What is the secret to happiness?

In truth, many of us still believe that happiness is a secret. First of all, opposite of what most people believe, happiness is available to everyone–at all times. No one is excluded. Every person, regardless of their age, nationality, level of education or success, is naturally capable of being happy.

Because most of us really don’t understand happiness, we have all struggled at various times to identify, “What is happiness and how we can get it for ourselves?” The reason for the struggle, quite honestly is that most of us were never shown where to look for happiness where it actually exists. We have all had glimpses of happiness, although couldn’t see this firsthand because the happiness that we have previously experienced didn’t appear in things. Most people on the planet believe that something or someone is what gives them happiness. Please understand that nothing external to you can give you happiness.

From the moment we were born, we unknowingly became dependent on others. We accepted philosophies from our parents and others; and subconsciously have also adopted others’ beliefs as our own. These philosophies and our life experiences helped us formulate tendencies about what we think we have to do in order to be happy. Believing that others (i.e. parents, spouse (partner), educators, employers, etc.) may know what real happiness is – is assigning our happiness based on someone else’s point of view. Due to our past habits we may also have allowed fear and/or wanting-to-figure things out to actually look away from happiness. Often without our realizing, we are often very much focused on our perceived problems instead of looking towards having an appropriate resolution. We all have a tendency to dismiss our own participation in our lives and mistakenly continue to look for happiness where it isn’t. External circumstances are pretty much the same for each of us. And yet we tend to look to others for approval. We also look to others, and subconsciously expect that other people should provide safety and security on our behalf. We also expect other people to make us happy. Please consider that what we may expect from others is often unrealistic. Other people cannot give to us what they may not have for themselves. Realistically others are also looking to have approval, feel safe and comforted, and are hoping we are the ones with the answers to help them alleviate their own level of discomfort.

We choose to move towards or away from happiness based on what we decide in each and every moment. Our childhood, adulthood, and all experiences in between, are based on the thoughts that we were holding in mind. Let’s begin to discern and choose to take responsibility for what we would like to experience. In order for to experience real happiness we have to look for it where it is. Real happiness exists within each of us. We are the only one who is making decisions about our lives. We may consider what others have to say, although in the long run, we are the ones who make decisions to move towards or away from happiness.

Everything we have longed to achieve is within our reach. By changing our viewpoint from expectation and frustration, we can allow perceptions of limitations to begin to evaporate. By choosing to look within ourselves and seeing ourselves as being a source of comfort, joy and companionship, we can begin making better decisions. When we are happy within ourselves, first and foremost, everything in our picture begins to change. This is the one key thing that we can do that will greatly impact every future decision that we make from this moment forward.

Nothing changes if we are continuously focused on, “What is wrong!” Our lives can only change if we see that our attitude plays an important role in our being happy. The secret to our being happy is for us to decide that’s what we would like to experience. As we begin to shift our focus away from negative perceptions and start looking towards happiness, being positive, and being at peace, is when we’ll discover that we are the creators of everything that we manifest.

Here is an important tip to consider in regards to happiness. Happiness is an abundant resource that resides within each of us. Happiness is actually a state of mind that connects us to being positive and in the present moment. When we are happy, there is a harmony in all that we do. We may also feel appreciation, gratitude, positive, loving and grounded. So these comments suggest that happiness is an emotion. Real happiness is this and so much more. There is no suffering or struggle in happiness. There are absolutely no conditions, secrets or limitations in unconditional love. The happiness you seek is so much more than you could possibly imagine. Choose happiness! Say “YES!”