Authentic Happiness

Have you ever stopped to think if the people you know (or if you yourself) are truly happy or not? Are they the epitome of authentic happiness or are they just putting on a facade? Most people that you ask are likely to say that they are pretty happy but if a few more things went their way they'd be happier. They might say that more money or a better job would raise their levels of joy. Others might say that the only happy people in the world are the rich and famous, but wild celebrity stories of suicide and depression tend to disprove that theory. What is the true path to happiness?

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Authentic happiness is all about being happy from within. A person who understands what it really means to be happy will not let a minor problem (or a major one) affect who he or she is. A happy person doesn't get too bent out of shape about a scrape on a car or a partner arriving late, because often these things are out of his or her circle of control and it's much more efficient to only concentrate on what you can control and what you already have going for you. This kind of happiness is truly serene. It's not about getting everything you want whenever you want it. It's not a matter of having the best toys or dating the right person, it's much more about being the right person.

There are some people who are born this way and for them, life tends to be a bit of a cake walk. Even difficult tasks tend to melt before their optimistic viewpoint and "can do" attitude. For those of us who were born on the wrong side of the bed, it is possible to improve in multiple areas that will make authentic happiness much more achievable. Two of the most important things that you can alter are your gratitude and your adaptability. Since inauthentic happiness tends to come from only being happy when you get material things, gratitude for what you already have or what you've had in the past can make your happiness much more genuine. Letting yourself go with the flow a bit more and becoming more adaptable to changes, positive or negative, can help you to not sweat the small or the large stuff and you'll be happier for it.

These are not easy changes to make if you've been ungrateful and unwavering for many years, but people have been successful at increasing their authentic happiness before you and it's time to get on the road to a more genuine and healthy life to follow their example. 

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