Are you happy? If not, then this article might just be the thing that changes your life.
You see, happiness isn’t something we’re lucky to be born with — believe it or not, it’s a choice. With the right mindset and a few simple tricks up your sleeve, you can learn how to be happy, too!
Happiness depends upon ourselves.
Aristotle.
What is happiness?
So what exactly is happiness? Is it money? Is it a success? Is it love and friendship and togetherness and family and comfort, or is it something else entirely?
The definition of happiness can vary from person to person. But before you learn how to be happy, let’s take a moment to understand what makes men unhappy in the first place.
According to recent studies by National Geographic, happiness is not determined by our wealth but by the strength of our relationships with people around us [1]. Experts claim that social support and strong connections to others are what make men happier than materialistic possessions.
So now you understand how crucial it is for your happiness to surround yourself with the right people — these could be family or friends, or even just people you admire and look up to!
Now, we know that happiness isn’t about money — rather, it’s about the people in our lives and the strength of our relationships.
Why should men look for happiness within themselves and not from others?
Most men are unhappy because they blame their unhappiness on outside factors. Of course, sometimes our lives are affected by external factors, but you can be sure that most of the time, blaming bad things happening to us is just an excuse.
When we’re born, no one tells us what happiness really is. We learn it ourselves by observing what makes other people happy. This is why it’s so important that you first begin by looking for happiness within yourself!
You should always start by looking within yourself because you’re the only person who truly understands what it is that makes you truly happy.
What better way to look for happiness than within?
Many would say that true happiness stems from our own selves. Our internal thoughts, feelings, and motivations give us the strength to keep going when times get rough.
Of course, it’s not always easy to find happiness within. Sometimes you might feel like life is spiraling out of control, and you’ve no idea where to turn — friends and family can help you through your tough times by offering support and love; however, we all know that we also rely on ourselves to get through anything that comes our way.
If you’re having a bad day or even a bad week or month (whatever it may be), take some time for yourself. Whether this means taking a walk in the park, watching your favorite movie, or eating your favorite food, spending time with yourself can help you remember who you are and what makes you happy.
When we find happiness within ourselves, it helps us cope with anything that comes our way. You’ve got this!
What does being happy really mean for a man?
You might think that looking for happiness within yourself is cheesy advice best left to naive teenagers and young adults who don’t know any better. So, let’s talk about why being happy doesn’t necessarily mean that everything in your life must be perfect!
Contrary to popular belief, ‘happiness’ doesn’t have to be a permanent state of mind. It’s perfectly fine to feel happy from time to time, and what’s more, being happy from time to time can ease you through those challenging moments as well.
We all go through bad days — sometimes, we wake up on the wrong side of the bed, or something doesn’t go our way, but these are normal occurrences in life. The most important thing is that you don’t let yourself get dragged down by negative thoughts!
It might be hard for you to believe right now, but tomorrow is another day…and with it will come new opportunities for happiness. So even when everything seems lost, just remember that no matter how dark things may seem right now, tomorrow holds the promise of new beginnings and, with it, more chances at happiness.
So what does being happy really mean? It’s living your life to its fullest potential — doing things that you love and loving every moment of it!
But what does this mean for us?
How can we be happier right now?
Here are 10 small ways you can improve your daily routine and live a happier life:
Spend more time with the people you love and admire.
We all know this, but we often fail to realize just how much our environment can affect us — so it’s essential to pay attention to who surrounds us! Make sure that your closest friends and family members are not only people you love spending time with but also people who inspire you, motivate you, and support you.
Realize that happiness comes from within.
So many of us fall into the trap of thinking that our material possessions define happiness. Think about it: how frequently do we buy things hoping that they will bring us joy? Yet so often, these same things cease to make us happy, and instead, they end up pushing us further away from the people we love. Always remember that happiness comes from within, not from items you can buy in stores!
Live out loud.
Every day, try to do something new or take a class on a skill of interest to you. Remember: life is for living, so make sure to take full advantage of it and live out loud!
Meditate or pray.
If you’re a religious or spiritual person, this will be easy — otherwise, it may be more difficult to find time for meditation and prayer. But don’t let those barriers stop you from finding some peace in your life! Meditation helps release stress and brings on feelings of calmness, while prayer encourages you to stop and think about your life.
Find inspiration in others.
