10 Essential Truths that Happy People Never Forget

Happiness got difficult when I moved to America.

As an immigrant teenager to the US, everything seemed shiny and bright, rich and colorful. And everything seemed so out of reach at the time. I started to imagine a life where I would have everything the American high school kid had, fancy clothes, nice sports gear, and oh my god, their very own car. And in the process, I lost my own sense of happiness and joy. In fact, I decided it would be ridiculous to be happy when I had so little in comparison. That was the beginning of my journey into unhappiness. Even though my life has been truly amazing, and I had more than ever before after moving to America, I could only see what I lacked when I looked at what I thought made up this brave new world’s definition happiness. What you owned. What you wore. Where you lived. What friends you hung out iwth. What you drove. And what you did. And that is an extremely inaccurate way to measure any level of happiness. Then I learned the truth: those who have extremely little in this world can be the happiest among us, and likewise, those that seem to have it all on the outside could be battling demons of depression on the inside. The appearance of happiness has very little to do with happiness itself, because happiness is an internal state of being, and only you control that place, not your circumstances or your past or your possessions. That was the beginning of a better journey, finding my way out of unhappiness and into true peace and lasting happiness. You can be happy in any moment in time, any time of day, any day of the week if only you decide. So if you wanted to be happy all the time, well guess what, you could be. The trouble is that most of us never learn about this internal state of being, this place inside where all joy and happiness lives if only we could access it. So we stumble through life, searching for happiness, trying so hard to find it and then to hold on to it with dear life. The sweet irony of that as Henry David Thoreau once wrote is this: “Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder ...”

10 Truths Happy People Never Forget

So let's turn our attention to what 10 truths happy people never forget, and perhaps we can attract happiness to come and sit softly on our own shoulders:

1. They believe that they are completely worthy of happiness in life.
2. They don't let their circumstances decide their mood or their overall state of happiness.
3. They are grateful, always and everyday, rain or sunshine.
4. They are extremely generous - they give and help and serve others frequently.
5. They love life, they accept life and feel in harmony with life.
6. They are free of judgement, be it themselves or others.
7. They get curious, rather than angry, when things don't go their way.
8. They believe in their own power to make change for the better.
9. They seek inner peace, solitude and meditation regularly.
10. They believe human beings are innately good.

A Week-Long Challenge: Invite Happiness In

Now that you know the 10 essential truths happy people never forget, are you ready for a mini challenge? Here goes: Starting today, pick one of these essential truths, and apply it to your own life. Live as though this were true. For example, say you picked essential truth number three. Be grateful starting today and practice that truth for one week. Be grateful even if things go wrong, traffic gets bad, lunch is a bust, meetings get cancelled, or it rains all day and night. Practice gratitude every day for a week until it becomes natural to be grateful, and see if that increases your happiness radar. Then repeat that same process for the other 9 truths. Let yourself get curious and get drawn to the essential truths. If it works for someone else, why would it not work for you? Your happiness is worth this much! I have studied happy people for years now and all of them live these 10 truths. They believe these attractive qualities so deeply that they draw you to them like a magnet. How easy they make it seem to be happy, how possible and how accessible. And maybe it is? If you want happiness, learn it from happy people. Surround yourself with people who are living an intentionally happy life, and soon, you'll be giggling with joy and letting go of your resistance to be happy. Truly and completely happy with your life, just as you were meant to be. Your turn: Do you agree with the 10 essential truths that happy people live by? Do you live by them too? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Farnoosh Brock is a published author, speaker and coach. After a long corporate career, she started Prolific Living which she now runs with her fabulous hubby, Andy. She is an avid Ashtanga yoga practitioner, world travel junkie, green juice addict and book worm. Download your free gift from her: 12-minute morning affirmation track.

 

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