That feeling of contentment eludes you constantly, right? We can never truly be content since it goes against our very nature to be so. You might feel better if you spent the day drinking coffee and watching a movie with your best friends. Although one may have a nice day, that does not guarantee a happy life.
Even if you’re great at looking on the bright side, you may not be progressing in any way. I know it’s hard to be completely honest, but would you say that you’re happy with your life right now? Have you found your calling? Do your deeds have any significance?
If you find yourself hesitating to answer any of these questions, it may be time to educate yourself on the art of contentment. According to Gallup, the percentage of happy Americans dropped from 84% in 2020 to about 67% in 2023.
To really learn how to be happy, you have to look at your whole life and make changes as needed. Learn the difference between happiness and contentment and how to train yourself to be happy by reading this article.
To understand what happiness is, let us define it
A positive outlook on life means being happy with your current situation and accepting yourself. You feel like you’re living a life you’re proud of, rather than spending time comparing yourself to others or wishing things were different. You love the person you have become and appreciate the paths your life has taken you down thus far.
Being happy means you don’t wish things were different or dislike the direction your life is taking.
- Experience a sense of calm within themselves
- Be kind and appreciative to the people in your life.
- Experience a sense of fulfillment from knowing your life’s mission.
- Have developed through the years and through the hardships you’ve endured
- Think of your setbacks as lessons
Take the case where you decided after ten years of work in marketing that it wasn’t what you really wanted to do. Your life has more meaning now that you can study environmental science full-time, which is something you’ve always been interested in. But you look back on your past with appreciation, knowing that it led you to where you are now.
Someone else’s idea of a meaningful life may be diametrically opposed to your own. Finding happiness is a personal journey that requires you to prioritize your own wants, values, interests, and objectives. And there’s no requirement that you demonstrate your happiness to anyone else. Whether or not you share something on social media, it is genuine.
Why it pays to be happy
Being happy has more than just cosmetic benefits. When you are happy with your life, you have good feelings, more self-esteem, and better health.
The following are three reasons why happiness is critical:
When you’re happy, you’re more in tune with yourself and can more effectively express your feelings and thoughts to those around you, which leads to deeper bonds and better connections in your relationships. If you can listen to other people, deal with disagreements in a positive way, and show gratitude, your relationships will get better.
The tension in your life decreases, which is great news because stress is a known predictor of unhappiness. If you can reduce your stress levels, you will feel happier and healthier. Happiness reveals what is important in your life, and that includes your physical well-being. That way, taking care of yourself can replace all other concerns, allowing you to relax and enjoy life without as much stress.
Improved sleep hygiene results from increased life satisfaction. Maintaining focus, cognitive efficiency, and emotional control have all been shown to be correlated with regular sleep hygiene practices. The quality of your sleep has a direct impact on your physical well-being because it is during sleep that your body repairs itself and mounts its defenses against illness.
Where to find happiness and how to keep it
Finding happiness is an ongoing process, not a destination. You need to make it a priority to incorporate it into your daily routine. Working hard for a few weeks won’t give you a fulfilling existence. Attaining happiness takes time and energy, as well as tactics and routines that will become second nature. Maybe they’ll start to feel natural after some time.
If you want to figure out how to be happy, consider the following six tips:
Make a list of your blessings and spread the word.
Gratitude is a powerful emotional practice that can help you feel better emotionally and provide some perspective in your life. Keeping a journal in which you write or record your thoughts in any voice or tone can help you become more grateful.
Gratitude journals are usually kept private; however, the content can be shared. It highlights your interests and the pleasure you derive from them. derive hem em. people talk about the good things in their lives, it makes them feel even better and increases their overall hap in them.
Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.
What is significant or meaningful to one person may not be to another. That’s why being true to who you really help you maintain a happy and fulfilling lifestyle. Just be who you are instead of trying to pass yourself off as someone else.. Learn more about who you are and what you value most in life by doing some introspection.
Always be around your loved ones.
Having supportive relationships is good for both your mental and emotional health. This makes it easier to deal with the stresses of everyday life. There is evidence that having a strong social network can help solve problems, deal with stress, and improve your overall health. No matter how high or low you get, your people are always there for you. Keep in touch with your loved ones on a frequent basis by means such as phone conversations, video chats, and instant messaging, even if you must travel great distances to do so.
Put your plans into motion
Your aspirations are reflected in the goals you’ve set for yourself. They help you live a life that has a greater purpose, one in which you can take pride in what you’ve achieved. If you want to achieve objectives that matter to you and reflect who you want to be, try the SMART approach. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to organize your life, setting some achievable short-term goals may help you feel more in control.
Don’t neglect your physical well-being; it’s number five on the list.
Taking care of your emotional and physical health has long-term benefits, not just short-term ones. Without a sound state of mind and body, you can forget about enjoying a long and happy life in the years to come. Meditation and yoga are just two examples of stress-reducing and mood-boosting mindfulness techniques you might want to consider. Consider pleasurable ways to get your body moving, and fill up on meals that will keep it going.
Release the past.
