Taibros.net

It’s been awhile since I’ve last posted a how to post. With such a lack of how-to’s I’m sure everyone must be lost and not know what to do without some Taibro perspective . Well, today I’ll be writing about how to be happy. Yes that’s right, the Taibro guide to being happy! I’ve often been told by people that I tend to be a happy person, along with being told that I’m easy going/laid back. I attribute most of my happiness to really just being content with what I have and what God has given me. I simply choose to look on the bright side, and you could say I have a “rosy” view of things. However, simply being content doesn’t work for everyone, so I’ll continue on with my seven step guide to being happy. Let me know what you think! Enjoy

1. It’s all about family and friends - I was reading a study which showed that people who have at least 5 close friends are significantly happier than those who didn’t. People who have opportunities to hang out, to share, to spend time, and have fun with others are able to take a greater enjoyment out of their own lives. Those with strong family ties also tend to be happier as they will already have a support system that they can rely on, like their friends. So your first step to becoming a happier person is to work on those friendships!

2. Don’t keep up with the Joneses - This specifically deals with money and material possessions. America in general tends to have a culture of wanting to keep up with the “Joneses”. This happens by getting the latest gadget, spending money on things just so that you can have the latest and the greatest. Showing off to others through the possessions that you own, and the money that you have. However impressive it may seem, and however much you yourself might wish to be able to do the same thing, be assured that most likely those people aren’t happy. If money and possessions had a direct relationship with happiness, then Bill Gates could be considered the happiest person in the world (actually the second happiest now I believe). However, while I don’t know how happy of a person he is, I know that there are millions of people who are just as happy if not happier who have considerably less. When we get caught up in the mentality that having more means being happier, we begin to get in a cycle of never having enough. When you can never have enough, then you can never ever really be happy. This is why you find so many problems such as suicide, drugs and the like from people who have lots of money and possessions. Don’t be fooled by American culture. More is not better, and definitely will not always make you happier.

3. Get a hobby! - Yes, that’s right, Find yourself a hobby! Find something to do that you enjoy, that you could spend hours on doing and not have a care in the world about how much time you’ve spend doing it. People who have hobbies are happier than those that don’t. They have something they can do with their spare time, they can find enjoyment in what they’re doing, and are therefore able to become happier. Whether your hobby may be playing video games, gardening, reading, or even learning, find a hobby and spend time doing that hobby! Also, sleeping isn’t a hobby

4. Drop and give me 50 pushups! - Exercise is another activity that can help people become happier. When people exercise, not only are they becoming healthier, but they also will feel better about themselves. By feeling better about oneself, and gaining confidence in oneself, leads to a greater self-esteem which in turn leads to people feeling happier. Another benefit of exercise is the release of endorphins in our body, which leaves the person feeling happier. So the next time you’re feeling down, try exercise. Not only will you look better, you’ll feel better too.

5. Volunteer - Helping others is another good way to become happier. I’ve seen a few studies that have shown that people who spend lots of time helping other with no thought of gain for themselves, are typically some of the happiest people around. By looking out for the needs of others, and putting them above our own, we are able to gain not only happiness but also good health as well. Even better, those that had jobs that were centered around helping others were happier than those that didn’t. I’m not talking about jobs where you indirectly help others, though that may be the case, but jobs where you directly help others. So make sure you volunteer your time by helping out others. It’ll help you become a happier person!

6. Thanksgiving and Forgiving - Another way to help you become happier is to be thankful for what you have. This leads to what I said earlier about being content with the things you have. If you’re able to appreciate what you have, then you’ll be more likely to be happier that you do have those things. You’ll also be less likely to be thinking about what you don’t have, or what you wish you had. Again, it’s not about having more money or more possessions. In addition with being thankful, it’s also good to be forgiving. People who are more forgiving, are able to be happier. They’re not spending their time angry at others, or mad about what was done to them. If you’re able to forgive others, then you’ll be more likely to be happy. You’ll have moved on from what was done to you instead of dwelling on it and allowing it to make you even angrier. Remember, the goal is to be happy here, so forgive others and be thankful.

7. Good memories - All the things I’ve listed before, lead up to helping you create good memories. One way to be happy is to just think back about a good memory you have. One thing I enjoy doing is to periodically look through old pictures I’ve taken. By being able to look back and reminiscing about what was enjoyable or good about the picture I took, helps me to remember something that helps me be happier. Even though in this day and age, we hear almost nonstop about what’s bad about the world, and even with our own human nature being more likely to dwell on bad memories than good ones, by focusing on good memories that we have, and things that made us happy, helps us to be happy in our current state. So go and spend time with friends and family, spend time working on that hobby, help others out and forgive others and create new happy memories that you can look back upon in a few years to help you become happier.

So there you have it, my seven tips to becoming a happier person. All people are different, and have their own ways of becoming happy, but I feel that these steps should be good for most everyone in trying to become a happier person. Another tip I should add, is to try and keep smiling. It’s hard to not be happy when you’re smiling! So here’s to everyone who reads this becoming happier