Some so many people inspire us, like our friends and family members! Think about the qualities that make these people admirable, then try incorporating some of those attributes into your character. You may surprise yourself with the results!
Learn to say “no.”
Don’t be afraid to turn down invitations or social functions if you know they won’t make you happy. If you don’t feel like it, don’t do it — it’s as simple as that. You should surround yourself only with people who make you feel good about yourself or who you can learn from, so don’t hesitate to say no if someone is a bad influence.
Spend time in nature.
Spending some time out in the open air is a great way to recharge and refresh. Whether you decide to take a walk or go for a jog, use this opportunity to clear your head and let the world around you inspire you!
Laugh more often.
Laughing brings positive thoughts and helps relieve stress, so laugh away! Watch some funny shows or movies, read jokes online, and spend time with your friends — just be sure to laugh as much as possible.
Exercise every day.
This is a straightforward way to boost your happiness, but it can also take some planning. Perhaps you could exercise in the morning or go outside for a walk after dinner? You may want to set aside time in your schedule each week to go to the gym, work out at home or play a sport — whatever works best for you.
Make a gratitude list.
Every day, make sure to write down three things that you are grateful for! This simple task helps us appreciate the little joys in life and take notice of all the amazing people and opportunities around us. It takes less than five minutes each day, yet it has the potential to change your perspective on the world completely.
These are just 10 small changes that you can make in your daily life to achieve happiness, but if you continue practicing them, you will notice significant differences in how you feel!
How to get the most out of your happiness
Some parts of this article will likely be new to you if you are new to being positive. That’s okay! Take your time and absorb the information, then set yourself a goal of trying out one of these suggestions each day for two weeks. If you experience good results, continue practicing until you have internalized the tips and tricks that work best for you.
Be patient with yourself! Your journey to a happier life won’t happen overnight, but as you continue making small changes each day, it will be easier and easier to find happiness from within and without.
Does money make men happy?
Men always talk about money and happiness. Some think that having a lot of it can lead to happiness, while others believe that the lack of it builds character.
So does money bring us joy?
Many people say no. They think that the concept of happiness is something personal, global, and relative to each individual. It’s impossible to measure scientifically or study empirically.
But some studies have been made on this topic that shows us that money makes us happier when we spend it on things that make us happy. So this means that money does bring happiness after all, but only when we spend it on what makes us happy.
According to Princeton University researchers, a study was carried out in 2010 where they found that money does not necessarily equate with happiness and vice versa [2]. The results came from asking individuals about their happiness levels and how much money they had, if any at all. On a sliding scale from “completely dissatisfied” to “completely satisfied,” they were asked to rate how happy they were with themselves and with their lives as a whole.
Results.
The study found that there is a threshold when it comes to income and happiness. People with higher incomes have more satisfaction in life, but having a high income does not increase the individual’s happiness level past a certain point. This was concluded after looking at people from different countries worldwide and their varying levels of wealth.
If an individual had a yearly income of $5,000, they would probably say that they are not very satisfied with their lives. But if the said person’s salary suddenly increased to $25,000 per year, they might now say that they are more satisfied with their lives. There is a point where money stops making people happier.
Many conclude from this study that happiness is subjective and cannot be measured scientifically or empirically. As for those who believe that money can buy you happiness, they should know by now that there is no conclusive evidence supporting this belief. This means that it’s still up in the air whether money brings true happiness or not! So don’t stress too much about having enough money — just enjoy your life and stop worrying.
How to find happiness in isolation?
Many men out there find it difficult to be happy in the company of other human beings. They don’t think that they’ll ever find happiness if they can’t experience it while alone.
Whatever the reasons for your feelings, here’s how you can be happy on your own:
Stop searching for happiness elsewhere
Many guys look toward others to make them feel good about themselves. Suppose something positive happens to someone else, or they see their friend succeed. In that case, they might use this as an indirect way of making themselves feel good… even though deep down inside, they’re feeling jealous and bitter instead of being supportive!
Make the most out of your time alone.
Alone time is often seen as something negative when it can be pretty positive for your mood in reality. Instead of feeling sad about being alone, why not do things you enjoy while you have the time to yourself? Many men are happier by themselves than they are with other people because they don’t have to worry about hurting anybody’s feelings or being judged.
