Happy Essence Blog

Admittedly, each person’s way to happiness is unique.  After all a person’s definition of happiness will differ according to his/her social and familial experiences, economic status and religious affiliations, to name a few factors.  As such, there is no wrong or right way per se.  However, there are right things that you can do to smoothen the way to happiness.  Take note, however, that these things will work for some and not for others, again thanks to differing definitions of happiness.  (You will also observe that these are adapted from Buddhism, the region most associated with promoting the way to happiness on Earth) 

Right Thought

Happiness is a state of mind.  As cliché as it sounds, it is one of the truest adage you will hear on life.  As a consequence, the way to happiness is also in the mind and in the heart, if you like to think so. 

The right thought cleanses us of the doubts and fears, hatred and anger, illusion and ignorance of what constitutes true happiness.  And when we have the right thoughts, we are better able to navigate the way to happiness that we have set for ourselves. 

Right Speech

In Christianity, the things that come out of our mouths come from the deepest parts of our hearts.  This can be applied in your journey in the way to happiness.  To make yourself happy, you must learn to speak your thoughts and you must learn to listen to other people’s thoughts, too.  You want your way to happiness to be peppered with kind words that will make others happy. 

Besides, you want other people who are on the same way to happiness as you are to treat you in a similar manner. Buddha and Jesus Christ will definitely approve, thanks to the Golden Rule of a happy life.

Right Actions

Of course, thought and speech must be translated into action.  Otherwise, you will not be making great strides along the way to happiness.  And with your happiness affecting the happiness of others around you, their happiness will be adversely affected, too. 

Right action means adopting a positive attitude where you have respect for life, respect for property and respect for personal relationships.  Again, the tenets of Buddhism come in at this point. 

When you have respect for life, you respect the rights of other people to their own brand of happiness.  When you have respect for property, you acknowledge the hard work that comes with owning it.  When you respect personal relationships, you respect the emotional boundaries that define us.  And when you have all these kind of respect in your daily actions, you will find happiness of heart and peace of mind.  Let’s hope that others, too, will be mindful of the Golden Rule and provide you with the same respect as you give to others. 

In conclusion, the way to happiness is best found when you adopt the right thought, the right speech and the right action.  Just find what is right for you without harming others and everything will be alright. 

Visit www.happyessence.com and find more information on the right way to happiness that’s best suited for you today!

The way to happiness is filled with negative people and places, just as life is.  You will be tempted to give in to despair, give up on your journey, and just let a sad life slowly take over.  Fortunately, you have resources to help in coping with and triumphing over these negative challenges in your way to happiness.  Besides, it is a good thing that challenges are present because these will make the journey better and the victory sweeter. 

 Negative People

Yes, negative people will always be there to hound every step your efforts on your way to happiness.  You will be told many discouraging things and disillusioned views - people like you do not deserve happiness and happiness is for the birds, to name two - which you must shut out.  Otherwise, you risk losing your chance at finding the true way to happiness.

There are also people who will attempt to steal your happiness in many ways.  Your loved ones will be turned against you, your achievements will be credited to them, and your cherished possessions will be destroyed, amongst others.  Still, you must not let these people permanently block your way to happiness.  It will be to your detriment, this much is true. 

Instead, you must fight back but only in a good way.  You should turn a blind eye and ear to them, strengthen your relationships against them, and just generally avoid them.  After all, why provide them with the opportunity to stand in the way to happiness? (Your happiness, to be exact)

Negative Places

Along the way to happiness, you will find yourself in negative places that pose challenges to your dreams of joy.  It can be in a hospital recovering from injuries, or in a trial court facing fabricated charges, or in your home dealing with grave family problems.  It does not matter where the place is, what matter most is your reaction to the challenges before you.

You can either run from the place or stick it out in the place.  Your decision will depend on many factors, of course, but it is often better to face your fears for your happiness right here, right now.  Or better yet, if you have the capacity to turn the negative place into a positive one, go for it!  You might just be paving someone else’s way to happiness in the process.

Indeed, your way to happiness rests almost solely in your hands.  Although you cannot control negative people and places from entering your life, you can control how these people and places can affect your happiness.  We say you say “No”" to them and carry on with your life the way you see to be fit and happy.

Visit www.happyessence.com today and discover the way to happiness like it was never presented before! 

For most people, authentic happiness is a subjective thing, much as beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  No matter the objects and subjects of happiness, however, there are a few “strong tips” to help individuals like you find happiness.

