After 5 years of my decision, I can say I am happy this does not mean that life got much better! My secret recipe might be applicable to others.
First -Happiness is now, not when I get a better job, more money, or find a partner. No more postponing. My happiness is met with minimal conditions, in indifference if my “if conditions” are met or not.
Second- What happened has happened in the past. It shaped me, made me who I am. I am grateful for all what I went through. I tired hard to deal with my past, pain, & agony. I did my best to get over it & let it go. Sometimes past do pop up again but now I have better things to focus on :-)
Third – Over the years I cultivated good habits through daily practice. I no longer put effort to do them but I can't claim it was easy. My new routine allowed me to maintain a certain momentum of happiness even when things go wrong. What have worked for me are:
- Keeping my gratitude list active
- Nurturing my relationships; specially my 1st circle of relations
- Doing some random acts of kindness to strangers & people I love
- Exercising; walking, swimming, playing squash, etc..
- Connecting to nature, spending as much time as I can out doors
- Contemplating on beauty; sunset, sea, mountains, kids clouds, smell of flowers, delicious food
- De-cluttering- I no longer keep things I don't use in a year. I no longer keep books from university days or documents from my work, or cloth that I don't wear. I enjoy giving stuff away.
Fourth- Happiness is my internal status not the result of life circumstances. I do get sad when my company lay me off, when my relationship with my partner is spiraling down, when.. when. But they don't knock me down or let me lose my insight on the other great things in my life. By having happiness as my ultimate goal I became healthier, stronger, more helpful, creative, and willing to try new things.
Tweeting what I said: Happiness is achivable coz it is state of mind that consist of positive emotions and & positive activities.
May we all be happy.
