Getting happy right now is simple, be grateful. If you think about three things you are grateful for and avoid thinking about the future you’ll be happy. For a few minutes at least.
Staying happy is the tricky part. Human beings are the only animal that thinks about the future. We spend a lot of time thinking about our happier future selves and what we need to do to become that person.
We take what we have now for granted. We choose to suffer now so we can happier later. There is a better way to live. To have happiness and spaceships, medicine and the Internet.
The first step is knowing your core needs:
- The need for certainty
- The need for variety
- The need to feel significant
- The need for love and connection
- The need for growth
- The need to contribute
The second step is to plan your future around your six basic needs.
Finally remember to be grateful.
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Photo courtesy of a4gpa (photo).
Suggested further reading:
- Stumbling on Happiness
– by Daniel Gilbert
- Anthony Robbin’s Six core needs
- Man’s Search for Meaning
– by Viktor E. Frankl
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post Benson!
People often become so focused on the ‘wants’, allowing possessions, status, or material items to dictate their level of happiness. The truth is, happiness is a state of mind that can be achieved without those things. It’s easy for anyone to make the choice to be happy, regardless of circumstance, however the difficulty lies in the conditioning and habits we’ve formed over our lifetimes.
To stay happy, one has to start developing new (thought) habits that will aid them in being more consistent with their happiness. A perfect example is being grateful … studies have shown those that are grateful for most things in their lives are better at finding the positives in even the worst situations. This leads to a greater overall appreciation for life.
One of the books I found great and enlightening on this subject was ‘The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living’ by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler
Hi Benson,
I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog. I like these “core needs” you write about. I’ve spent a lot of time reading philosophy but I’ve never spent much time reading about happiness… makes me wonder what I’ve been missing. Thanks for sharing!