Strong Relationships

Whether you realize it or not now, strong relationships with family and friends as well as your romantic partner are the basis for authentic happiness.  This well-known fact of life has basis in both science and economics.

According to scientists, strong relationships boost our immune systems, hence, providing better protection against diseases and stress.  And when you are healthy, you are most likely to find authentic happiness. 

According to the economists, you will need $80,000 in disposable income to make up for not having friends. Why? Well, because you will feel lonelier, hence, spend more money on therapy and antidepressants!

To achieve strong relationships, you need to cherish your family, your friends and your partner by spending time with them and making them happy.  You are sure to receive the favor in return and then there will be authentic happiness all around.

Strong Sense of Volunteerism

Authentic happiness may be harvested from the fruits of your volunteer labor.  Of course, this does not mean hard labor for indeed nobody likes to be a slave to labor. 

Instead, you can volunteer your time, talents and touch of empathy towards helping others.  You can volunteer in nursing homes for the elderly and shelters for orphans and the homeless, join civic organizations that extend assistance to the community and individuals, and help a random person in need as well as your family and friends.  You will find that in your journey in authentic happiness, you have made others happy, too. And this will double, even triple, your feelings of fulfillment and highs of happiness.

Strong Sense of Spirituality

You do not have to be overtly religious to attain a strong sense of spirituality, far from it.  You just need to find your own brand of spirituality that you feel comfortable with.  The important thing is that your spiritual beliefs respect those of other people’s convictions, respect being one of the pillars of authentic happiness.   Plus, it helps to have inner peace.  When you are at peace with yourself, you are more likely to be at piece with others.  Again, you have come full circle with authentic happiness. 

Strong Sense of Self

Most important in the journey for authentic happiness is a strong sense of self.  You must cultivate your talents and abilities (strengths) while coping with your flaws and faults (weaknesses).  Better yet, you may transform your faults and flaws such that these, too, can become your strengths.

When you know who you are, you are better able to maintain strong relationships, give of yourself to others, and believe in your uniqueness as a spiritual being.  And when you have all these, authentic happiness is just within reach.

Your authentic happiness is in your hands, make no mistake about it!  Visit www.happyessence.com today and find other strong tips to attain authentic happiness in your life. 

Often, we are so focused on finding authentic happiness in our lives, or what some may call obsessive pursuit of happiness, that we actually forget to enjoy the journey!  This is a shame as the journey itself is the more important part, not the destination.  Then again, the search for happiness is a journey that has no destination.

To help you enjoy the journey towards authentic happiness, you may apply the following suggestions.  Just remember that each person’s journey is unique so it is important to be yourself for only then will you be truly happy. 

Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

In the pursuit of authentic happiness, you may fall into the trap of taking it too seriously.  You actively seek out the people and places that will make you happy, even to the extent that your life and those of other people are disrupted. 

While it is true that the search for authentic happiness is a conscious and active choice, you must maintain the delicate balance of letting life take its course and taking life by the horns.  When you start taking your search seriously, you take the fun out of it.  Indeed, it’s that simple.

Don’t Step on Other People’s Toes

Authentic happiness can be found in the happiness of others.  As such, you must take care not to hurt, harm and humiliate the people you meet on your journey.  When you do, you will find that your happiness somehow become impure, imperfect and impermanent.  So, why step on other’s people’s toes when your own level of happiness is at stake?

Instead, you can make it your life’s mission to help other people find authentic happiness!  Just remember not to overdo it at the expense of your own mental and physical health because then you will not also be happy. 

Don’t Be Selfish with Your Happiness

In a related thought, you must also share your brand of authentic happiness with others.  When you do, you will find that your sense of joy is somehow doubled.  After all, instead of just one person rejoicing at your good fortune, there are now two!

For example, if you were promoted to a higher position because of hard work, which made you happy, you must also thank your family and friends who have supported you along the way.  Believe it or not, most things in life cannot be achieved solely on your own.  You will need other people to make your dreams of authentic happiness come true.

In conclusion, the journey towards authentic happiness is one that must be savored and enjoyed to the full.  To do so, you must enjoy the fun, enjoy the people and enjoy the little nuggets of joy along the way. 

At www.happyessence.com, authentic happiness can be yours, thanks to their effective tips and tools.  

Most of us think that the art of happiness is just that - a subjective art based on the unique perceptions of an individual as shaped by various forces in his life.  Think of the adage about beauty being in the eyes of the beholder.

