Wednesday 22 May 2013

How Doing This 1 Thing Can Sabotage Your Happiness

Everyone wants to be happy, right?  Okay, okay, I bet you know some people who are determined not to be happy, but let's ignore those people for a few minutes.  If you are someone who does want to be happy then read on.

When you think about the things that make you happy, what's on your list?

A loving relationship
A beautiful house
A nice car (or 2, or 3)
Exotic vacations
Being able to help family and friends.

To name but a few...but how about this one: Approval.

Come on, admit it, we all do it.  We're all seeking approval from our family, friends, peers, co-workers, neighbours.  We all, at one time or another worry what others think of us.  We all try to fit in.
The problem is, what if you don't fit in?

What if you're just a little bit different than your peer group?  What if everyone you know has an Iphone and you still have a regular cell phone that, shock of all shocks, just makes phone calls?  Does that mean you have to get an Iphone, even if you don't really want one?  How much money do you spend buying things that you think will gain approval from the people in your life?

The more you try to fit in with a group, the more like that group you will become.  That's great if you want to be like them, but if you don't, it creates a problem.

You are not being yourself.  Did you know you have the right to be whoever you choose to be?  You can have whatever gadgets you want, or not.  You don't have to change yourself to fit in anywhere.  Doing so will only hurt you and will create the kind of person I mentioned in the first paragraph.....the kind who is determined to be unhappy.

You have to do this one thing each and every day:  Put yourself first.  Make your own happiness a priority, before anyone else's.  That's a hard thing to do.  Peer pressure is strong.  But once you make the decision to march to the beat of your own drum you will feel both freedom and happiness. What's more, even though many won't admit it or may resent you for it, they will all wish they had your guts.