How to be Happy
Alex J Cavanaugh passed the How to be Happy in 5 Easy Steps Meme to me. I guess Alex doesn't think there's enough happiness on my blog so I'm happy to play along on this one.
So for this week's "Ask Arlee" installment, the question is:
How do you stay so ebulliently happy?
Seriously though, despite my sometimes cynical sounding controversial topics, I'm a happy guy. I may not always seem to exude happiness, but the truth is that I'm often just deeply absorbed in thought and my mind is far away. On the inside I am a carnival full of fun and cotton candy. The side you may not see is the circus filled with clowns and jugglers. Yeah, happy, happy, happy! That's me. And I'm serious.
Here are my tips on keeping basically happy:
- Don't Worry-- I try my best to follow the advice given in Matthew 6:34: do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
- Recognize My Blessings--I've got so much to be thankful for and it's best to appreciate what I have and not be discontent for what I don't have.
- Keep Hope--It's okay to keep dreaming for a better tomorrow and to stay optimistic. Without hope the future looks pretty bleak.
- Treasure My Family and Friends-- I have a better chance at happiness as long as I have these treasures rather than a bunch of material stuff.
- Stay Faithful to God--Even if friends, family, and material possessions are gone, God is there for me and brings me joy.
That's my formula for happiness. What's yours?
I love the one about recognising and then appreciating your blessings Lee, it's the way to go about things in my opinion but with that said I honestly don't do it enough. I'm glad that I read this now because it's always good to have reminders especially since generally you seem like a really happy person who enjoys his life so thanks for this Lee. I like that you use your religion to feed your happiness and wish that I was a believer in some kind of religion, religion is a wonderful thing and knowing that there's a higher power beyond this world must be absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteAmen! Faith makes all the difference, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnd I figured you were happy. You're like me in that there aren't huge highs or external signs, but inside it's an even keel. Even more so than me, you are consistent.
I am constantly working on not worrying so much. (I'm convinced it's a gene that's been passed down in my family!) There's a difference between productive worry and unproductive worry, and I'm still trying to find the balance. :)
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to worry constantly but I manage to put my worries aside or shove them to the back of my mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm not particularly happy, but then I am not particularly unhappy either.
Great tips. Love the first one about tomorrow. I didn't realize it was a bible quote.
ReplyDeleteRhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
I don't have very many worries. Where I am now seems to be where I'm meant to be. So I'm pretty happy overall.
ReplyDeleteYeamie -- I hope you will investigate matters associated with religion. There are many misconceptions about things such as this.
ReplyDeleteAlex - Consistent is a pretty good way to describe the way I am.
Madeline -- Some amount of worry is probably impossible to avoid, but the unproductive kind is not healthy. Worry isolated from taking useful action is negative energy expended.
Jo -- I don't think we have to be bubbly to be essentially happy. Being realistic helps strengthen a deeper sense of happiness.
Rhonda -- Some of the best life advice can be found in the Bible.
Richard -- Not worrying helps us to keep moving forward in a positive way.
Lee
I think your list is perfect. I couldn't add a thing.
ReplyDeleteGreat list. Recognizing your blessings is one of the best ways to remain positive and happy. I think it is one of those things that builds on itself.
ReplyDeleteNice list and good advice for staying happy.
ReplyDeleteI'm a happy person over all. Realistically, everyone is going to have an off day. Me too.
Happiness is an inside job. How I maintain is I've learned to apply Christ's words about keeping my eye simple and take joy in what I do have. Yes, counting the blessings puts things into perspective. Works the best for inner contentment.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
God is there...so true. Glad you're a happy man Arlee.
ReplyDeleteLee-
ReplyDeleteMy formula is a little simpler....choose to be happy.
It seems that most people I know who are unhappy are dwelling on things they do not have (stuff) or on things beyond their control (most of the world falls into this category).
I dwell on neither. Most days, anyway.
Life is a ride-we are here to enjoy it.
bah humbug!
ReplyDeleteHappiness is overrated.
I could have used your five for my own. I have been feeling happy and content lately.
ReplyDeleteLD -- I wouldn't add a thing unless it was a list of 10 things and then I might have to stretch things.
ReplyDeleteRobin -- If we start by being happy with what we've got, what else do we need to add to continue to be happy?