You might be wrong, however, as the art of happiness has scientific basis.  After all, science has proven that our emotions reside in our brains, not in our hearts, and it is in our minds that we can have control over our happiness. 

Exercise Promotes Happiness

In the beginning of exercise research, the aspect of happiness was overlooked.  Exercise was only thought to positively influence physical health particularly in weight loss and muscle gain. The art of happiness in exercise was simply a crazy preposition. 

Well, it is not one now.  Exercise works in two ways towards making the art of happiness become reality in your life.  First, it releases abundant amounts of endorphins, which are chemicals able to stimulate feelings of happiness.  Think of them as natural although non-addictive opium to your body.

Second, exercise stimulates the production of antibodies in the immune system.  When your body has sufficient supply of antibodies, you have better protection against diseases and stresses.  And when you are healthy, you have one more reason to be happy!  So who says that the art of happiness is not intimately connected to exercise?

Genes Determine Happiness

Well, at least, for the most part.  In a study conducted on sets of identical twins raised in different households, it was discovered that the happiness of the twins were 50 percent correlated.  This was true even when social, economic and religious factors widely differed, which only goes to show that even genes may know of the art of happiness. 

You will not be surprised then when the majority of happy families breed happy children.  Think of it as winning the genetic lottery in the art of happiness.  Don’t despair, however, if you feel that you grew up in less than happy circumstances.  Keep in mind that the art of happiness is one that you can consciously accept, adopt and apply in your everyday life. 

Positive Psychology Enhances Happiness

Positive psychology is defined as consisting of positive activities and emotions, both of which are conscious personal choices.  Its professional practitioners seek to promote the art of happiness by nurturing talents, enhancing virtues and making life fulfilling.

You can apply the tenets of positive psychology in your own version of the art of happiness, which include learned optimism and hope as well as a heightened sense of self-efficacy and spirituality.  Ultimately, positive psychology points the way to happiness being a conscious choice borne of your determination to be happy in spite of external circumstances.

So, to answer the question of whether the art of happiness has science to back it up, it is a resounding yes!  Remember that when you smile and when you make others smile. 

Know more about the art of happiness at www.happyessence.com today!

The revered 14^th Dalai Lama of Tibet once expounded on the art of happiness.  Indeed, probably no other person can discuss it than the Dalai Lama who has endured hardships in exile yet still manages to be happy despite the circumstances.  With that said, it will serve us well to know and apply the basic premises in the Dalai Lama’s art of happiness.  And lest you think that only the Dalai Lama, with his years of training and natural affability, can do it, think again.  So can you! 

Life’s Purpose is Happiness

Probably more than any other world religion, Buddhism is synonymous with the art of happiness.  In fact, for Buddhists, the purpose of life is happiness!  And the Buddhist brand of happiness is rooted neither in material things nor in otherworldly places, thus, the emphasis on attaining happiness on Earth.

When you realize that happiness is your birthright, instead of a privilege only given to a lucky few, you can start practicing the art of happiness.  Of course, you need not convert to Buddhism in order to do so.  You only need to adopt relevant Buddhist teachings in your practice of the art of happiness like regular meditation and positive thinking. 

Happiness is a State of Mind

Happiness is an intensely personal feeling of satisfaction and contentment with whatever you have in your life, both in terms of material possessions and of loving relationships.  As such, the practice of the art of happiness lies within your mind and your heart.  Of course, this is assuming that your basic survival needs - food, water, shelter and clothing - are satisfactorily met.  When that happens, the art of happiness becomes easier to practice. 

No matter the external circumstances in your life at present, you have the power to be happy simply because you want to be happy.  It is all in your mind and when you exert greater control of your mind, the art of happiness makes sense. 

Happiness through Determined Training

In Buddhism, regular meditation and internal chants achieve purposes beyond religious posturing.  These spiritual rituals are essential components of the art of happiness mainly by providing for the systematic training of the mind.

You will train your heart and mind to be happy, regardless of external events.  You will train your inner self to adopt the art of happiness in your daily life.  You will take control of your life by taking control of your mind.  These are the mantra of happy people, Buddhist or not. 

You will observe that one premise weaves through all of these principles about the art of happiness, Buddhist-style - the key to personal happiness is in your own hands.  When you realize the control you have on your happiness, you will soon realize that indeed happiness is achievable! 

