The pursuit of happiness is one of the basic elements of human existence. We want to be happy. So why are so many people unhappy then? Most likely people are not happy because they are missing one of the six keys to happiness.
The most important key to your personal happiness is determining that you will be happy. For many people, their personal happiness is not a priority in their life. Too often, we put the happiness of others before our own. While this may please our children, spouse, or boss, this is not the path to happiness. This dos not mean you should make yourself happy at the expense of others, but you must remember that the reverse should also not be true -- your happiness should not be sacrificed to make others happy.
Once you have determined to make your pursuit of happiness a priority you need to determine just what it is that makes you happy. Spend some time reviewing the happy times in your life. Think about memories that make you smile or activities that make you joyful. Can you find a common element or theme? Then that is one of the keys to finding true happiness for you.
Now that you have identified what makes you happy you need to engage in that activity. Perhaps you need a creative outlet? Join a writing group, take an art class, or learn an instrument. Do you need physical activity? Then find a way to get back into a sport you love or start a new one. All that is necessary is that you find a way to reconnect with this key element.
However true happiness for most of us is not dependent solely on finding that one key. For most of us, we also require special people in our lives to be happy. Perhaps you have lost touch with someone important and can reach out to them? Or perhaps it is simply a time to plan some special time with family. It is important to our own pursuit of happiness to stay connected with those we love.
Another essential to finding true happiness is to give of ourselves as well. Helping others in both small and large ways can help make you happier and more content. You might even be able to find a way to combine giving and engaging in an activity that makes you happy. For example, if you love to make people laugh you could organize a community talent show as a fundraiser for a local charity.
Finally, make a list of all the aspects of your life that do make you happy. So many of us get down because we dwell on the negative, but usually there is something about your life that makes you happy. Make a list of these items so you can have a quick mood enhancer when you feel down.
The pursuit of happiness does not have to be challenging or arduous. Finding true happiness can be as simply as determining, identifying, engaging, connecting, giving and reminding yourself of the 6 keys to personal happiness.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Guess what?
By: angelkiss | 28-09-2007
It's Friday!!yea!Have a happy friday!!hope your friday is full of luck!!!
Happy Monday!
By: angelkiss | 24-09-2007
i would like to wish you all a happy monday!Believe in love!Believe in happiness!Smile!Good things are going to happen!
Just thought I would add to this if I may ...
By: mastermack | 14-09-2007
Just thought I would add to this if I may? :) "Happiness is a state if mind not a destination." Ed.M
When i will get married i was born at26/6/1992 ...
By: LAKU | 18-08-2007
When i will get married i was born at26/6/1992 will it be love r arrenged also say will it be happy?
How can you tell if your guinea pig is HAPPY!?
By: Poppie8596 | 14-08-2007
How can you tell if your guinea pig is HAPPY!?
Is everybody happy?
By: Jane Cunnelly | 03-08-2007
Is everybody happy?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Self Help Articles
Handling Life's Challenges, Failures, and Setbacks by Learning From Them
By: Dr. Mario Barrett | 21/08/2008
Everyone fails from time to time, but those that win in life often do so, by learning from these very same failures.
Persuasive Speech Topics: 3 Hot Tips on Choosing Your Persuasive Speech Topics
By: Michael Lee | 20/08/2008
You may think that choosing persuasive speech topics is a piece of cake. But know that whatever you choose can greatly affect how your article is going to turn out. The wrong topic can backfire on you and all your hard work.
Deception Detection Techniques: How to Spot Lies With Deception Detection Techniques
By: Michael Lee | 20/08/2008
Deception detection techniques will help you determine whether a person is telling the truth or making something up. And while most of these methods rest on non-verbal cues, there are some verbal indicators you can look out for.
Discover How To Manage Your Time In 3 Easy Steps
By: Maya Mah | 20/08/2008
There must be a reason why some people can just handle all the tasks that are thrown at them. They can handle the urgent items on their to do lists, the unexpected project changes that show up and even their personal commitments.
The reason these people can easily succeed in what...
What About Those Once Important Dreams?
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
Over time our belief that anything is possible is often whittled away and we seem to accept a diluted version of what we had hoped to achieve. Discover how to recapture the luster of diminished dreams.
Procrastination is an Enemy of Success
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
When your intention is to achieve a goal, procrastination will only hinder or possibly sabotage your efforts. While procrastination may seem like a simple behavior, it can be complex. See if you are a procrastinator.
Optimistic or Pessimistic – it is a Defining Choice
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
Whether your outlook is of optimism or pessimism, the choice is ultimately yours. Since thoughts, expectations, and beliefs influence behavior, it is important to understand just how crucial your thinking is to the results you experience.
Failure is an Important Element of Success
By: David Schaefer | 20/08/2008
Successful people often consider failure as a significant learning process on the way to achieving desired results. Find out why failure should be embraced while pursuing a goal.
More from Deanna Mascle
Good Parenting Tips - Do Not Put Education On Summer Vacation
By: Deanna Mascle | 04/07/2008 | Parenting
The words "Schools Out For Summer" strike joy into the hearts of children and often a sigh of relief for parents who are just as eager to take a break from homework as their progeny. However taking a complete break from the books for the entire summer can be problematic.
Studies...
Good Parenting Advice - How Do You Learn To Be A Parent?
By: Deanna Mascle | 15/05/2008 | Parenting
Parenting is the toughest, most important job most people will ever encounter and yet there is no license required, no training required, and no 24/7 hotline. This is rather short-sighted on the part of society as the cost of bad parenting is immense, but in truth the situation is not...
Why Developing An Individual Writing Process Is Key To Your Writing Sucess
By: Deanna Mascle | 13/05/2008 | Writing
Developing an individual writing process is key to your success as a writer. Studies of struggling writers show that one of the reasons they struggle is that they focus on only one aspect of writing.
So what is the writing process? First it is important to note that there is no...
Writing Tips - Understanding Discourse Community And Its Importance
By: Deanna Mascle | 13/05/2008 | Writing
As an experienced conversationalist who has been wielding verbal words since toddlerhood, you easily move from one group of people to another adjusting your tone, your vocabulary, and your syntax accordingly. Often without thinking about it, you speak differently to your parents than you do to your teachers and differently...
6 Reasons Why I Squidoo And You Should Too!
By: Deanna Mascle | 08/05/2008 | Internet
Do you Squidoo? Perhaps you are not familiar with that little orange creature with one big blue eye, but Squidoo is a social networking site utilizing a different system and framework than many free social networking sites. Squidoo allows each account to create as many unique web pages as they...
Good Parenting Advice - Are You Giving Your Child The Edge At School?
By: Deanna Mascle | 11/02/2008 | Parenting
Today the pressure to succeed at school begins even earlier than ever. Children in kindergarten and first grade are held to a standard of success that their parents never had to worry about. While in the past those first few years of schooling were pressure free and simply intended to...
Adult Education - 5 Tips For How You Can Learn More
By: Deanna Mascle | 04/02/2008 | Education
There are a number of reasons why we should be lifelong learners. Continuing education reaps us professional, personal and health benefits that are too numerous to list. However if you do not want to enter another classroom as long as you live then take heart as there are other ways...
College Degree? 4 Reasons Why It Might Be A Good Idea To Postpone College
By: Deanna Mascle | 04/02/2008 | Education
Every high school junior and senior understands the pressure well. It seems everyone is asking that all-important question -- "Where are you going to college?" For some students the answer is easy. They know what they want to study and where they want to do it, but there are a...