Life sucks. And when it does, people just complain. I hate the rain. The cold is unbearable. College is kicking my butt. I wish I didn’t have to take this class. My teacher wants us to read 30 pages by Friday. Not only that, but I hate my job, my boss is a jerk, and I’m not getting that promotion I want.
Every day, most of us complain about one thing or another. Whether it’s the weather, school or work, we’re occupying our mind with negative thoughts. We want to be happy, but at times, we hold the wrong perspective.
As quoted in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As said so perfectly in the Declaration of Independence, you must “pursue” happiness. We think hard work, money or having a family will bring us happiness; that by pursuing these, we will be granted happiness, and life will be absolutely perfect.
But does having these things make us genuinely “happy”? The good news is happiness is completely up to you. No matter how hard you work, how rich you are, or how loved you are by people around you, happiness can only be achieved through your own will. It’s already there; you just need to pursue it.
Since the 11th grade, I’ve been reading books and articles on self-improvement of all kinds. I try my hardest to incorporate everything I’ve learned in my life, but I still have a lot to learn. In the meantime, I hope to use my knowledge and experiences to help you in your own pursuit toward living a richer, more fulfilling life.
One of the most important first steps in finding happiness is all about attitude and perspective. In other words, the reality of the world is completely up to how you view it.
In “How We Choose to be Happy” by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, the authors developed nine steps anyone can follow to improve their level of happiness. By visiting the happiest people around the country and asking them for their secrets, they discovered two themes: “First, you truly can choose happiness—it is not a matter of luck or happenstance. Second, happiness comes from within—you can’t find it outside yourself.”
As mentioned earlier, we often complain when life doesn’t treat us well. A change in perspective does everyone good. The next time something makes you upset, think the opposite. If your day is going poorly, and someone asks you “How was your day?” Respond with a smile and “I’m doing pretty good!” or “I’m doing great!” If it’s cold, at least you’re not frying in the summer heat. If it’s homework, you’ll be learning something new. And if it’s work, be proud of what you do.
Once you can begin to tell yourself and others how good the world is, you will more often see what makes it a great place, and less often what used to bring you down so much.
You have the right to pursue happiness. See it. Pursue it. Be happy.
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