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I believe you can find happiness.  Happiness is something that everyone wants,  few seem to find, and most would argue doesn’t cost much.

It doesn’t take up space, never goes bad or needs repairs, and is the cause of most envy.  Happiness doesn’t seem far away,  it is always almost within arms reach but so few seem to find it.  We can’t store it, save it, give it, sell it, or take it.

Undoubtedly, it is the most valuable thing we can have.

What is this happiness?  Can we find happiness?  What are we doing wrong if we don’t find it?

I have not figured out happiness but there are things I have been learning that have helped me find happiness.  I would love to hear how you find happiness in the comment section because we can all learn and grow from each other.  Happiness, more than anything, is a mental thing.  Way to often it is connected with possessions or money but deep down we all know it isn’t found that way.

Here are things I have been learning that have helped me find happiness.

The World Will Not Give It To You

Some people believe and act like happiness is something they need to receive.  Often it goes by another name — Luck.  It is something that the world or universe gives and takes without reason and if they get it — great, if not — there is no hope.

Happiness is not something you will be handed by the world, other people, God, or lady luck.  You will not find happiness by sitting down and waiting for it to fall from the sky.   You need to take responsibility to find happiness yourself.

Be Yourself

A simple (but not always easy) first step to find happiness is to be yourself.  So often we are afraid to be ourselves or haven’t tried to be ourselves for so long we don’t even know who we are.  You and I will never find happiness by trying to be someone else.  On the flip side we will never probably really learn how to be ourselves either, but a life trying to be yourself instead of trying to follow another mold, is a step to finding happiness.

Do What You Love

Because we are all so different we all will find happiness in doing different things.  Finding things we love doing and making time to do them is a responsibility we have to each other as well as a way we find happiness.

Find a way to make time to do something you love and learn something new that you think you might like.

Be Content

The world really struggles with discontent.  We are not content with our material possessions, our position in life, our relationships, our health or bodies, the government or even the weather.  Name an area of life and there is always lots of discontentment that comes along with it.

Being content doesn’t mean settling.  Being content means we are happy with what we have right now.  We understand that we made choices to get where we are and we are at peace with the outcome.  We don’t need to be content with the future.  The future can have goals, dreams, and visions of something better.  But our present will find happiness if we can be content with our now.

Purpose

Purpose is like a goal that is bigger than yourself or your own life.  Purpose means you are making a positive difference outside of your little world.  Find purpose and you can find happiness close behind.   I don’t think the amount of difference you make is connected to the amount of happiness you find.  We all have different things to contribute to the world and if we are making that contribution, that difference, we find happiness.

World About More Than Me

Why do we so often (consciously or subconsciously) act like the world is about us?    Somehow understanding that we aren’t all that important, that the world will not crumble without us, and that most people really don’t care we exist gives us the freedom to find happiness.  It doesn’t need to be about us.  It isn’t not about us either.  The world just is.  The story is bigger than us or what we think, believe and feel.

Choice

Just like love happiness is a choice.  It isn’t affected by what we have or by how much we have gone through.  No one has a perfect life and everyone’s life has pain.  Pain is real, but I don’t think pain is the opposite of happiness.  Can we hurt and struggle and still have happiness?  I think so.

Today has hit me harder than I would have liked.  It is one of those days that seems to knock you down every step of the way.  Nothing horribly bad, but lots of little things ganging up and making it seem worse…. for one this post was done and written and somehow got eaten by the internet  hamsters.  I am sitting her unsure if I can honestly write a post about being happy.  … but I can.  Things don’t always go the way I want, but I can still be happy.

What do you think?  Anything you would like to add about how you and I can find happiness? (if you are reading RSS join us in the comments)

Wrecked is on-sale today!! Super good book (my review).  Check out the book site!  If you purchase in the next few days you get a bunch of free gifts thrown in.

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