Sia -- I like what you said: "Happiness is an inside job." So true! If we don't choose to be happy then no one can force us to be happy.
Sheena -- God wants us to be happy.
Larry -- That's the bottom line. If we don't make the choice then it won't happen by itself.
Andrew -- Depends on the definition and perception of what happiness is. By some of the human standards happiness is a facade or something that can be easily taken from us. That is the overrated kind of happiness.
Lee
Susan GK --I'm happy that you've been feeling happy and content.
ReplyDeleteLee
Some days it;s hard to be happy but give me a walk in the park see a child's slide and down I go. dispels any unhappiness.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
For all the attractions of this world, I find it's the simple things that bring the most LASTING happiness - and that's a key issue in this busy and hectic world because I see so many unhappy people spending their lives constantly chasing after things instead of seeing the wonders on their own doorsteps!
ReplyDeleteLearning to be 'content' is so liberating! :-)
I have a joy that keeps my happiness alive. And if I am not exactly happy in a particular moment, it is a fleeting situational thing that still does not affect my joy. I would be more concerned if I lost my inner joy than my happiness.
ReplyDeleteI would say my list is pretty much the same as yours. God is absolutely the key. Not religion.
Good advice, LEE.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll try one of those suggestions someday... or not.
[I think I'm with Andrew Leon on this one. I don't want to be too happy now so I can later appreciate Heaven even more.]
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
My simple formula - blogging and thrift shopping.
ReplyDeleteOh, and all the stuff you note above^
smiles
I am happy you are happy and so glad I didn't miss this post! I love all that you shared! You rock, you juggle and you make me smile ;D
ReplyDeletePerfect list! Each one is important.
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- I think happiness entails having a silly side.
ReplyDeleteSue H -- I think you're right about the simple things. Somehow those are the memories that are clearest to me.
Donna -- That inner joy is the essence of being happy.
Tami -- Some outside interests are definitely a factor. If life is not kept interesting we are often forced to dwell on certain negatives of life.
Ella -- I'm glad you stopped by.
Susan -- Each is important and they are all interconnected.
Lee
My comment disappeared. It WAS there and now it's gone. Gone, gone, gone... kinda like my mind.
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Wonderful formula. I try not to be a worrier.
ReplyDeleteLately I've come to realize that one way to be happy is to recognize that I am a human being, complicated and flawed, just like the rest of us human beings. It's interesting to be complex and flawed. Instead of being angry with myself about that, I have become more accepting and, yes, curious.
ReplyDeleteStMc -- I was puzzled by this as well since I did get an email notification. I thought maybe you deleted it or something. No it was in spam where unhappy bloggers go if they're being bad.
ReplyDeleteSusanne -- Worry without action rarely accomplishes much that is beneficial. It can be bad for your health though.
Gracie -- If we can accept and appreciate ourselves it can be difficult to achieve happiness.
Lee
Great advice, Arlee. Not worrying is a daily challenge for me, but I'm working on it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting advice (good also), you sound a lot like Job (just finished reading his sad/happy tale). It is best to make the choice to be happy, and engage/attach ourselves to those elements that will bring eternal happiness.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, Arlee. Counting my blessings and feeling grateful right now definitely contributes to my happiness!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
My formula for happiness is to do what makes me happy, keep on doing it, and also surrounding myself with wonderful people who brighten up my life.
ReplyDeleteMilo -- It's so easy to slip into worry mode when we can't find an immediate and obvious solution to a problem we might be facing.
ReplyDeleteFaraway-- Our state of mind is up to us individually. There are better things to dwell on than our problems.
Laura -- It's even better when you have so many blessings that you can't keep count of them all.
Jeffrey -- Who we associate with can make a big difference on our outlook on life.
Lee
It can be hard to get people to understand how we really feel inside, especially when we dare to cover difficult topics...
ReplyDeleteYou seem pretty happy to me, anyway.
Wonderful list Lee! My additions would be to follow your passion and strive to improve yourself. This formula has been working quite well for me.
ReplyDeleteJasmine -- I guess I'm happy as the next guy, whoever that guy is.
ReplyDeleteBuck --Those are good additions to the list.
Lee
Love your answers! And what a great meme. It's nice to spread such happiness across the blogosphere :-)
ReplyDelete