ARE YOU HAPPY IN LIFE?

What do you understand by the word “Happiness”? Happiness lies in the hands of its creator – YOU. It is not about how you find it. It is about how you make it happen with the right attitude. It is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and being contented in applying whatever that is meaningful to your life. In short, the only source of happiness comes within your inner self.

Most people thought that they will be happy after they get married, have a child, maybe two or three. Paradigmatically they are wrong as they did realize how frustrated they could be waiting for the child to outgrow his age. Teenage period is always the hardest time for any parents to cope with. They will then assume that their lives will be complete when they get rich, buy a nice bungalow, buy a nice luxurious car, go for vacation at some fantasy island when they retire. How long do you think it will take? Tens of years right?

How many of you all have this kind of thoughts in your life? Are you really happy right now? Will happiness always be there for you? The truth is, there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, then when? Your life will always be filled with challenges until you grow old.

How do you measure the level of happiness? Basically, it comes in many characteristics where people tend to be happy.

1. HEALTH – physically and mentally healthy

2. WEALTH – having the purchasing power over materialism.

3. STATUS – being the boss and not the worker

4. KNOWLEDGE – well versed in their line of work without any setbacks.

5. FREEDOM – in control of own life rather than being controlled by external circumstances.

6. EVENTS – compliments, promotions, marriages, etc

7. SELF ACTUALIZATION – Self Esteem + Self Respect + Own Pride

8. ROUTINE FREE – breaking free from routine that will ruin one’s life

9. GOAL SETTING – knowing and discover what goal you want

10. COMPASSION – making others happy by sharing what you know and you will be happy as the result.

11. POSITIVE EMOTIONS – having the positive energy to lead a better life

12. SPIRITUAL BELIEF – having a pure and peaceful state of mind to eliminate negative emotions.

From the few characteristic factors that I have mentioned above, how many of you are really happy now? Spend some time to study within yourself. Are you on the right track of gaining happiness?

Below are two of my favourite quotes that inspired me to write this article on happiness:

“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savoured.”

- Earl Nightingale

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

- Mahatma Gandhi