For example, you may be happiest when you are riding the surf, or maybe competing in triathlon. However, that is my idea of a living hell and would be as far from giving me pleasure as sticking pins in my eyes would do....
But give me a quiet hour with an engaging book or a day in my garden and I would consider it the greatest gift I could receive.
No matter how you define happiness for yourself, there are certain universal and evergreen strategies to bring and sustain more happiness into your life in the long term. If you build them into your daily life, you will be guaranteed to have a happy and fulfilling existence whether surfing, competing, gardening or reading!
1. Turn 'Bad' Things into 'Good' Things. Have you noticed how your stress levels rise as you become more impatient or dissatisfied? By training yourself to be more accepting of circumstances that you are powerless to change, you will become more content and peaceful whilst others are uptight and fuming!
How? When you find yourself held up in unexpected traffic, rather than stress about how late you are going to be, ring ahead and warn whoever will be waiting for you to arrive, then use the time to think about what's good in your life. Mull over a pressing problem or reflect on something you've enjoyed recently. Learn to recognize what you can control and what you can't and make sure that in the latter case, you make the best of things.
2. Be Gentle With Yourself and Others. When I am kind to others I am constantly surprised that they are surprised! People are so conditioned to expect nothing from others that by being kind, gentle and respectful when dealing with family, friends or strangers you make yourself stand out from the crowd. Not only that, over time, people will start treating you in the same way.
It really is true - what goes around, comes around.
3. Stop Being So Responsible - For A Short Time. All work and no play makes Jack (or Jill!) a dull person. Our modern lives are full of the weight of responsibility and many yearn for the carefree days of our childhood again. So why not recapture that freedom from time to time? Learn to be childlike in your approach to new things - play again, be open with people you meet, laugh at silly things and look for the simple pleasures in life again.
4. Savour The Moment. Are you always rushing around, trying to meet impossible deadlines and constantly feeling the pressure of time? If you are, resolve to organize your day in such a way that you don't feel that you are just running to keep still.
At least once a day, stop - just for a minute - and savour the moment. Maybe you catch sight of a painting your kids have done and given you, or the sunlight shines through the vibrant colors of the leaves on the trees. Whatever the trigger, just pause, admire, appreciate and re-energize your self.
5. Define What's Really Important To You. Ask yourself, 'what is it that I really want in life?' Some people may find meaning in religion or spirituality while others find purpose in their work or relationships. Having a sense of purpose – of feeling like you are living your life for a reason – will bring focus and fulfillment into your daily routine, making you feel more content and happy.
6. Work Towards Achieving a Goal. Feeling that you have a purpose in life is only half of the equation, the fulfillment of that will be working towards achieving it.
Have you noticed how time seem to fly by when you are engrossed in doing something that you love? If you have discovered what is important to you, actively working to make it become a reality can make you feel as happy as actually reaching your dream.
7. Allow Yourself To Rest. Working hours in societies around the world are getting longer and longer as we are urged to achieve greater and greater things. But ultimately, this reduces our happiness and contentment. It is as important to allow yourself to rest and enjoy sufficient leisure time, as it is to work.
Rest doesn't just mean falling into bed, exhausted. Rest means doing some activity that isn't work. Reading a good book, listening to music, playing with your children or simply spending some quality time with the person you love all constitute this type of 'rest'.
Life should be rich with experiences and when it is, your happiness will be assured.
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