Become intimate with the art of happiness at www.happyessence.com today!

In the United States alone, $85 per person is spent on psychopharmaceuticals!  These are prescription and over-the-counter drugs designed to treat emotional disorders, which means that these are used in the pursuit of happiness.  Did you know, however, that you can do away, or at least, lessen your dependence on these psychopharmaceuticals in your pursuit of happiness? 

Communicating Positively

The pursuit of happiness involves interactions with other people. As such, communication is key towards achieving happiness especially communication with friends and family.  However, when you do communicate, always strive for a positive tone.  This way, you can concentrate on your triumphs and be happy with them instead of focusing on the trials and become unhappy. After all, the pursuit of happiness must generally be a happy journey.

Also, you must cultivate quality relationships by sharing your personal feelings and sharing in the personal feelings of another.  (No, talking about mundane things like sports and the weather will not cut it) You need to focus on quality of true friends instead of quantity of acquaintances.   Any therapist will tell you that surrounding yourself with good, honest and true friends is one of the best cures for depression. 

Caring for Others

It’s good to be good.  You will find that helping others in their own pursuit of happiness helps your own quest, too. Indeed, the happiness of others when you help them help themselves can be your source of happiness, too! 

You do not have to become a superhero saving the world from monsters like famine, war and abuse.  Often, the little things in life - caring for an adopted pet, volunteering in a homeless shelter, feeding a hungry person - will provide a stronger sense of purpose. Thus, your pursuit of happiness also acquires a stronger sense of achievement.  Besides, caring for others make you realize just how lucky you are.  And who needs psychopharmaceuticals to make you feel happy when you know it?

Cultivating Yourself

The pursuit of happiness is a highly personal journey.  As such, you will need all the personal strengths that you can get.  And for you to do this, you have to cultivate yourself. 

You can attend personal development seminars, set aside time for yourself, surround yourself with good friends, and always compliment yourself for a job well done, to name a few things you can do to cultivate yourself in the pursuit of happiness. The important thing is that you love yourself more than others can possibly love you. 

However, you must use your strengths to achieve purposes greater than your own personal goals.  You will discover that in doing so, your pursuit of happiness acquires greater purpose, greater passion and greater pleasure. 

Any psychologist will tell you that being happy sans uppers involves making the conscious choice to become happy with who and what you are.  Acceptance is the key in healing, after all.

In conclusion, the pursuit of happiness sans psychopharmaceuticals hinges on communicating to others, caring for others and cultivating your inner self.   

For more tips on how best to carry out the pursuit of happiness, log on to www.happyessence.com today!

Among the inalienable rights of man, as asserted by the United States Constitution, is the pursuit of happiness. Through the ages, philosophers, prophets and movie producers alike have put forth countless ways to make the pursuit of happiness easier, faster and better.  And then the Golden Rule comes in.  Virtually every philosopher from Confucius to Christ have their take on it, either stated positively or negatively, but all of them pointing to one thing - Do unto others as you would have them do unto yourself.  So, how is the Golden Rule related to the pursuit of happiness?  

Happiness Must be Achieved with Others in Mind

Without a doubt, the pursuit of happiness is a very personal quest as happiness itself is a very personal emotion.  As such, it can be a selfish activity.  However, your pursuit of happiness must be undertaken with the happiness of other people in your mind.  You do not live in a vacuum and you do not achieve true happiness by making others unhappy by your selfish actions.  Besides, you would not want others to be happy at your suffering, would you?

Of course, this does not mean that you have to make others happy all the time because then you will never be happy.  This simply means that in your pursuit of happiness, you have stepped on as little toes as possible as much as you would like that the pursuit of happiness of the people around you does not come at the expense of your toes, so to speak.  Now, this truly harks back to the Golden Rule. 

Happiness Must be Shared with Others

The fruits of the pursuit of happiness must be shared with others.  You will discover to your delight that your joy instantly doubles itself when someone else is happy for you!  For example, if you achieved your dream of winning the Olympic Gold, sharing the honor with your family and friends make them happy, too. 

Besides, it is only right that you share since they, too, had a hand in your pursuit of happiness, thanks to their encouragement and support through your ups and downs.  Plus, they can count on you to do the same for them. 

When you have followed the Golden Rule in loving and living during your pursuit of happiness, you will truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Life is, after all, about giving to others so that you, too, may be able to receive in full measure.

