True happiness is often thought to be a fleeting emotion; a destination where you might visit but never take root or even call home. But there’s absolutely no reason you can’t be truly happy today. Right now.
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These seven simple truths will show you what has been hindering your happiness so far, and what you can do about it today. It’s time to face the truth and take action.
1. You’re not choosing happiness.
It’s such a simple phrase, but it can be a hard concept to master. Happiness is a choice and we have to choose it every day. The law of attraction states that you attract that on which you most focus. If you’re constantly focusing on negative things in your life, that’s what you’ll find. On the other hand, if you choose to focus on the best and happiest parts of your life, that’s what you’ll see. It works!
Becky Squire
2. Less is more.
Life is much more enjoyable when we de-clutter (emotionally and physically). Material possession never brings real happiness. Have you ever thought that a certain salary or amount of money would make you happy? What happened when you got it? Were you content to stay or did you want more? It never ends. When things aren’t adding up in your life, start subtracting.
3. You’re looking instead of seeing.
It can be great to look forward to the future, but it’s more important to see the happiness in your life right now. A major part of your immediate happiness relies on your willingness to let go of what you assume your life should be like and openly appreciate it for everything that it is.
4. The things you worry about usually never happen.
Worry is the greatest opposition to the present moment. It does nothing but steal your joy and keep you incredibly busy doing absolutely nothing worthwhile. And the truth is, the things you are worrying about usually don’t come to pass at all. An extreme example is when I was young, I worried every day that there would be an earthquake. In my little world, it seemed like everyone talked about it. We had drills at school and home and I prayed for prevention every night. Yes, it could have happened but it never did. Don’t worry, be happy.
Becky Squire
5. Your past has nothing to do with your present potential.
The past helps us learn, but whatever happened there is not happening now. You can choose to let it burden you or to let it go. Letting it go is not forgetting. It’s having the wisdom and strength to embrace your present. Again, it’s all about making a choice. You can live in the past or be mindful of your life right now.
6. It’s not your circumstance, it’s you’re thinking about it.
Circumstances are often out of your control. Things happen, both positively and negatively, but something you do have control over is how you think or respond to those circumstances. Choosing happiness doesn’t mean you have to ignore the bad. It means you choose to overcome it. The biggest obstacle you may ever have to overcome is your mind. If you can do that, you can do anything.
7. Toxic people in your life.
It can be hard to constantly choose happiness if you are surrounding yourself with toxic people. Toxic people are those who bring you down, drain your energy, or keep you from becoming your best self. There is no reason you need to tie yourself to those people. Stand up for yourself and kindly let them know that their behavior is not OK. If the person is family or a close friend and you don’t want to completely sever the relationship, choose to not take their negativity or drama personally. It’s always about them, never you.
Applying these truths to your life will set you on the right track for happiness, but it takes a conscious effort if you’re not used to doing them. Keep it up until they become a habit and soon you’ll call happiness your home.
This story originally appeared on Becky Squire
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