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Happy for No Reason Like a Kid on Christmas Morning

The desire to be happy is what drives us to whatever we do.  In fact, humans spend so much time in their waking moments everyday to be happy that makes us forget what are the things that make us happy.  For example, many people equate money to be happiness, when in fact money only makes us comfortable and not happy.  From coaching and training over 81,131 people in 12 countries since 1996, the following are the 5 conditions that make us happy:

 1.  Hope for a better tomorrow

Despite the generally accepted notion that the fulfilment of a wish brings happiness, I believe that a person who has hope can taste happiness before that hope becomes a reality.  For better or worse, the human being is always discontent with present reality.  It's okay to be discontented as long as you direct that discontentment into new hopes on a higher plane.  For example, if I am not happy with my Samsung Galaxy S4, I can direct my efforts to earning more money so that I can buy the new S5 when it comes out in March 2014.

 2.  Daily Apparently Insignificant Everyday Things

 Yes, we need to see the happiness in small things and able to be happy over small things.  Like laugh aloud when we hear a joke and look forward to the Sunday outing like a kid on Christmas morning. It is important to cultivate this capacity to be happy over small things daily.

 3. Look at Things Objectively

 Yes, do not look at things from a sad angle but see it from a impermanence angle. For all things in this world are impermanent, so bad things will too be blown away fast.  Often we cannot see the good side of ourselves and of our own performance and we often criticize ourselves for not being good enough.  If you are objective you will realize that such view only creates your own unhappiness.  

 4. Happiness is in Entrusting Yourself to an Absolute

 Entrusting oneself to something absolute provides the most immediate form of happiness.  The absolute is always free and happy, and this absolute is Peace of Mind.  Get peace of mind in whatever you do, be it in big or small things and you'll feel happy instantly.   

 5. Love More than Being Loved

 Yes, love is still the greatest power and greatest source of happiness. Not receiving love but giving love unconditionally.  To be happy, be aware that you have a place in your heart to be happy.  Read my blog on "How to Love Professionally" at here. 

 By Andy Ng, Chief Trainer Coach at Asia Trainers.  Andy is available for limited speaking engagements in a year.  He travels every month to teach his audience on topics including management, leadership, sales and personal effectiveness. Details of his courses are found here. 
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