If you’re wondering how to be happy, you might be surprised by what I’m about to share with you.
There is no “secret” to happiness.
We all know the things that make us happy; we just don’t do them. We need reminders from time to time to focus on the things that will actually make us happy.
There are four areas that are absolutely essential to human happiness: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual.
1. Physically, when you exercise regularly, sleep regularly, eat the right sorts of foods, and balance your diet, how do you feel? You feel fantastic. You feel more fully alive. You’re healthier, happier, and you have a richer, more abundant experience of life.
2. Emotionally, when you give focus and priority to your relationships, what happens? You switch the focus off yourself and onto others. As you do, your ability to love increases . . . and as your ability to love increases, your ability to be loved increases. You become more aware of yourself, develop a more balanced view of life, and experience a deeper sense of fulfillment. You’re healthier. You’re happier.
3. Intellectually, when you take ten or fifteen minutes a day to read a good book, what happens? Your vision of yourself expands; your vision of the world expands. You become more focused, more alert, and more vibrant. Clarity replaces confusion. You feel more fully alive, and you are happier.
4. Finally, spiritually, when you take a few moments each day to step into the classroom of silence and reconnect with yourself and with your God, what happens? The gentle voice within grows stronger, and you develop a deeper sense of peace, purpose, and direction. You’re healthier, you’re happier, and you have a richer experience of life.
Eating right, sleeping well, and exercising regularly are just a few ways to be a happier person. We all know the things that make us happy. But we don’t do those things.
Physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually . . . we know the things that infuse our lives with passion and enthusiasm. We know the things that make us happy. We just don’t do them. It doesn’t make sense, does it?
On the one hand, we all want to be happy in life. On the other hand, we all know the things that make us happy. But we don’t do those things.
Why? Simple. We are too busy. Too busy doing what? Too busy trying to be happy. That is the paradox of happiness that has bewitched our age.
Ready for a radically simple way to start making your life far happier very quickly?
What is one small step I can take today to improve?
Sit down for ten minutes. Ten quiet minutes. Be completely honest with yourself. How are you doing physically? What about emotionally? Intellectually? Spiritually?
How are you? Then ask yourself: “What is one small step I can take today to improve in each area?” Here are some simple examples:
1. Physically: Today I will eat a healthy lunch at my desk and then take a walk during my lunch hour.
2. Emotionally: Today I will call my mom on my way home from work.
3. Intellectually: Today I will find an interesting podcast to listen to on the way into work.
4. Spiritually: Tonight, before bed, I will sit somewhere quiet. I will relax my mind and write down four more steps like these for tomorrow.
Try this today and see if you have a better day than usual.
Make time for the things that actually make you happy.
If you feel like it works, then try it for a week. Then a month! You may be amazed at how much better you feel—physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually!
You might even consider doing it for a lifetime.Instead of asking yourself “How can I be happy?” try asking yourself “How can I make time today to do the things I know make me happy?”We have to start making time for the things that actually make us happy—before we run out of the time we have. So start today!
AUTHOR: Brad Torline