6 Ways to Be Happy
People often ask me, "What is the key to
happiness?" To them, I must say that there is no lock or latch on the door
of delight. You just have to push or pull it. It will open wide and you can
easily enter the treasure land of joy. Happiness is a mental state which has to
be cultivated. It cannot be bought or sold, weighed or measured. It has nothing
to do with your material possessions or your professional status. It comes from
inside. It is the song of the soul and the music of the heart.
Here, in this article, let me take the privilege
of suggesting some of the ways to be happy. It is my way. So don't get swayed
away by my broad generalisations. Everyone has to discover his own way.
1. Log on to inner net - Instead of fruitlessly searching the mysterious
word on the google, it is much better to log on to your inner net. Probe your
mind to find the feeling within. It is very easy to travel thousands of
kilometres from one end of the globe to another. But the inner journey is very tedious.
The smallest distance is the hardest to cover. But that is the surest way to
happiness. Without inner connect, you cannot experience everlasting
blissfulness.
2. Follow your passion – Do whatever you like. Make your passion your
profession. But many a time, there is a discrepancy between your choice and
your career. In that case also, try to love what you do and find sometime for
your hobby. It can be anything like games, music, painting, photography,
travelling, sight-seeing, keeping pets or watching movies. Liking what you do
& being satisfied with what you have — these are the two best sources of
happiness.
3. Read many things and write something – Reading good
literature is also very enjoyable and pleasurable. It is informative as well as
enlightening. Interaction with great minds of different ages always provides
valuable insights and life-lessons. I know that everyone cannot pen down his
thoughts and feelings in a creative and artistic way but I am sure that
everyone can jot down his sweet and sour experiences in a diary. You will love
your personal treasure as a child loves his crude and clumsy drawing.
4. Be a nature lover and a beauty watcher – Watch beauty that
is spread all around you so abundantly. “A thing of beauty is a joy for ever”,
says Keats. Smell the sweet fragrance of flowers. It is more enchanting than
perfumes. Feel the soft caress of the gentle wind that kisses your cheeks. Hear
the musical melody of the winged wonders of the world. Dew drops on the
colourful petals are prettier than pearls. In fact, beautiful things give more
pleasure than functional things. When you are in the company of nature, a
feeling of unity and oneness with the vast and varied forms of life suddenly
descends upon you and a heightened sense of awareness engulfs your
consciousness.
5. Spend time with family and friends - Spend some quality time with your
family, friends and children. I must suggest that everyone should marry because
it is the most beautiful experience of togetherness. Re-live your childhood
with your kids. Plan a holiday or go for outing. Snatch happy moments from your
busy schedules to enjoy with your loved ones. Chat with your friends. Sharing old
memories is like going into the flashback of pleasant times. Relaxation with
close relatives and friends breaks the monotony of routine life and refreshes
and rejuvenates you. Meet even strangers with a friendly smile. Don’t wear a
fake smile like an air-hostess or a hotel receptionist. Genuine smile on your
lips is a powerful weapon which can disarm even your enemies.
6. Be a selfless giver – Real joy is in giving. Do something for others
without any expectation. Service is the rent which you pay for your existence
on this earth. Share with others whatever you have – whether it is knowledge,
money or time. Even if you don’t have knowledge or wealth, you still have
enough time to do some fruitful and philanthropic work. Nothing else is more satisfying
and fulfilling than generosity. Winston Churchill rightly said, “We make a
living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.”
Follow these principles and feel immense and
immeasurable joy in life. Happiness is like scented sandal paste. If you apply
it on the forehead of others as tilak, your fingers will also get fragrant.
