How to find Happiness in Everyday Life
Happiness can be fleeting and hard to find. According to research, studies show that people are finding it more and more difficult to be happy. This can be caused by a number of factors such as relationships, work and health. In order to fix this, it starts inside us all with how we look at the world. Changing your outlook is how to find happiness.
How to Find Happiness With Buddhism
If you look at Buddhism and the concept of Nirvana, this can be similar to happiness. Simplistically, Nirvana is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the state of perfect happiness and peace in Buddhism where there is release from all forms of suffering.” Here we will discover how to find happiness.
What to Know About Buddha
Buddha delivered approximately 84,000 directions on how to train one’s mind to be happy and free from problems. Buddhists around the globe use those teachings as their guideposts to reveal the highest path to inner peace and happiness.
Controlling Your Mind
Buddhists believe an uncontrolled mind is at the root of our problems and our unhappiness. By engaging in the practice of dharma (following the teachings of Buddha), you can learn to control your mind. This in turn will help us discard non-virtuous actions and their underlying causes and put us on the path to finding permanent peace and happiness.
When looking into studying dharma, you may discover that following it to the letter is not for you. It requires taking on the sufferings of all humanity and this can be difficult to do.
You can also choose a more moderate path to find happiness. The starting point is realizing you have choices, both personal and professional.
Frame of Mind
Viktor E. Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning and a concentration camp survivor, said, “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing: your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”
Some people create bucket lists of things they want to accomplish and places they would like to travel to, but even when the check marks are drawn, they are still unsatisfied. This all has to do with outlook.
Finding True Happiness
Here are some steps into finding true happiness:
Learn to Be More Present
As Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk and translator for the Dalai Lama said, “…by fully inhabiting the present moment, we become conscious of the interplay of our emotions and desires and less at the mercy of events around us.”
In this age, it can be hard to remain present in situations due to smartphones. If you practice not being in your phone and being in the moment, you will enjoy life more. You will be able to have more conversations with people. Humans were made to physically interact, not type on a screen.
Kick Work Addiction
Do not work 24/7. This can take away the time you need for yourself. It can also take time away that you need to spend with other people. There is more to life than our jobs. Without the maintenance and health of the relationships around us, happiness will be harder to achieve.
Find Employment or Volunteer Opportunities
Be adventurous, spontaneous and outgoing. Look to volunteer at a place that will help you make a difference in the world. It can be as small as taking time to spend time with animals at an animal shelter. You could also volunteer at a local mission, library or retirement home.
Keep a Tidy Life and Home
This will feel amazingly liberating! It is known that the state of a house or bedroom often reflects someone's mental health. Cleaning can help you feel refreshed, organized and in charge of your life. Yard sales and donating to charities are recommended if you have clutter.
Perspective
Try focusing on the little things. Look at the sun rise, enjoy flowers as they open. When things do not go your way or something upsets you, allow yourself to process these feelings, but do not dwell on them. Try finding the silver lining of every unfortunate situation. Even better, try learning something from it!
Learn How to Express Joy
A well-known Indian yogi, mystic, philanthropist and author, Jaggi Vasudev (better known as Sadhguru) said, “If you look back at your life and see, the most beautiful moments in life are moments when you are expressing your joy, not when you are seeking it.”
When something good happens, latch onto it. Allow yourself to smile and be grateful.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
As humans, this may be one of the hardest things to do, but this change will have one of the healthiest impacts on your life. Do not focus on others' lives and what they are doing. Put that energy into yourself.
Laugh
Studies have shown that nothing works faster than a good laugh that brings your mind and body back into balance.