Connect with yourself
Instead of thinking about other people all the time and how “lucky” they are to have what you want in life, start appreciating who you are! Meditate, listen to soothing music, take quiet walks… there are many ways for you to reconnect with yourself if only you make an effort.
Get in touch with nature.
Think about all the great artists like Vincent van Gogh who were inspired by nature when they found beauty in the world around them. Don’t underestimate how much even a tiny glimpse at what Mother Nature has created can inspire you! Be it a flower that catches your fancy or just a view outside of your window… sometimes it’s not enough to just look at something beautiful — you have to marvel over it and be grateful for its existence every time you see it!
Be grateful
One of the most underrated ways to find happiness is by being grateful for everything you have in life. If you think about it, many other people don’t even have necessities like food, shelter, and clothing! So if you want to be truly happy, make an effort every day to appreciate the little things in life.
Improve your relationships with other people
Even if you don’t think that being around other people brings you any real benefits, it’s still a good idea to at least try and work on your interpersonal skills. No one (not even introverts) wants lonely shells for friends or family members! So make an effort to go out of your comfort zone and try to be friendlier with others.
Put yourself in other people’s shoes.
Many times, life is about the choices that you make every day. If you want to look at yourself in the mirror each morning, you need to learn how to put yourself in other people’s shoes.
Learn from your negative experiences
When something bad happens to you, don’t just ignore it and move on as if nothing ever happened. Think about why it happened so that you can learn from your mistakes and prevent yourself from making the same mistake twice!
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
If you’re like most men, you probably worry about things that ultimately don’t even matter in the long run (e.g., what other people think of you or if your life will be better someday). Remember that worrying about the smaller details in life won’t make them less damaging to your happiness. So the next time you find yourself worrying, take a step back and try to think about the bigger picture so that you can see things more clearly.
Don’t be afraid to fail.
Men are often scared of trying new things because they’re afraid of looking foolish or being judged by others. But remember that there’s no such thing as a perfect life — people will always try to put you down and tell you that you’re wrong. So instead of trying to please others at the risk of your happiness, focus on making yourself happy!
Why is it important for men to be happy?
Your happiness is of the utmost importance because it is what drives you through life. It is essentially your fuel for learning, trying, creating, and pursuing your goals.
Thus, it would be counterproductive to let anything get in the way of that — not even yourself!
You could say that happiness is the ultimate goal in life, and it should be no surprise that we all want it.
After all, who wants to feel sad? Unfortunately, many men go through their lives without ever finding true happiness — or they search for joy outside themselves and depend on material objects or social status to make them happy.
But if you take a moment to look around you right now, you will see your friends or family members who are probably very happy! What do they have in common? They probably find ways to practice the habits mentioned above every day…and so can you!
Some benefits of being a happy man:
- It helps us function every day.
- It increases productivity, which means we get more done, like work and school.
- We live longer and healthier lives when we are happy!
- It allows us to be more productive at our jobs, school, and home
- We can enjoy life more fully when we are happy. When we feel good about ourselves, it is much easier to accomplish what matters most to us.
- It helps us to cope with our problems and challenges.
Happiness in relationships – what makes them successful and what causes them to fail?
Research has found that one of the most important factors in maintaining a successful relationship is happiness [3].
Why? Because happy people are more likely to have positive feelings about their relationships, they’re more willing to forgive their partners for mistakes, and they’re less likely to be jealously overprotective of their “property.”
On the other hand, unhappy people tend to struggle with controlling or destructive behaviors within their relationships.
This is because unhappy people may lack social support systems to help them deal with everyday problems and challenges.
For example, suppose an individual doesn’t feel like they have anyone at work who listens to them and cares about their problems. In that case, they might take out their frustrations on someone else — like a family member or significant other.
At the same time, unhappy individuals may become increasingly possessive of their partners because they’re afraid that someone else will come along and take them away from them.
This can cause conflict within the relationship and reduce intimacy.
Still, it sometimes happens with good intentions.
For example, an individual might lash out at their spouse after finding out that they have been talking to an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend on Facebook.
An important thing to recognize is that not all relationships are successful…and this does not necessarily mean that there’s something wrong with the couple. Sometimes, relationships fail because one or both people go through a significant life change like a new job, move, or the death of a family member.
