Do you know what’s the most frequent question I get on ShineSheets? It’s the one that’s driving philosophers mad, for centuries… And it’s probably driving you mad too. Yes, it’s the one and only: How to be happy?

… And you know what?

I don’t think anyone really knows. There is no one universal truth when it comes to happiness. It’s very difficult to define something that has so many different meanings to every person in this world.

But there’s one thing I do know, the one that people seem to always forget (or just don’t want to remember). It’s the fact that happiness is not just something that happens to you (even though these words sound similar). Happiness requires a little bit of work, and a little bit of effort too.

I mean, it is quite hard to “just be happy”. At least it doesn’t work that way… If I could just tell you to be happy, and you would, then there would be no problem. Being happy is also not something you just miraculously get the moment you’re born.

Happiness requires a sequence of small actions, habits, and thinking patterns that help your happy feelings arise, and ultimately – accumulate into something big. Something that can make you say “finally! I am happy.”.

I call these actions “little acts of happiness”.

Now, I know this is an unpopular opinion. In fact, you might not like it as well, and I’m aware of it. I don’t really like it myself.

Why?

Because we are people, and when you think well, people don’t really like to work. We already have to work every day, we would rather be lazy, and it is uncomfortable to know that you also have to work on something fundamental, like your happiness, too.

(Yes, it sucks… Can’t we just be happy by default??)

But here’s the thing. Through the years, I noticed that many of those tiny, happiness-inducing actions can become practically effortless if you make them into a habit. A simple act of repetition can help you bring more happy feelings into your life and gradually make you happier.

So yeah… While I don’t know how you can get totally, 100% happy, I know how you can become simply happier than you are right now – with small, positive acts of happiness, and thinking patterns that lead to happier feelings every day.

I shared a big list of them lately on this Blog. You can read them here: 69 Ways To Be Happier (Starting Today)

If you feel that it IS time for you to be happier, I kindly suggest you read them and start adding a few of them into your life.

It’s up to you to decide if you want to wake up a little happier, let’s say, the next Sunday. I mean, there are so many small things you can do this week to make that happen.

So make that happen! Don’t be afraid to be different than everyone else… Don’t be the one who just waits to become happy.

Be that person who didn’t wait, and built her happiness herself.

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