Happiness Was and Is Around You Always... You Just Need to Find It
By theSids
@thesids (22180)
Bhubaneswar, India
January 6, 2011 8:16am CST
I was trying to figure out (for quite many days now) where do we fail and are unable to find happiness in our so very busy, monotonous lifestyle. I summed up my research below and hope you would appreciate the results as they are visible (to my friends) over the recent days.
1. You choose - You can choose to find happiness in small, everyday things. You can choose to interpret what happens in a positive way.
2. Focus on the present, not yesterday or tomorrow - You only have now. And now. And now. Yesterday is a memory and you cannot change it. Tomorrow is just a fantasy in your mind right now.
3. Don’t forget to be grateful - You feel great because you are grateful about your world and the people you are grateful for feel great too because they feel appreciated.
4. Help someone else find happiness - When you make someone else happy – by, for example, helping them with something – you can sense, see, feel and hear it. And that happy feeling flows back to you. And then, if you’d like, you can boost you own ego by thinking something like: ”Wow, I really made him/her happy!
5. Get rid of a couple of your less valuable desires - If you want less instead of more, more, more then your desires are more likely to be fulfilled.
I would appreciate more positive ways which would help all of us be Happier.
Be Happy For Ever.
Cheers,
theSids.
9 people like this
21 responses
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
6 Jan 11
hello thesids,
Happiness is contentment.
It doesn't matter how big or small (material) or how expensive it is.
Simple things can make you happy if you only knew how to appreciate.
I am a simple person with simple happiness and i appreciate life from it's simplest form.
A smile from my loved ones can make me happier more than a gift.
A hug from my kids gives me a whole day of contentment.
Seeing my family healthy is worth more than a gold (health is treasure)
Each sunrise and each sunset gives me happiness for another day passes by.
Thanking GOD for all the blessings and trials,that HE has given me,and guiding me on how to resolve every trials and problems that i have encountered in life.
Happiness is when you smile without a reason.
And,you smile because you knew how to appreciate life.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
6 Jan 11
Hi Jaiho,
I loved the way you put it across 
Simple things can make you happy if you only knew how to appreciate
I am learning that art of living where I just think about the moment and live in that. And I cannot say better than - Happiness is when you smile without a reason. And,you smile because you knew how to appreciate life.
I have noted down this and would not confine it to books or text only. I would be happy and yes, I do smile at times without any reason...
Simple things can make you happy if you only knew how to appreciate
I am learning that art of living where I just think about the moment and live in that. And I cannot say better than - Happiness is when you smile without a reason. And,you smile because you knew how to appreciate life.
I have noted down this and would not confine it to books or text only. I would be happy and yes, I do smile at times without any reason...2 people like this
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
7 Jan 11
*correction -hehehe ...
but if we only look around us...people who are less unfortunate (blinds,deaf,mute,disabled /mentally and physically)
it should be ...people who are less fortunate
1 person likes this
@msdivkar (23359)
• India
6 Jan 11
Hi thesids,
I agree with most of your points about finding happiness in small small things we encounter in every day life. It depends on individual mood and line of thinking in finding happiness in anything in the life. You may find happiness in most gloomy condition and you may find gloom even in happy condition. There is where your choice comes in picture. I don't agree with your second condition. Although it is true that neither the past nor the future is important in once life what is important is present, I don't find anything wrong in getting happiness in thinking about your glorious past or find happiness in making some future plans.
Yes you have got to be grateful for every thing you have got in your life. If you start grumbling about what you have not got instead of getting happy about what you got you can never get happy in your life because there is no end to human needs. When one is satisfied another crops up.
The most important thing in the life to find happiness is to give anything and everything that is possible to you. The happiness you get by helping poor and downtrodden with whatever possible to you can not be compared with any other thing. Finally I agree with you we have to curtail the scale of our wants to find happiness in our lives.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
6 Jan 11
Hi msdivkar,
You know your name reminds me of my great friend Divakar who was martyred while serving the Nation. Would you mind if I call or refer you as Divakar.
The second point - It is not about getting happiness from past or future. It is more about - if you think about the past only (there are many and I was one too) we mostly think about what could have been done in the past rather than how good the past was. The same for future - many just plan and say ok, if I have this I would be happy. So it is for those times and people who have nothing much to be happy about with their past and for those who just keep thinking someday this would happen and then I would be happy.
My view with 2 is live in present as it is happening. If you keep thinking about past or future, you would miss out enjoying the current - the one you have at hand.
Hope I clarify and you get an idea for my view of 2 above.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
6 Jan 11
I was on your profile and I saw you are much senior to me. Sorry, if I overcrossed my limits and was impolite when I mentioned You know your name reminds me of my great friend Divakar who was martyred while serving the Nation. Would you mind if I call or refer you as Divakar.