It’s perfectly normal to feel stress or loneliness during these times, which leads many individuals down the path of unhappiness. But there are steps you can take towards feeling happier and more connected to other people (even if they live thousands of miles away).
There’s no doubt that unhappy couples exist just as much as unhappy singles do.
Sometimes, couples will fight frequently and become increasingly dissatisfied with their partner as time goes on.
On the other hand, some couples are constantly bickering and complaining about everything but put forth no real effort to improve their situation.
This type of unhappiness is often the result of a deteriorating relationship caused by high levels of stress, disagreement on essential topics like money or children, or lack of intimacy.
For example, there’s nothing wrong with wanting different things out of life (like traveling versus settling down), but both people must share similar values that they can build common goals upon.
- They treat each other as equals.
- They handle disagreements maturely and positively.
- They spend time together both as a couple and with friends/family.
- They have shared interests and hobbies.
- They prioritize romance.
- They show concern for one another’s well-being.
- They trust each other.
- They laugh together and have fun regularly!
On the other hand, unhappy couples often focus solely on their partner’s negative qualities instead of what they love about them.
They might openly talk badly about their partner to others or even within earshot of them. Or worse, they endure neglect by allowing themselves to be treated poorly while losing all self-respect in the process…which can lead to feelings of regret if or when an unhappy partner decides to leave the relationship.
If something bothers you about your partner (even if it doesn’t affect anything), don’t keep it bottled up inside — say what’s on your mind so that you both can work together to find a solution!
A strong, healthy relationship allows both people to be themselves without worrying about what the other person thinks.
They know that they are accepted by their partner just as they are.
The result of this type of acceptance is that each person can truly let go and be vulnerable with their partner. People who feel loved and accepted unconditionally by their partners find it easier to trust them.
Trusting your partner means that you will be more willing to take risks because you know that your partner will still love you no matter what happens! When two people learn how to communicate effectively, it is much easier to maintain a good relationship.
Getting started with living a happier life.
It’s not always easy taking the first step toward happiness, but you can achieve success if you keep working at it.
Every day, try to find 10 minutes to spend thinking about your goals and how you can accomplish them…even if they seem too far away or difficult to reach!
If you need some inspiration for living a happier life, just think of all the ways that people have found happiness.
Spend some time speaking with your family members and friends about what makes them happy, as well as how they have achieved their goals in life!
Be sure to think outside the box as you look for ways to make yourself — and those around you — smile each day. If one idea doesn’t work for you, try another! You will never know what type of person you might be until you take the first step.
This is why I recommend making small changes in your daily routine without expecting anything in return; if you continue to act this way each day, happiness will gradually become easier and easier to achieve!
For this reason, brainstorming ways to become a happier person should pop into your head every time you think about happiness.
You can’t afford to take the time to try out these suggestions! With the right minor changes in your daily routine, you’ll live a happier life in no time!
Conclusion.
A few final thoughts on becoming happier…
If you genuinely want to be happy, it will take hard work and some time. You must realize that it isn’t easy! But if you are persistent, the results of feeling happier will become apparent in your happiness level, motivation towards life, productivity, and relationships with others (both personal and professional).
Lastly, remember that no two people are alike; what makes one person happy may not make another one happy. Try out all the 10 suggestions above for yourself before deciding which ones work best for you!
You will learn more about yourself each day as you practice new habits. Once they’ve become part of your daily routine, you can move on to other ideas on how to be happier…and, eventually, develop a lifestyle that allows you to live a happier life.
I hope you make the decision today to take steps toward living a happier life, as I believe it will make a significant impact on yours. It is my sincerest wish that I have helped you begin your journey toward a happier you!
Matthew Mansour is a professional life coach, fitness trainer, health coach, a blogger with over 800 articles published to date. He enjoys reading and researching books that are reflective of the nature of who we are as humans, understanding the complexity of our minds, and using it as an advantage to propel us forward in life.
He is a self-help enthusiast and he is not ashamed about it! He’s always looking for his next fix of inspiration, motivation, insight, and wisdom from those who have been there before him!
He also does a lot of courses and research on the latest and greatest in the area of self-help, life coaching, and health.
He likes to share his discoveries with anyone who is interested in listening! His personal goal is to help people achieve great results in their lives, that is why he also has a blog about self-improvement.
He loves animals and he currently lives in New Jersey with his loving wife and his recently born child.