7 HABITS OF HAPPY PEOPLE

How many times have you asked yourself a question: “What is happiness?” Have you already found an answer? I bet you are still uncertain. The thing is that happiness is not a static state that you can achieve and cease to make efforts. Happiness is controversial. Most people agree on what does not make them happy but when it comes to the issue of what makes them experience happiness, they do not know for sure. Let us try to figure it out.

If you start to analyze the things that you are normally involved with in your everyday life, you will be surprised. It seems like normally people do not really care about things that make them happy in their lives. Happiness is not a skill or a habit, but it can be easier to reach the state of “happy” if you know a certain set of principles and attitudes which happy people have in common.  

1. Happy people share everything they possess whenever they can. Although the simple fact of giving is considered to be a random act of kindness, sometimes it can be a gift to the provider more than it can be to the receiver. In many cases we become happy just by being aware of the fact that we are taking care of somebody. Happy people know it very well. That is why they usually look for every opportunity to help people who surround them.
   
    
2. They care for their relationships. According to scientific research  by a research group at the University of Chicago, those individuals who have five close friends, with whom they discuss their issues tend to give a positive response to the question: “Are you happy?”. It is up to your effort and intention that you invest in your relationships with them that will ultimately make you happier. Aim to keep in touch with the closest ones. Even the best relationship should not be taken for granted. It is a process of continuous inner work.
   
    
3. Happy people can say “no” whenever necessary. If you agree with everything life offers you, sooner or later you might feel deceived or lost. If you are always busy and do not have any spare minute to take a break, is it not because you were saying yes too often? Each of you has own commitments but it is not too sustainable to agree with everything and anything. Otherwise you might be constantly misused by other people or circumstances. If you take your time before making a decision and draw a line, cutting off everything that you do not need in your life, you will get to know yourself more. You might also feel more confident and satisfied with yourself. Is satisfaction not a good trigger for happiness?
   
    
4. Happy people express their gratitude sincerely and wholeheartedly. I suppose that gratitude is one of the most important elements in the mechanism of happiness. Yet, how exactly does it work? The more you tend to express your gratitude, the better you feel. Begin by doing a little practice: start your day with 2 or 3 minutes, which you dedicate to recollecting the things for which you feel thankful. Little parts will make the whole puzzle complete.
   
    
5. Happy people are irresistibly optimistic. The happiest people are not those who live in “better” conditions, rather the ones who are able to change their attitude to the circumstances. Happy nations are the creators of their own happiness. Optimistic people perceive the world as a place that is full of opportunities, especially when the times are complicated.
   
    
6. They do not make a big deal neither of their failures and mistakes nor of their successes. Happy people turn out to be successful for one simple reason: they do not take their mistakes in a bad way. What is even more important, they do not let their success get them too excited. Try to follow this principle. Stay humble, firm and persistent and remember about the rule of the middle path.
   
    
7. They live in the present and never let their past be the main determining factor of your future. Consider your mistakes as lessons that will be helpful for you in the future.

These seven principles will definitely help you become aware of your emotional triggers. At the same time, this is not a technique, but rather a recommendation. Everyone needs different things for happiness but I am sure that happiness is a constant process. It can be compared to gaining a prize at the Olympics. You may have won once but if you want to become a repeated champion, you should keep working hard and maintain a positive state of mind.