A happy life is the dream, isn’t it? That’s what all of us want. We struggle and toil day in and day out, with the hope of abundant happiness in the future. But what if we told you that a happy life is just right around the corner? What if you could attain it as soon as you read this feature or within a few weeks? All you need are a few happy things to make you smile day in, day out.
It’s true, really.
Happiness is very subjective, because most of us truly have no idea what happiness is all about. To many people, happiness is a life of riches. For someone else, it’s true love. And, to a few others, it’s three square meals a day.
Ever wondered why happiness means so many different things to so many people? That’s because most of us have no idea what real happiness is. True happiness is easy to achieve if you have the happy things that matter in your life. If you’re confused about what happiness truly means to you, fret not, because it’s really simple. All you need are these 8 happy things.
Make a checklist of these 8 happy things, and tick them off when you feel like you’ve achieved them.
Then, for the first time in your life, you’ll know what it takes to truly feel happiness, inside and everywhere around you!
# A loving family/partner
Having someone to love you unconditionally and loving them back in return plays a big part in your happiness. It gives more meaning to your life because you have someone to share every moment of your existence with.
As humans, we have an innate need to feel loved and desired. And just having someone to share your life with can give you a lot of happiness and fulfillment. After all, love does make everything in life more meaningful and special. That doesn’t mean you necessarily need a partner to be happy. Many people are perfectly happy without being in a relationship. However, you do need someone in your life, be it a best friend, a partner, family member, etc.
# A satisfying jobIn our society, what you do at work defines you as a person. So do you like what you do? If the one trait that defines who you are as a person doesn’t make you happy, can you ever achieve true happiness through that job?
Do you really like your job, or are you working only for the money it gives you? You spend a big part of your life working, so try to ensure that you love what you do to earn a living, and that’ll ensure that your life will be full of excitement and fun. Remember, all work and no play does not lead to a happy life! A good home and work-life balance is key for contentment and health too.
# A few good friendsYou don’t need many friends to be happy. You just need a handful of friends that you can trust and spend time with. Can you count your true friends on your fingertips? In your pursuit of better things, don’t overlook true friendships. Having a few good friends to talk over the phone or spend an occasional evening with can make you feel more positive and happy.
And even if you’re in a perfect relationship with your lover, both of you need to spend time away from each other now and then to grow as individuals and retain your own lives.
# A hobby or a passionOne of the happy things that can give you a sense of achievement and personal satisfaction is your hobby. If you don’t have a hobby, get one! Be it fixing a car or gardening, or getting more informed about an interesting subject. As long as you enjoy it, that’s all that matters. A passionate hobby will give you more confidence and build your interest in things that are beyond your immediate needs.
# A good night’s sleepA good night’s sleep is one of those overlooked things that can wreak havoc in your life, personally and professionally. Sleep may seem overrated, but when you get less sleep, you’re more sluggish and slow, and your mind works slower than other days. And let’s not forget about how grumpy you’ll feel all day too!
Make sure you get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every day. You’ll wake up feeling fresh and excited to face the happy day ahead of you.
# An occasional adventure or vacation
Don’t ever let your life stagnate. Try at least one new thing every week or go to one new place you haven’t been to before every now and then. As hard as you slave away your life for a better future, your life will still feel the same unless you look for ways to keep your life exciting all the time.
Happiness never sprouts overnight. Start working towards happiness right now, or you’ll never have a happy life even when you reach your perceived milestones.
# A sustainable incomeMoney is not overrated. Without money, a lot of things you want to indulge in may be out of your reach. But at the same time, money isn’t everything too. Money is just worthless paper if all you do is let it accumulate in the bank.
The value of money is best experienced when you spend it now and then. Don’t idle your life, and ensure that you have a sustainable income at all times. Feeling rich is a state of mind. When you feel like you’re earning enough to have a happy life, your outlook towards life will start to get more positive and happier.
# Goals to work towardsWithout a purpose or a goal, we’re just animals that exist with no purpose. As humans, we’re constantly looking for a purpose for everything, be it our origins or what happens after our end. But in between all that time, constantly create goals, small ones and big ones. And work towards them with dedication.
Each time you achieve a goal, you’ll feel a lot better about yourself and your life will feel more focused and adventurous.