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Everyone wants to be happy. None of us want to be sad, angry, or in a bad mood. And yet, some of seek after things that will not only not make them happy, but can lead to the opposite. Then there are others, who simply don't understand that they can take action to make themselves happy.
But what is happiness? Happiness is a lasting feeling of joy and gratitude. It colors one's view of everything else in the world better. Happiness is almost palpable, and you can certainly notice the characteristic in someone else.
Happiness should not, however, be confused with pleasure. Happiness is long term and innocent in nature. Unlike happiness, pleasure is short lived and often addiction forming. For example, those who like to drink because of the pleasurable way the alcohol affects their body, will crave this feeling more and more. Similarly, those who seek after sex will soon be addicted to it's pursuit and lead shallow lives bent to the pursuit of this pleasure. Please don't misunderstand. Pleasure, if and of itself, is not wrong. Quite the opposite. Buy pleasure as a substitute for happiness leads only to sorrow.
So how can you seek happiness? There are certain things in your life that you can focus on, and give attention to, that will promote happiness. The first of these is your own attitude. There is a saying that says life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you deal with it. If you choose to be able, you will be. You may not be able to always control what happens to you, but you can always control how you react to it. Try smiling. It is almost impossible to smile, even if it's for no reason, for more than a minute without feeling happier.
The second thing you can do to find happiness is to have confidence in yourself. Happiness and a bad self-esteem cannot co-exist. It's impossible. You have to learn to value yourself. No matter what you've done in the past that you are ashamed or embarrassed of, leave it in the past. Recognize your own self worth.
Closely related to this would be service to others. It is impossible to serve others without feeling good about yourself and feeling happy. You don't necessarily have to do anything drastic to serve someone. Buy someone lunch, take a moment to smile and talk to a new neighbor or co-worker, open doors for people. When you have time, do some of the bigger stuff too. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, manage a food drive, donate blood. Serving others is a great way to find happiness.
Finally, find happiness in your relationships with friends and especially families. Make them meaningful. Let these people know how you feel about them. Spend time together. Work to make your relationships tight and close knit. Having someone to talk to when it seems like the rest of the world is against you can be a great comfort and promote happiness. Be with people who make you feel good about yourself, who inspire you.
There are many ways to find happiness, but make sure it really is happiness and not a substitute, or you may become more unhappy than anything.
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