Seven Keys to More Happiness

We all want to be happy, but what is happiness and how do we become happier? Happiness is not a destination, but rather a way of being. Author Margaret Lee Runbeck described it this way: "Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling."The road to happiness is not achieved in a day,by the number of accomplishments you achieve, or how much money you have. Happiness is a choice that each of us makes, whether we realize it or not.
The Choice is Ours
According to Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky,a psychology professor at the University of California Riverside, we all have three different factors that determine our happiness. These factors are our genetic set point, our life circumstances,and our own ability to choose. Each of these factors plays a role in our happiness, but 40 percent of our total happiness level is up to us. That means we can choose to be happy or not.
Are These Bad Habits Hurting You?
How do we choose happiness? There are several habits or behaviors that contribute to us being unhappy. The key is to eliminate these habits or behaviors and choose happiness instead.

See the list below

Isolation

Anytime you choose to isolate yourself from other people because you are feeling down, you are choosing to be unhappy. Socializing with other people, even when you don’t feel like it, can be good for your emotional well-being.

Control

We all like to have control over our lives, which can help increase our happiness. However, worrying too much about controlling everything, especially the things we can’t control, including others’ actions, will lead to less happiness.


Complaining

When we complain we only serve to make the negative things we’re complaining about seem even worse. This leads to more negative feelings and decreased happiness. Furthermore, happy people don’twant to spend time with complainers.


Blaming

When we blame everything bad that happens on our circumstances or on other people, we are essentially giving up all control over our lives or how we respond. There is no happiness in blaming.

Criticizing

Criticizing others in an effort to improve the way feel about our circumstances never leads to long-term happiness. While we might feel better for a fleeting moment, in the end it only creates more negativity.

Negativity

Speaking of negativity, if you spend your life focusing on the negative you will always feel negative. Happy people focus on the positive and look for solutions. When you choose to be pessimistic it not only adds to your unhappiness, but also tends to becomea self-fulfilling prophecy. See things for what they are and focus on the positive. Furthermore, happy people don’t like to hang around with negative people.

Neglecting the past

Happy people live in the present. Those who focus on the negative experiences of the past can never overcome those experiences. That means they can’t enjoy the present because they’re too focused on the past. People who focus on or worry about the future tend to be disappointed by unmet expectations. To be happy, live in the present.