Being Happy

Anybody who reads this blog at all regularly, will know that I’m quite a fan of Lou Tice at the Winners Circle. He has written some amazing stuff; much of it that I’ve found to be a huge help to me on a very personal level. But, I think this one probably surpasses most of what I’ve read before. This time he is talking about happiness, something I’m sure we could all appreciate more of.

Everyone wants to be happy, but not everyone knows how. Today, I will tell you about two ways to be happy.

How do you define “happiness”? Some people think happiness is getting all or most of the things they want. They always have lists of new things they want or are about to get: cars, vacations, fancy clothes, new furniture, or the latest electronic toy.

But often these people are deeply discontented, for no matter how much they acquire, they never seem to have enough. A new acquisition brings them pleasure, but only for a little while. Happiness is always in the future, always appearing, and then disappearing.

Someone once said that there are two ways to be happy: the first is to have all the things you want; the second is to have the wisdom to enjoy the things you have.

When you practice the second way, you are able to appreciate the beauty that exists in the simplest elements of life. Even in hardship, you’ll find many reasons to feel joy on a daily basis. Sure, you’ll feel good when you acquire something new, but your real and lasting happiness will be found in relationships, in simple pleasures, in nature, and in actions that show love.

If you remember that the time to be happy is now, and the place to be happy is where you are, you’ll find a joy that no amount of money can buy.

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute

It’s so simple, so obvious, and yet so often forgotten — by me as much as by the next person. Whenever I think, consciously, about my own happiness, I always think the second method, and that is what I want to strive for — to find happiness in what I have, where I am. But too often, when I take stock of my life, I find that I’ve actually been trying to find happiness by the first method — but never actually getting anywhere near having all that I want.

As I read this post from Lou Tice, I realized I’ve been doing it again, and getting things all out of perspective. That’s one of the worst things about following the first method of finding happiness, always wanting more, throws everything out of perspective. When in reality, things might not be perfect, but I do have a pretty good life, with much to be thankful for. I should be counting my blessings.

Once again, a posting from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle has helped me to evaluate my life in a good way. I’m usually helped by the daily emails I receive. If you think you might be too, please consider subscribing yourself — it doesn’t cost anything.