2. I think it would not be too much to state that a lot of people
are not happy. While a few are actually miserable, not too
many people can truly say that they are living a happy life.
Part of the reasons for this is because there are many things
that we have to do to be happy. Or in other words, there are
many secrets to a happy life. And by the way, a happy life
here is for both the short and long-term, and not just for a
moment in time. Let me share with you what Dan Baker
wrote in his enlightening book What Happy People Know:
3. If you don't think happiness is critically important, perhaps
it's because you have a narrow definition of it, as many
people do, thinking that it just means being in a good mood
most of the time, or experiencing the emotion of joy. But
happiness is neither a mood nor an emotion. Mood is a
biochemical condition, and emotions are just transitory
feelings. Happiness is a way of life - an overriding outlook
composed of qualities such as optimism, courage, love, and
fulfillment.
4. Now I will add to that: A major reason why a lot of people
are miserable is because they don't know what to do to live a
happify life. I know this by my personal experience. For the
first twenty-five years of my life, instead of living, I was just
existing. Meandering left, right, forward, backwards and
going nowhere real fast. Yes, there were some happiness but
there were also much pain, misery and suffering. Worse, the
happiness was short-lived but the daily grind was long,
monotonous and hard.
5. I have since learnt that happiness, and by that I mean real
and long-lasting happiness, is hard work! There are many
things we must know and many things we must do if we
want to live a life of long-lasting happiness. One of them is to
enjoy your current toys.
However, that's just one of them, which means that there are
more secrets to happiness. Since I'm so happy (!), I'll give
you more clues:
6. • Do the work that you actually have passion for
• Know your purpose in life
• Have goals that will stretch you
• Exercise regularly
• Eat sensibly
7. • Give thanks regularly
• Praise good work done by others
• Spend time with people who brings you up and those
that makes you happy
• Learn new skills
8. • Do things instead of talking or watching others do
them
• Laugh
• Enjoy the journey and not just the achievement/result
• Be in the moment
