The Secret to Happiness

Key Components of the Secret to Happiness

When I reflect on what the key components of happiness are, these four elements come to mind.

Friendliness

Through personal experiences and some readings I’ve done, I concur that the happiest people are the most social and have the strongest relationship ties.

Cheerfulness

Happiness is pretty contagious. I think we’d all agree that we’re more likely to be happy if we spend time around happy people.

Compassion

We turn to our network, our circle as I often call it, when we are stressed and needing advice or compassionate understanding. In return, the happiness that lives inside of us glows outward and adheres friends to us, providing them an invitation to come to us for the same compassionate ear when they are needing it. 

Gratitude

Cultivating positive emotions such as joy, love and contentment and the practice of showing gratitude on a regular (if not daily) basis boosts happiness levels and can undo the negative emotions of anxiety, trauma and stress. Expressing gratitude enhances self-worth and self-esteem, encouraging continued focus on all of the things we have to be thankful for.

Tips to Feel Great While Helping Others

One of the keys to unlocking the secret to happiness is readily available to all of us. It can be found by giving the gift of your time and talents to others. It is so simplistic, and so rewarding.

Give what you’re good at

Giving of your time and talents to others makes you feel really good and it’s important to recognize that the ‘quality over quantity’ rule definitely applies in this case. Choose to give what you’re passionate about, then enjoy the feeling that follows. The love and compassion that you put into what you’re giving is felt and appreciated by the receiver and their thankfulness will rebound back to you, giving you an exhilarating feeling of happiness and fulfilment.

Choose your support proactively

Spend time thinking about where you would like to share your gifts, monetary or otherwise, and take steps to put your choices into action. Perhaps it’s a charity you’d like to support, or a fundraiser that supports a cause or group that resonates with who you are. You’ll feel good knowing you’ve made your choices based on personal preference, and not by guilt or pressure when the phone rings or the knock comes on your door from a group asking for support.

Give your personal time

The gift of your personal time is more valuable that you may realize. The receiver of your time, if asked, could not and would not put a price on what it is worth to them. Often the gift of your time is more satisfying for you as well than any monetary value. It’s true that we don’t all have the same amount of money, but we do all have time to spare in our days or weeks, and by giving just a bit of that to help others… it’s absolutely priceless. I encourage you to give it a try and see how it makes you feel; and while you are doing that, take a glance at the receiver of your time and see if you can imagine how they are feeling. I think it will fill you with more happiness that you may be able to imagine.

Say “I Love You” more

Tell you family and friends you love them, and do it as often as you have the opportunity. It may sound strange or feel awkward to do, but I promise you that if you try it, the response you receive from them and the feeling you will experience within yourself is incredibly beautiful. It changes people. It may change you. You will very likely feel more love for that person simply by uttering the words, and the emotion they feel creates positive energy which comes back directly to you. It becomes an unbreakable chain as well that people miss when it doesn’t happen. They may take this same practice into their daily interactions with their family and friends. What a lovely way to spread love and happiness!

Defined well, I believe that happiness is a state of being, not a mass of possessions accumulated.