Remembering the past is not going to help you enjoy the present. To go on, though, you must let go of the past. Focus on the things you have to be grateful for. Putting the past behind you isn’t simple, but it’s possible to do so piece by piece. One way to do this is to accept oneself regardless of past errors and to realize that there is much to see and do in this life.
How dissimilar are joy and contentment, really?
No one, not even the happiest person, ever stops to ask themselves, “Why am I not content?”
People often use the words “happy” and “contented” interchangeably, but they actually mean two different things. Contentment, as contrasted with happiness, is a state of mind that follows you around.
Understanding how to find happiness in life requires gaining a broader perspective on the world. Listed below are some key distinctions between contentment and joy:
- Contentment, in contrast to joy, is affected by both internal and external variables.
- In contrast to contentment, which lasts for the long haul, happiness has a shorter half-life.
- Contentment is a mental and behavioral condition in contrast to the fleeting sensation of happiness.
- Contentment is a state of inner peace that lasts for a long time. Joy is an emotion.
Bringing joy and fulfillment into your life
Finding your way to contentment in life can seem like a big task. In order to move forward with any sense of direction, you must first consider what is most important to you and how you would like to pursue your goals. In addition, instead of trying to alter your personality, embrace it.
Practicing contentment teaches you that happiness on a single day isn’t enough to last a lifetime. To achieve lasting happiness, one must adopt a positive outlook on life.
No matter how happy you are today, that won’t be the case when you wake up tomorrow. This is not easy and requires focus, introspection, and commitment. Have fun on your quest for enlightenment. In spite of the fact that achieving happiness requires time and introspection, the payoff is well worth the trouble.
The majority of us have been conditioned to think that material success may bring us fulfillment. We tell ourselves things like, “If I can just get married or earn a promotion, then I’ll be happy.” We think that if we just finish the marathon or get the fancy automobile, we’ll be happy. In reality, we have the ability to generate a state of enjoyment in the present moment independent of external factors.
True happiness comes from a profound acceptance of one’s present circumstances. All too often, we fail to appreciate the present moment because we are too preoccupied with the events that surround us. When we do manage to surface, our thoughts tend to drift away from the here and now and toward the past or future. As a result, we tend to think about things in the past or future rather than in the present. Is what you’re saying familiar? But being comfortable with where we now require an understanding of the state of affairs.
If you want to quickly and effectively set the scene, try this:
Take a good look around the immediate environment. Don’t pass judgment as you describe your home. Instead of making a value judgment about the room’s mood by using terms like “cheerful” or “dreary,” you may instead focus on the room’s physical characteristics, such as the carpet or floor’s texture, the paint color, and the arrangement and style of your furniture. Perhaps you have beige walls, a window behind your desk, a chair with somewhat faded upholstery, and a photo of a loved one on the desk next to your computer.
When we observe without passing judgment, we open ourselves up to the here and now. Being present in the moment is where we experience the greatest sense of contentment, and it is through this state of being that we are given the strength to choose happiness.
Making a string of those deliberate decisions might keep you happy over time. Follow these guidelines to make happiness a consistent part of your life:
1. Pause. Take a moment to reflect when you find yourself becoming irritated with a person or an event. Take a deep breath and tell yourself to see the best in any situation or person by accepting them as they are.
2. Do not waste your money on unnecessary items. When deciding whether to buy something, it’s important to consider whether it’s something you “need” or “desire.” If it’s a “desire,” ask yourself why you feel you need it instead of being happy with what you already have. Is this something I really need right now? See whether the desire to acquire it fades away after a few days.
In other words, be appreciative of being here now. You can help yourself emotionally by filling your emotional bank account with loving words and deeds. The more good you do for other people, the more good will come back to you.
Incorporate an attitude of thankfulness into your daily life. Try to think of one person, animal, or thing every day that improves your life in some way. Keep a journal and record your innermost thoughts. If you’re feeling down, get out of your journal and remind yourself of everything you have to be grateful for.
Take pleasure in the free, uncomplicated things life has to offer. Conversations with depth invite a stroll outside in the fresh air. I’m in the middle of reading a fantastic novel. The beach, for a day. These things don’t cost anything, but they can provide as much satisfaction as more costly activities.
Recognize the value of the present. Don’t put off being happy till you’re not as busy or stressed out. It’s possible that day will never arrive. Instead, actively scout for moments to appreciate the mundane pleasures of life. Instead of concentrating on the past or worrying about the future, you should concentrate on the good things that are happening right now.
Success and material possessions can’t buy you lasting joy. Keep in mind that there will always be someone else who seems to have it all together and that they probably don’t feel this way about themselves either. Many people, even those who appear to have everything they could want, are never truly happy. Why? They are never satisfied with what they have and always want to get more.
Now, we must be clear that satisfaction does not rule out the pursuit of one’s goals. That’s not to say you won’t want more after that. Happiness is nothing more than a heartfelt sense of thanks, appreciation, and acceptance of the present moment. So, make the effort that will ultimately bring you joy. The rewards you receive from this action will last for the rest of your life.
Disclaimer: The author’s views are his or her own. The facts and opinions in the article have been taken from various articles and political commentaries available in the online media and Eastside Writers does not take any responsibility or obligation for them.
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