Here’s another way of looking at happiness; This definition refers mainly to outer happiness, the happiness that we use in everyday life.
There are five parts, in my estimate:
1. Keep your eyes open
2. Have Argus Eyes
3. Be next to the ring
4. Set aside.
5. Decide.
We will deal with them one by one.
Number 1: Keep your eyes open. This means that you must make a conscious effort to see, find, and hear the good around you. Yes, there is a lot of negativity; sometimes he seems to shake his fist in your face.
Therefore, you must seek the good. Sometimes you may even have to rip it off. I saw a docudrama about the tsunami that hit Indonesia a few years ago, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Although those thousands died, and the physical destruction was incredible, the docudrama showed how there could be a good presentation even under those circumstances. The people grew; the people persevered; people found strength they never knew they had.
May your life never be invaded by a tsunami. But may our eyes ever be opened to the good that can be found in practically everything and everyone.
Number 2: Have Argus Eyes. Argus-Panoptes was the all-seeing god of Greek mythology. He is often depicted with 100 eyes. The point here is that you must be curious, see everything.
Many people simply go through life neglecting half the fun, half the happiness that is available externally, because they do not observe well. It’s like they live with blinders on. (Blinders are small plates attached to a horse’s tack that the horse can only see forward. This is good for the horse because then it is not distracted from its task by what may be happening on the periphery of its task.)
I don’t mean to constantly get distracted, of course not. I mean you need to be aware of life as much as you can. This means that you must make a deliberate effort to do more than just look ahead. So many good things can be found on the fringes of your days that it would be a shame to miss out on the good articles and events because you didn’t pay attention.
Number 3: Be Ringside. This one comes easily after the last one – put yourself in life in such a way that you don’t drop what you don’t want to miss. Understand this, this is another intentional act on your part.
Suppose you are interested in vintage airplanes. Such a traveling aircraft show will come to your city. However, to see and experience those planes, you have to get off the couch, buy a ticket, and go to the car show. It is not necessary to apply totally addicted to television.
Life happens to those who participate. Of course, you can’t do everything. But you can do a few things. Get out of your nonsense and do them.
Number 4: put aside. Decide that every day you will do something to expand your outer happiness. Make this a very good habit.
Find yourself, every day, adding something to your total happiness by doing something, thinking about something, being something that transmits joy to you. As childish as it may sound, what fun could you have!
Believe it or not, some people, many, find negative things in their day to day. And they will surely find it. Misery loves company and misery will accompany these people on the path of unhappiness as surely as the sun rises in the East each morning.
You can have the exact opposite according to the laws of attraction. Deliberately, consciously, put your energy aside to look at the positive and you will find your life brimming with positivity.
Number 5: Decide. Make a conscious decision to have more outer happiness in your life. “Make up your mind” is the operative phrase here. Make your mind into a community such that you can do nothing but be happy outwardly.
(Inner happiness is spiritual and is the subject of many other of my articles.)
Happiness is primarily and cardinally a decision. Most people slide into being unhappy. It is a way of living life with the least resistance. It is the path of the indolent person through the days of his years.
If you want to be happy on a regular and consistent basis, you must decide to be happy. There is no other way to say it. You have the privilege, being human, to make decisions. You are a decision maker. Unhappiness is chosen no matter how indifferent it may arise.
Happiness is also chosen, but there is nothing indifferent about this choice. It’s up to you. Then you make that decision with all its courage. Make no mistake, what you decide is how your life will be.
Decide right now to be happy.