How Do You Define Happiness

What is the meaning of happiness? If you were to ask everyone you know, you'll get different answers or description to the meaning of being contented.

If you were to sum it all up, you can define contentment as a state of mind when you think and feel good. How long it'll last and how often it happens vary from person to person.

So what makes people happy? Many people are dependent on others, events or things to make them feel joyful, without which they will feel something amiss in their lives. Probably this is one of the reasons why you come across so many depressed couples, employees, parents, wives, etc.

There are also people who find pleasure from the accomplishments of goals or being involved in something they are passionate about. They feel excited and in high spirits when they are pursuing something.

The wise ones realize that happiness is something that you obtain from the inside, within you, and not from the outside. They believe that when you don't have to depend on anyone or anything but yourself, you can feel blissful as much and as often as you want.

If you make a firm decision that you want to feel cheerful and jovial most of the time, your mind will gravitate towards it. You'll tend to see the good and the positive. It's a smart move if you decide also not to rely on people and things but yourself as your source of pleasure.

Your thoughts affect your emotions. What would happen if you recall a sad or humiliating scene that happened some years ago? You are definitely going to feel what it felt like back then even though the images are only showing in your mind. Try to remember and bring out the details of a good time that you had with someone. How does it affect your state of mind and emotions?

Can you see how simple it is to change your mental state and feeling? One of the reasons for your unhappiness is because you focus too much on the past that isn't making you feel thrilled.

If you are preoccupied about how a certain thing has to happen or how a person has to behave to make you feel delighted you will face frustrations. This is because you are allowing others and circumstance to dictate how and when you can experience a state of joy. Most people are more concerned about themselves than trying to please you or bolster your ego.

Get involved and find enjoyment in your activities and chores no matter how mundane they are. Set personal and definite goals that will give you more life, growth, accomplishment and a sense of purpose.

Have you been ill before? What was you wish then? Did you not want to feel well and healthy? And when you recovered, did that make you feel grateful? Even if you haven't been sick, feel grateful for being alive and well. Feel blessed that your relationships with others and your family are going on smoothly.

Get to know yourself. Find out what your values and your strengths are and what makes you happy. Find out what makes you tick and why. What are your concerns and worries that are making you anxious? Are they within your control? Can you do something about them? Ask yourself if it's worth it to spend your time and your life being depressed?

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