“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” ~ Dalai Llama XIV
We all know people who exude happiness and smiles. They seem to bounce not walk and tackle the challenges of family life, jobs and personal stuff head-on. For some of us though it’s not so natural, it requires mindful work. So, what are some of the things happy people do that the rest of us can learn from?
They express themselves. Happy people have conviction. They are not afraid to speak up and have no problem sharing ideas, opinions, or tidbits of wisdom. They laugh and cry. They are grateful and express gratitude as often as possible.
They try new things. They cultivate a curious spirit and are not afraid of looking or feeling “silly” in their quest to find new fun things to do and feel in life. They don’t shy away from meeting new people or discovering new places.
They are true to their word. Happy people keep promises and rarely cancel plans. They do what they say they’re going to do. They are loyal to the core and their word is everything.
They exercise! And don’t make excuses. Doing physical things changes our body chemistry and makes our mind feel good. When we feel good by way of regular exercise, we gain more energy to be rational and, happy, throughout our day.
They believe in miracles and magic. “What if?” is a question happy people like to ask. What if there is more out there? What if we did it this way? What if I tried that? Having an open mind opens the door to paths less travelled.
They let love in. Happy people work at love, they accept it when it’s offered, and subsequently, are not dissatisfied in our relationships. They strive to be the givers, to be compassionate, and to compromise quickly.
They prioritize self-care. Self-care is simply self-love and respect for our lives, and it’s one of the most important ways we can preserve our own happiness. Watch what you eat, refrain from smoking and taking drugs, and only partake in alcoholic libations moderately. Live and have fun, but don’t overdo it.
They say no. In plain and simple terms, they’re not afraid of being left out. They’re not overly worried about disappointing friends, and while they strive to stay connected and plugged into a social network of events and happenings, they also know that disconnecting and unplugging is one of the ways to remain happy and not over-charged. Being over-charged leads to the kind of stress that prevents happiness.
They sleep. Happy people don’t stay up late doing nothing. They don’t putz around the house. They stick to a sleep routine because sleep makes us better people the next day. They don’t push themselves and play catch up. They simply sleep, because it’s what happy bodies and minds need.
They don’t mind being alone. For happy people, being alone isn’t lonely. Being lost in private thoughts and ambitions is a blessing when we have enough sustained friendship and human connection in our lives.
Do any of these resonate with you?
(Thanks to elephantjournal.com).
