness.
Selig of Psychology Today mentioned the word STOP, which is an acronym for See, Take Charge, Options, and Practice:
- S means to see. Be self-aware of what is keeping yourself unhappy, especially if it is negative talk.
- T means to take charge. Decide to change!
- O means to consider options. Brainstorm ideas or actions that you can do to restate negative self-talk with affirmations.
- P means to practice. Commit to taking action to become productive and gain momentum.
How to Live a Happier Life
Seek happiness by looking at your purpose in life. This has something to do with your vision and mission. Find out what makes you proud and connected with your real wants and needs.
Second, psychologists and therapists recommend journaling to express your thoughts. This leads to self-awareness and uncovering your thinking patterns and behaviors. You can also track happy memories you can go back to.
Last, spread more happiness by focusing on positive relationships and nurturing your friendships. Be more forgiving and don’t compare yourself to others.
If you are experiencing unhappiness within yourself, maybe it is time to apply some techniques here. Do not let waste time being unhappy. Even at your worst, you can make yourself happy if you find it easy to develop as part of your habits.
If you believe you can change your life, you can evolve from feeling lonely and dissatisfied to a more appreciative, satisfied, thankful, and open-minded person.
Let’s connect!
If you think you have been inspired by my tips, send me a message or leave a comment below.
Remember that being happy is not all about what you have. It’s about what you do with what you have. Good luck! May you be happier more than ever before!
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