HAPPINESS SPECIAL ..The pursuit of Happyness

 The pursuit of Happyness

Dr Yusuf Merchant suggests 12 ways to find joy in daily life

True happiness is invaluable. One cannot buy it. Look around you, there is so much joy. Nature’s love is limitless. In fact, all things that bring true unconditional joy are free. Happiness which comes from acquiring possessions is transient and illusionary.

Research reports by the UN suggest that one in every four adults is unhappy due to mental issues relating to depression and anxiety. I have, through my suffering and travails, developed a handy life-changing formula that has worked for me, for the recovering addicts I live with and their families. Happiness is a choice and not an outcome. Happiness can be derived through having a good value system, along with belief, gratitude, imagination, visualisation, love and awareness, which are some of the other keys to experiencing a happy life. Here are 12 ways to stay happy.

Be in a constant state of gratitude.

A frequency of gratitude will only receive signals of gratitude. No matter what the situation, there is always something to be grateful for. Happiness is looking at what you have, instead of looking at what you don’t. You must have an attitude of gratitude.

Have good values. 

Happiness is the by-product of a good value system. Anything that does not hurt or harm another person, or another person’s sentiments, can be considered as having good values. Be good to others and happiness will flow back to you. Values are subject to a test of inconvenience. The more inconvenienced you are while maintaining a value, the more you will enjoy its outcome.

Change your perception. 

Everything is perfect and as it should be. Opposites are just different sides of the same coin. It’s up to you to choose the correct option.

Get a goal. 

Every goal comes with its own set of obstacles. Happiness lies in the overcoming of those obstacles and reaching your goal. The more difficult the challenge, the more euphoric will be your joy on accomplishing it.

Maintain a healthy body. 

A healthy body is a temple, in which resides a healthy mind. A healthy mind will choose to be happy in all situations. Research shows that if you’re eating the right food and exercising frequently, your body will help you to cope with stress.

Let ego go. 

And let God come in. God is love and forgiveness. EGO is simply Easing God Out. Let go of your ego and God automatically comes in. Hatred and resentments vanish as a result and you learn to be more accepting of other people and situations.

Happiness is intrinsic. 

It does not depend on material possessions. Observe any baby. It is simply happy by nature. We are all born happy. As we grow older, we start making choices that ultimately make us unhappy. So introspect deeply.

Be here and now always. 

Most people’s problems stem from regret about past actions, or anticipation about future issues. But at any given point of time, if one takes a break and becomes aware of the present moment, one immediately realises that ‘all is well’. So don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future.

Positive visualisations work.

 Anything is possible. If you can positively visualise your intentions in detail and feel as if the event you’re looking forward to has already happened, it will happen. If you hold your attention on to your intentions, it will happen.

Cultivate mindfulness. 

People who cultivate mindfulness have an advantage over others, as they learn to observe their thoughts. This helps them to respond to situations and not merely react to them. Practising mindfulness and purposefully inculcating a train of positive actions over time can change this negative default setting of the normal human brain. Meditation, chanting and prayers are also essential.

Nurture your soul. 

An increase in material inputs, without simultaneous and corresponding inputs to the non-material self, only creates an imbalance in us. People who feel ‘lost’ have simply lost the balance between their material and nonmaterial selves. Anything that offers non-material gains nurtures the soul. This includes meaningful relationships and being kind to family members, strangers, animals and even plants. Any positive action that doesn’t generate a palpable reward feeds the soul. Everything in our universe follows the laws of cause and effect. Matter and energy are both subject to the laws of the universe.

Positive thoughts need to be followed by positive actions. 

The nerve cells that fire together, wire together. The more we repeat a pattern, the stronger the pattern gets. It also means that we benefit more from the same action. You will realise the benefits as the shift in your default setting will increase the quotient of your positive thoughts. Positive thoughts, however, are as useless as neutral thoughts — unless we put them into action.

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