The question “What is happiness?” is answered by everyone individually, but there are two essential ingredients – joy and a sense of satisfaction with life. The following 7 points will help with this – try to avoid these common mistakes.
Mistake #1: Dwelling on shame, guilt, and anxiety
When you experience one of these feelings (or all three at once), you become a hostage to past life experiences or worry about the future. As a result, without proper involvement and attention, the present slips away along with satisfaction and joy. Gratitude is one of the simple ways to break out of the vicious circle. Even in a difficult life situation, there is a reason for a little joy – all that remains is to look around.
Mistake #2: Going with the flow
No one but you can consistently realize your desires, and a dream without action is a waste of time. Many people become hostages of their own indecisiveness, sometimes getting stuck in the same cycles of thinking for years. But someone else makes decisions and you don’t have to take responsibility for your own plight. A new job, relationship or friends will appear in your life only when you decide to meet your goals. Don’t be afraid to start small and make mistakes – they are not tragedies, but a sign of development.
Mistake #3: Comparing yourself to others
The lives of other people often seem amazing and stunning to us for one reason only: we don’t see the full picture. And social networks only add fuel to the fire. It’s hard to resist comparing your everyday life with the bright picture that friends and bloggers broadcast. And, it must be said, such comparisons can sometimes be useful for motivation and inspiration, but more often than not they drive you into melancholy. Try starting your own blog with feigned success for the sake of an experiment, to finally realize that the appearance of happiness gives nothing.
Mistake #4: Not knowing yourself
It is impossible to defend your boundaries without recognizing your own values, weaknesses and strengths. Only understanding what brings you joy and makes you smile will help you live a bright and happy life. It is important not only to know yourself, but also to accept your peculiarities – this is an integral part of a complete personality. And remember: your self-esteem should not be based solely on the impressions of other people.
Mistake #5: Denying Problems
To solve a problem, you first have to acknowledge it. It’s not so bad if you don’t even know it exists; it’s another matter when deep down you know exactly what’s causing your anxiety and you decide to lie to yourself and do nothing. Sometimes happiness is physically impossible due to health problems, such as when you’re unable to feel joy due to severe depression. In this case, your doctor will prescribe medication, but you’ll still have to acknowledge the problem and seek help first.
Mistake #6. Isolation
Isolation is a major source of unhappiness and even depression. The ability to formally stay connected without engaging in social interactions encourages loneliness and makes you feel cut off from society. Overcoming the lack of social interactions is easier than it seems: call your family, invite a friend or neighbor over, or arrange to have dinner with a coworker after work.
Mistake #7: False Targets
Just as money cannot be an end in itself, neither can abstract “happiness.” Ask yourself, “When will you be happy?” It may seem that losing 10 kilograms, paying off a loan, or going to the seaside will make you happy. However, having achieved these goals, you may find that you still don’t feel like you’re on cloud nine. Try to look at happiness in a new way — it’s not an end goal, but a journey full of ups and downs, you just have to find a reason to be happy.