As of late, institutions of higher education and other groups conducted surveys and studies to find out "What brings happiness to people?" Listed below are some of the answers they received.
Step #1: Doing right. The universal law says that there's absolutely no happiness in doing wrong. Individuals who do wrong, or live the untruth, feel the pain of anxiety, stress, misery, rage, distrust, lack of confidence, fear and pessimism. When you break a law you empower others to be in command of your life, such as your judge, jailer or warden, etc. Doing good is the first step in being a happy person.
Step #2: Control. The surveys showed that people are happiest when they're in control of their lives. Self-control and being in command of ones destiny produces immense freedom and feelings of security. People who have a strong mental self and the ability to control their physical self are happiest.
Step #3: Seek the positive. Optimistic people consistantly expect the best. They have hope for the future and focus on the positive things in life. They make use of the positive side of their subconscious by conciously thinking optimistic thoughts. Remember that your mind is similar to a stage and you can control the players on that stage. You choose between thinking positively or negetively; it is your choice.
Step #4: Faith in a higher power. Researchers discovered that men and women who have faith in a higher power are happier than those who don't. Nearly all individuals who recover from a serious drug or alcohol addiction feel the need of a higher power than themselves. Having faith in the unknown can be a rewarding experience.
Step #5: Close relationships. The strongest force in life is love. To give love and receive love is the highest human experience. The amount of happiness in our life depends on the amount of love in our life. The power of love can be seen by simply observing those who are not given enough love- nothing in life is more damaging than being rejected, lonely and unloved.
Step #6: Meaningful activity. The happiest people in life have something to look forward to either in their work, hobbies or other activities they participate in. People who dont have meaningful activities to participate in experience unhappiness.
Step #7: Helping others. Researchers found that one major activity common in happy individuals was helping others. Helping others gave them immense joy and satisfaction. We see that life is a mirror and those who give, receive. What is it that people get back from the people they help? It is an interesting question to think about.
Step #8: Forgiveness. Happy people learn to forgive not only others, but themselves as well. They understand that to err is human-that life is bursting with difficulties that help us grow. They recognize that everyone's only human and they treat others how they would like to be treated. Unsuccessful, unhappy people do the opposite.
The first step for unhappy people to become happy is self-awareness. Self-awareness through cognitive restructuring is effective therapy for self inflicted problems. The bottom line is if people aren't happy it is their fault and responsibility. No one can make them happy except themselves.
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Larry Lloyd is the founder of <a href="http://www.accilifeskills.com/introduction.php">American Community Corrections Institute</a> (ACCI), which sponsors a news blog on the subject of <a href="http://www.cognitivelifeskills.com/category/criminal-behavior/">criminal behavior</a> and related issues.
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