self improvement

Happiness – Part 1

Everyone seems to have a collective thought in the western world, that achievements bring success and happiness, that must always be pushing ourselves forward to avoid failure. Achieving your own definition of happiness in your own mind is a step towards achieving your other goals.

We all do things in order to feel good. There are only two basic emotions, feeling good and feeling bad. Deep down we all want to feel good, lets face it, who in their right mind would want to feel bad? On the basis that you are still with me here, and you want to feel good, the desire for a good feeling often manifests itself by our desire to go out and get things. We believe that if we were to drive a better car then we would be happy, how many times have you bought something only to find that the feeling it gave you to own it was at best short lived?

We are pre-programmed to believe that material goods will lead to happiness. If that is the case, why are so many millionaires miserable? Why are so many around the world who live in squalor still happier than you are?

The reason is that your definition of success is based on a flawed argument. We tend to compare ourselves with the most successful people that we know, which makes us feel bad. If you were to compare yourself with most of the planet, you will find that you are actually doing very well.

Success and wealth should be thought of as entirely different things. Either way, what we are all searching for is contentment and it is something that very few of us possess, but most of the truly successful people I know have it. Unfortunately, we all seem to be under the impression that if we have more things, we would feel more content, and so would feel happier. Whereas in actual fact what tends to happen is, as you get more possessions it become more and more of a stressful effort to keep hold of what you have gained.

It is the attitude that you develop now that will make the difference in the future. If you arent happy with the few possessions you might have now, then gaining more isnt going to get you there. It is being contented with who you are and what you have in the here and now that brings true wealth and happiness.

Tags: a healthy relationship, achievement, advice, contentment, Emotion, finance, happiness, Health, misc, self improvement, stress, wealth, well being