Don’t think either that it is about material wealth, this giving and receiving in full measure.  Happiness, after all, is best measured with the things in life that you cannot see, only feel such as joy in the kiss of a baby. 

For more tips on how best to carry out the pursuit of happiness, log on to www.happyessence.com today!

Happiness is often an elusive emotion.  This is especially true under times of stress, of pressure and of tragedy, all of which are understandable reasons to be unhappy.    However, did you know that there are ways how to be happy in the past, present and future, regardless of circumstances?

Forgive the Past

First of all, you have to realize that forgiving the past does not necessarily mean forgetting about it, far from it.  After all, the past made us the way we are today, not to mention that the ways how to be happy depend on looking to your past and finding the times that made you truly happy.

Basically, forgiving the past means forgiving the mistakes of the past.  You cannot go back in time and do things differently, no matter how hard you wish you can.  And when you continually dwell on the mistakes of the past, you will always live in the past.  Or at least, be haunted by its ghosts.  And what good will it do to your quest to find the ways how to be happy? 

So, starting today, you must forgive yourself and other people whom you have done wrong and who have done you wrong.  You will find that the issue of how to be happy in your misery often resolves itself when you have forgiven and been forgiven. 

Enjoy the Present

If there is one thing you can control in your life, it is right here, right now. As such, you have the capacity to enjoy the present to the fullest simply because you have taken the conscious decision to be happy.  And that is the best way to satisfy the ways how to be happy!

When you come to think of it, you must live your life like today is your last day on Earth.  You will delightedly discover that life’s little delights can often be fully enjoyed when you think of it that way.

However, always remember that the ways how to be happy also require responsible actions on your part. You do live in a society, not a vacuum. You never know if someone else is thinking of ways how to be happy and it involves making you happy!

Anticipate the Future

Well, of course, we cannot control the future as much as we cannot change the past.   However, the ways how to be happy involve anticipating the future, no matter what it brings and what it holds for us.  Thus, even as you live each day like it is your last, always look forward to the future.  After all, your future may be brighter than it is at present.  You never know, especially not with happiness.  

In conclusion, how to be happy is a matter of forgiving the sins of the past, enjoying the happiness of the present and anticipating the joys of the future.  You will soon find that when you live life this way, the question of how to be happy finally finds its answer.  You just are happy because you chose to be happy!

For more tips on how to be happy, be sure to visit www.happyessence.com today!

Oftentimes, human nature prevents us from being happy even when know the ways how to be happy, thanks to countless motivational books, articles and shows.  If this sad state of affairs is happening in your life right now, don’t despair because there is big hope in little things for you and countless others. 

Find the Little Blessings

It must be emphasized that finding the little blessings in your life as the first step in how to be happy does not demand some form of spirituality and religiousness, far from it.  You just have to look more closely and observe more acutely the little things in your life that you can be happy about.

For example, look back into a day when you felt happiest at the simplest of things, say, sharing a few laughs over a silly joke with your child.  Now, think of the other ways that sharing something, anything and everything with your child made for little nuggets of happiness.

Soon, those little nuggets will add up to big parts of your life.  And then the matter of how to be happy will cease to be a question in your life.  You just are happy, pure and simple.

Be Happy with Little Blessings

Now, it is time to consciously take on the responsibility to satisfy the ways how to be happy with the little things in life.  Yes, happiness is a conscious decision.  If you must, you can keep a mental list of these little blessings.  In this way, you will not forget that your life can be a happy one, thanks to all the little blessings that pour daily.  And remember that the simpler the things in your list, the better for your quest in how to be happy in a big way with the little things.

After all, happiness is contentment and satisfaction.  The more you hinge your happiness on big things, especially wealth, the less you will feel happy.  Then, you will have defeated the purpose of looking for answers to the question of how to be happy in big ways through little things.

Share Your Little Blessings

Last but definitely the most important, you have to share your little blessings and, consequently, your happiness.  Indeed, the countless resources dealing on the subject of how to be happy always emphasize the value of sharing.

By sharing your happiness, you are like the proverbial candle lighting the way for others.  And when you do, you might just find yourself with people who are happier simply because you made them happy.  How is that for actually passing on the ways how to be happy to others?

Indeed, the answer to the question of how to be happy in these unhappy times lies within your inner self.  You have consciously and actively seek out, be happy and share the little blessings in your life, whatever they may be. 

For more tips on how to be happy, be sure to visit www.happyessence.com today!