"Happiness is a journey, not a destination. For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin—real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one." - Alfred D. Souza
If I asked you what your biggest motivation is, what would you say? Would you say it’s to be successful, to have loving relationships, to make a difference in the world or to be wealthy? Maybe it’s all of the above – though there is one common denominator for all of these: to be happy. We all want to be happy, right?
Some would say the search for happiness is the greatest motivator of mankind. For many people, this is the primary goal of their life. We do what we do in the hopes that we will ultimately find greater happiness. It’s intuitive to think that if we value happiness so much, we would ultimately be happier.
So, what does this mean if we want to flourish and experience greater happiness?
Should you just neglect this natural tendency and not worry about what happens in life? Of course not, but it will require learning and developing a happiness plan. A plan where you incorporate certain things and make a conscious effort to change the way you live your life.
Here are four ways to help you develop a greater quality of life:
Learn to be grateful. Focusing on what you’re grateful or thankful for is a major way to begin experiencing more happiness. People who keep a gratitude and appreciation journal generally see a rise in their happiness within a few weeks. The idea is simple: just write down three to five things that you appreciate and hope to see continue.
Have a healthy lifestyle. There is a strong relationship between diet, physical activity, sleep, and mood. If you want to be happier, get adequate sleep – not too much and not too little.
Do acts of random kindness. Commit to doing a few good deeds a few days a week. It can be something small like putting a coin in a parking meter, for example. In the winter, you can clean the snow off a neighbor’s windshield. In the spring, weed a neighbor’s flower patch. Send an anonymous donation to a charity that you’re passionate about such as ASPCA. The list could go on and on.
Meditate. Meditation can help us relax, stay in the moment and be more mindful of our thinking and emotions. When we are deeply relaxed and our mind and our body are quiet, we recover quickly from stress. Developing a meditation practice can be a great way to cope with a fast-paced life and create more positive emotions.
