Happiness is an inside job
Happiness
A sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happiness.
What makes you happy? Are you getting enough of it? If you’re not, why aren’t you?
I couldn’t answer these questions without doing some self reflection.
Honestly, I don’t claim to be 100% happy, even though life is good and meaningful. I have a purpose. But dwelling on making myself happy has never been my habit. I strive for feeling my best every day—being energetic, yet calm—free of fear, worry, anxiety, and depression—being able to manage stress—and appreciating what I have, not focusing on what I don’t have. It’s a prerequisite for happiness.
Discovery
What I’ve discovered is that a lot of the decisions we make are because we are trying to make other people happy.
It makes sense. We focus on families and loved ones because, in order to be seen as kind and selfless people, we must put their happiness above our own. We justify it by saying things like “if they’re happy, I’m happy” or “their happiness is more important than my own.”
But is that always right?
The simple answer is no.
Happiness within yourself cascades on others
Aristotle once said,
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
The relationship with yourself is one of the most important relationships in your life. If you do not have a full understanding of who you are then how are others supposed to get to know you?
Building a healthy and positive self-esteem is probably the most important factor that leads to happiness and living a fulfilling life. Having a healthy self-esteem requires self-acceptance, self-knowledge, self-respect, empathy, compassion, and personal understanding. Sometimes we do not know how to embody these things which is okay. The first step is trying.
remember
Happiness starts with you and it is a choice. You can decide to focus your energy on making everyone else happy and risk losing pieces of yourself or you can choose to create a life that is bursting with all of your favorite pastimes. May each of you define your own happiness and fight like hell to get it. You can choose to make others happy or you can choose to make yourself happy. If you’re content, fulfilled and satisfied, chances are, those around you will pick up on it and be happy too.