As the wise Aristotle once said, “Happiness depends on ourselves.” So what can you do to have a more contented frame of mind and, indeed, self? Here are five things that happy people do differently that sets them apart from others.
1. Act the way they wish to be treated
You want to feel more loved, be respected and have others be more considerate of your thoughts and feelings? Well what you ‘give out’ into the world is what you get back (most of the time). So start acting the way you want to be treated.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Have you read Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … by Carl Richardson? With our lives being so busy, there is no room for minor inconveniences, disagreements and issues to take up space and energy in our lives. According to Mr Richardson, it’s all small stuff. Taking things in stride, and life not too seriously, gives you a sense of calm, which naturally brings about a feeling of contentment – rather than anger, fear and resentment.
3. Treat challenges as opportunities
Do challenges make your brain go into a ‘can’t do’ attitude? Or do they get your brain ticking to see how you can overcome them, or change course and get the best possible outcome? Happy people have the latter mindset, which sees them learn and grow – and be happy.
4. Live in the moment
When your mind is in the present, there is no past or future with which to contend. There is no point worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet (i.e. the future) nor is their any point carrying around past mistakes or grudges – it just makes you anxious and brings you down. Make peace with yourself by enjoying the present moment. It’s the only – and nicer place – to be.
5. Take responsibility for themselves
A beautiful and insightful Maya Angelou quote is, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” By “not be reduced by them” she means you have a choice with how you respond to any given situation. So if things didn’t go as you planned, or if you made a mistake, instead of blaming others, take responsibility for your actions and see what you can do make the situation better.
Read more at Lifehack.
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Simple things to make you happy
What happiness meant 80 years ago
