How great it would be if there was a machine that could identify the things that can surely make a person happy…but there isn’t! Nevertheless, it seems quite easy for us to tell if a person is happy or unhappy. Thus, if you want to live a happier life, it won’t hurt to know what happy people do in general, so you could perhaps apply some of them in your own life. Their habits may not necessarily make you happy, but they can be a great source of inspiration for you.
So what do happy people do?
1. They don’t consider wealth as their only source of happiness.
When you think of wealth as the main source of happiness and satisfaction in your life, you’re actually setting yourself up for disappointment and misery. While it is ideal to dream of having a good life, you should not spend your days always trying to accumulate wealth. You’ve got so many other reasons to be happy, and that includes your family, your pets perhaps, and the many beautiful things and people around you.
2. They put in effort to fulfill their most basic needs.
Sometimes we all get too tied up at work trying to make money and a name for ourselves, that we forget to give our body the most basic things it needs – healthy diet, enough sleep, relaxation, and enjoyment. When this happens to you, you will surely find it so hard to be happy. Scientifically speaking also, sleep deprivation and living an unhealthy lifestyle contributes to a person’s happiness.
3. They always try to lend a helping hand to other people.
When you help others, it is not only them that feel happy. You also get the satisfaction and happiness by seeing them happy. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” In simple terms, being of help to others is an excellent way for you to find yourself and feel your worth, which directly affects your level of happiness.
4. They know how to say no.
While it is good to always be prepared to help others, this doesn’t mean, though, that you don’t have any right to say ‘no’. In fact, saying ‘no’ is a necessity and plays a vital role is personality development. Knowing when to say no is an indication that you also value yourself and your time.
5. They don’t live for the future, but in the moment.
Thinking too much of the future is a huge waste of time. You can certainly make plans for your future or your family’s future, but you should never forget to look at what you have right now, and who you are with at the moment. Make sure that you always find a reason to enjoy the present because today is actually all that you have! You can do nothing about the past, and you won’t be able to do anything about the future. What you have is now so don’t just let it slip away.
As many people and even any personal coach would say, happiness is all in the mind. Being happy is all about perspective. How you look at things will dictate how happy or unhappy you will become as an individual. By learning the secrets of happy people, you now have an idea about what you can do to also live a happier and fuller life.
Cecile Peterkin is a certified career and retirement coach, and a registered member of the Career Professionals of Canada and the International Coach Federation. She is also the Founder and Senior Career Strategist at Cosmic Coaching Centre, provider of career and life management services for middle managers and mid-career professionals across Canada, United States and Europe.