Everybody is striving for happiness every day and every moment, yet we have a whole lot of unhappy people. There seem to a basic lack of understanding about what happiness really is. Our desire for more is the culprit which keeps us unhappy.

This post cover some of the aspects of happiness and how your approach needs to change to become happy instantly, forever. You are supposed to be happy but you ignore happiness components you are surrounded with.

• You Ignore What You Have

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” Frederick Keonig

Have you ever made a list of the things you possess? To list some of your possessions; a healthy body, loving children, blessing of parents, a home, food to eat daily, a reasonably good career, reasonable lifestyle, active brain, basic education, etc, etc.

Whatever you have should be enough for you to feel happy. Happiness is a state of mind nit a state of possessions.

If the things you have can’t make you happy, things you want also won’t.

• Your Wants are Insatiable

Desire is the root cause of all pain. According to Yogavasishta, Desire is the cause our soul takes rebirths.

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” Epictetus

The power of positive thinking teaches us to go after the goal until you achieve it. This is a road to permanent unhappiness.

Albert Einstein wrote: “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”

Be content, have a modest life, enjoy daily small happiness, don’t wait to become happy.

• You Compare with Others

When you do this, you invite pain and unhappiness. Everyone has their own story and journey. No two individuals are the same in any respect. Their body, mind, efforts, and Karma everything differs.

When you want to compare with others, compare yourself with someone who is less blessed than you are.  This will make you realize the importance of what you have.

When you compare with others who you think have the things you want, you suffer.

Gratitude for what you have is the only way to become happy forever.

• Your Definition of Happiness is Wrong

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day — go fishing.

If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.” Chinese Proverb

Helping others make us happy. Longing for things, status, richness for us for happiness is illusionary.  Happiness is what you feel after helping the needy. The feeling of humbleness, not arrogance gives birth to happiness.

The Chinese proverb says when it comes to happiness, whatever you do for others scores above whatever you do for yourself.

• Your Understanding of the Laws of Nature is Incorrect

You i.e. a soul is the architect of your Karma. Whatever you get or do not get, all your pain and pleasures all are according to the structure of Karma you have constructed. This structure is eternal. Every body you i.e. soul gets, you add some Karmas and eliminate some Karmas.

“As she has planted, so does she harvest; such is the field of karma.” Sri Guru Granth Sahib

This means believing in the theory of Karma will solace you. Accepting everything that happens with you with composure is the prerequisite of enduring Happiness.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” Wayne Dyer

No one else is responsible for your pain and unhappiness. Usually, we blame others for our conditions. This is a misconception. Once you accept this you will attain a different kind of peace within.

Gratitude is the basic ingredient for any happiness recipe.

I think this short post would go a long way to awaken eternal happiness from within you.