14 Ways to become the happiest person on earth (part 2) -

In part one, we explored how to be happy with yourself and people around you (go back if you missed it). Today's tips would be more about happiness through self-fulfillment.

1.       Look for ways to impact lives: I used to wonder why volunteers for humanitarian services leave the comfort of their homes in Europe to work in the suburbs of a crisis ridden Somalia or Haiti for years, until I started impacting lives. It leaves you with an unfathomable inner joy, which gives you fulfilment.  I’m happier every time I help people. Try to make positive difference in the lives of others. Doing so will increase your sense of self-worth, add meaning to your life, and deepen relationships with those whose lives you touch. It will also help put your own problems in perspective and direct your energies away from self-absorption.

2.       Seek meaning and challenge in work: recently, a friend of mine quit her bank job because it didn’t give her satisfaction. I know a consultant medical doctor who feels he would have been better fulfilled as a lecturer. Enjoying one’s work is a prime ingredient of happiness. If you feel stuck doing something that has little gratification, be it your job or major, consider looking for something more satisfying. Even if you love your work, strive for balance between work and personal pursuits. People on their death beds rarely, if ever, express the wish that they had spent more time at the office.

3.       Set meaningful personal goals for yourself: don’t just set meaningful goals, make progress towards them. Whether in work, school, or relationships, engaging in goal-directed activity and seeing yourself progress towards your goals will provide a basis for life satisfaction and foster feelings of being in greater control of your life. Many people find that spiritual development (religiously based or not) confers meaning in their life.

4.       Make time for enjoyable activities: even the most serious persons should have a provision for fun in their life. One of the benefits of time-management skills is the ability to schedule everyday activities that provide pleasure around school, work, and other obligations. Make time for a hobby, reading or recreational activities. For me I play video games, watch football matches, watch plenty movies and comic clips and I hang out with friends. Playing is a necessary balance and recipe for happiness.

5.       Nurture physical health: the terminally and those in the emergency wards have no provision for laughter. Many studies show that moderate physical exercise contributes to emotional well-being. Such activities provide temporary respite from life stressors. When done in social context, they add the benefits of social interactions as well. People who exercise, get sufficient sleep, and practice good dietary habits tend to be more stress resistant and satisfied with themselves and with their lives.

6.       Be open to new experiences: don’t be rigid about life. Some of our most pleasurable experiences can occur when we try new things. I used to believe seasonal movies are a waste of time until I saw cool and educative ones. It’s easy to fall into a rut, so whether it’s traveling, developing a new hobby, or taking a college course on a new subject, be open to doing something you have never done before as long as it is decent.

7.       Cultivate optimism, and count your blessings: as is by now obvious, cognitive appraisals influence emotions, and an upbeat, optimistic approach to life is linked with subjective well-being. Try to look on the positive side of things, to see demanding events as challenges and opportunities rather than threats. Learn to appreciate and be grateful for even the mundane, average day in which nothing happened to you. There is a saying: “happiness is a day without a toothache.” We are all gifted in ways that we may take for granted.

8.      Seek Joy: there is difference between happiness and joy; happiness comes from the outside (meaning it is dependent upon circumstances), but joy comes from within. The bible calls it “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.” It makes you feel unexplainable confidence and comfort even in the most precarious of moments and it makes you glow when everyone expects you to gloom. Wanna try it? Then try fellowshipping with the Holy spirit.

         thanks for reading!!!
        

By Ezeme Kingsley C.
Kingynelsy@gmail.com