It Turns Out Your Happiness Depends On These Five Decisions
Happiness is all about attitude.
“The Pursuit of Happyness” book by Chris Gardner tells the story of a struggling salesman who was searching for happiness and stability for himself and his son. It was adapted into a movie that grossed over $300 million at the box office in 2006. That tells me that people want to be happy. We all love to live a happy, stress-free, pain-free life where everything works as we plan and every plan is hitch-free. But is it possible to live a truly happy life? What does it take to be happy?
In the grand scheme of things, your attitude determines your happiness; how you react or respond to situations around you can influence whether you are happy or not. Some of the things that cause you agony are what other people around the world deal with daily. Those things that upset you will not necessarily perturb another fellow down the street. The good news is that you can control your attitude. Happiness can be temporary, and in my opinion, what we need is JOY.
Happiness is a choice; if you want to pursue happiness, you must start with your decisions. Here are five decisions you must get right to boost your chances of higher life satisfaction.
Who you marry
Marriage is a life-long commitment to someone else. It’s been defined as a relationship between two imperfect people aiming to live perfectly together. What that means is that no one is perfect. You are a flawed human, and so is your spouse. Making a marriage work requires a lot of forgiveness, compromise, tolerance, and above all, LOVE. You should ensure you marry someone who will complement you in many ways, support you, have your best interest at heart, and who you can have fun with. Yes, marriage should be fun. Marrying the right person can lead to more happy days.
Who you associate with
Helen Keller said, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light” In everyone’s life, sometimes, our inner fire goes out, and we lose our passion and desire for what we do. During this time, having good friends around you, whose shoulders you can lean on, who can support and encourage you, who will be there to cheer you on, can make a difference in whether you succeed or not. Make the decision to be with true friends, and you will improve your chances of happiness. May you never walk alone.
Where you work
Our career is an inextricable thread in the fabric of our life. You’ve got to ensure that your job can sustain your standard of living. Yes, choose a career where you can make lots of money. We also must ensure we work in organizations with positive and collaborative cultures. Determine what is important for you, and look for companies that will provide at least most of what you want. It’s difficult to get everything you want with any employer; 70% is a good number. Finally, have the right boss. You’ve heard that people quit their jobs because of bad bosses. When interviewing for a job, be sure also to question your boss. Don’t take the job if you think you won’t feel comfortable working with the future boss. To the bosses out there, ensure you are not the reason someone quit an organization.
How you spend your money
You work, You earn, and You spend. Hopefully, you are also investing. Spend your money to bring you the basic comfort of life. You work hard; you should play hard and spend your money on what brings you happiness. Hey, don’t overspend, and don’t get into debt in Pursuit of happiness. It’s all about moderation, planning, budgeting, and spending within your means. They’ve said money can’t buy happiness, but it surely can aid it. And I agree!
How you give back
The true reason why most people are unhappy is that they only focus on themselves. When you get yourself in such a sad state, it is a good practice to think outward and think about others who, in most cases, want the kind of life you currently have. When you can’t change your attitude about your situation, the next best thing to do is to get out of your head and serve others. Serving others and helping them with their needs has a powerful effect of bringing fulfillment and, YES, happiness to us in return.
It is crucial to recognize that every decision we make in life can have a profound impact on our overall happiness and well-being. From the simplest choices we make on a daily basis to the major life-changing decisions we face, each one contributes to shaping our path in life and ultimately affects our happiness. By taking the time to reflect on our values and priorities and watching out for these five happiness catalysts, we can make decisions that align with our goals and aspirations and ultimately lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. Remember that the power to create our own happiness lies within us and that every decision we make is an opportunity to take control of our lives and shape our own destinies. So let us embrace the power of our decisions and strive to make choices that bring us joy, fulfillment, and happiness.
