I remember, myself being very negative and unhappy when I
was young and that seemed to have changed dramatically for the better. Now, I
seek to be bright, happy and outgoing, chatting and laughing with all. This is because
I finally learned how to be happy.
For years I was frustrated
and unhappy, always thinking that I'd find happiness once a specific event
happened or when someone did something I wanted them to do, or when I landed
the right job, etc., but over time I discovered that was not the case. Even
when things did occur to my liking, I found that they didn't have a lasting
impact on my personal joy and fulfilment. Then one day it finally hit me. I
concluded that the things outside of myself were not going to enrich me and
make me happy in the long run and that it was up to me for assuming
responsibility for my own bliss.
Once I realized this, I stopped chasing some elusive
source of happiness. I began practicing living in the moment, choosing to enjoy
all that life had to offer me right now. This didn't mean I gave up on my
ambitions. It just meant that I put them into perspective, and began to be
grateful for what I already had. In fact, gratitude is the best “happiness
fix,” as it always brought me back to what was really important in life:
living, loving and being happy.
I realized I had sabotaged myself for years with expectations
about myself. I wanted things to happen, but seldom took action to get what I
wanted. Then I began taking steps towards actually achieving my goals, while
continuing to practice being happy in the moment. Shortly after, some of the
very things I had so longed for were actually happening. However, they were not
the reason for my new state of joy, but they did add to it.
This is just a powerful reminder that we have a say in
our own happiness. I hope you will keep that thought with you as well. Think
about what makes you happy and what doesn't. And once you have answered that,
try to give yourself more of the former. Then think about why certain
situations make you unhappy. Ask yourself how you could improve them. And once
you implement some of those adjustments, I am willing to bet that you will
feel better about them! Just taking control of them may give you a whole new
outlook.
-
Abhijith Jayanthi