1 person likes this
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
7 Jan 11
Since you ask..
Besides what you have written which I cannot disagree more..
I watched on TV this story about this man who got imprisoned in a dark prison cell. One day he got out to be transferred to another cell. Since he was a journalist, he described his experience of seeing the sun so beautifully that I think it is his imprisonment that is a blessing in disguise.
Anyway he got out in a week, in case you wondered. But in return of such an ordeal, he has also gained a lifelong friend.
My husband has always advised me that I should look the sunny side up, always. I do but sometimes its hard. I think i should get imprisoned sometimes.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jan 11
Hi momof3kids
Wow that was a great one to be added on my list. Nice to red this one.
In India we have a saying - "The People Salute the Rising Sun" - though there are two schools of thought who explain this in different contexts, I go by the thought that the rising sun indicates the start of day, and the day is the your work - the life ahead.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
8 Jan 11
I got that one correct dear
The other school of thought says- The rising sun is the you when you are peaking towards being successful - You get noticed when you are successful. I feel this is some way to boost a sense of confidence in you when you are feeling lost in your path towards being successful
@momof3kids (1894)
• Singapore
8 Jan 11
Oops what I meant is that I cannot agree with you more on your statements. If you remember my English, its far from perfect :(
I am just curious, what is the other school of thought on "The People Salute the Rising Sun"?
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
6 Jan 11
Here is the new me:
Tomorrow will be better, it is not there is the next day. Positive thinking is what I have instilled brand new in my New Found Life. I am learning upon encountering issues to tell myself, I did my best. I will try again and if I fail I will continue to try.
Having forced into a New Found Life, has made me appreciate being grateful. Although I believed to be a grateful person, I feel that I was shorting myself of so many wonderful things in my own surrounding.
More, more, more does not always mean lots. To me it means I want more and more positive feelings.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
6 Jan 11
Well hello to you. Nope I would never sue a friend. 
@Suggar (3606)
• Bulgaria
6 Jan 11
... Find friends, who wish the same for themselves like you wish for yourself. That's how you will support and help each other, will share your positive emotions and you will have one strong hand next to yours 
That's the one which came in my mind right now! 
That's the one which came in my mind right now!
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
6 Jan 11
@Suggar:
I am already blessed with so many great friends here at MyLot
Honestly I owe the today's me more to my friends here at MyLot. I have a long list of them already - Havent you seen the Pic of my family at mylot yet? Ok here you can have a look -
http://www.mylot.com/w/image/2433068.aspx
[Note: not a referral link]
We met on the new year after the pic was done online. So you are missing on that one, but you are close to me now...
Honestly I owe the today's me more to my friends here at MyLot. I have a long list of them already - Havent you seen the Pic of my family at mylot yet? Ok here you can have a look -
http://www.mylot.com/w/image/2433068.aspx
[Note: not a referral link]
We met on the new year after the pic was done online. So you are missing on that one, but you are close to me now...@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
6 Jan 11
I agree with you as I began for the first time last year that I needed to be rid of all the negativity in my life. Which included putting distance with negative people. I am amicable just not allowing negativity to encamp my life and cause me to forget how wonderful life really is.
2 people like this
@Suggar (3606)
• Bulgaria
6 Jan 11
That's true Hard Working, for sure.
I have to say that i'm picking friends really hard when it's in the reality. Because i realize that my friends will be with me in the good and in the bad moments and they need to be people, who i can trust and can stay myself for them to lead me sometimes. When i share some bad moments with my friends, i mean bad moments not in life, in their own, for me that's not negative energy, it's shared pain.
I just can't forget how Hatley said somewhere - friends are the people you can share the comfortable silence with!
I just can't forget how Hatley said somewhere - friends are the people you can share the comfortable silence with! 
@ricextreme (964)
• Ecuador
7 Jan 11
I think that we have the decision to be happy, and most of us have decide not to be.
We are unhappy almost all the time, and we complain about everything.
I disagree with your statement of living the present, without worrying about the future, and forgetting the past.
I think that we should remember the past, and know what we did bad, and try to avoid the same difficulties than we had in the past, and we have to work now in the present, so we can harvest in the future.
I think that life happiness should be based in the future. Present is nice, but what we hope to have/be/live/receive in the future, will make us even happier.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jan 11
Hi ricextreme
I agree with your disagreeing on my point where I say Live in the present. It was actually for people (and me too) when I was always pre-occupied with thoughts about how and what my future would be and ho bad or good was my past. In that I missed to see the happiness in the present.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
23 Jan 11
Here is why I think you deserved the BR:
Though our opinions differ on a smaller point, we still are finding happiness and that indicates we both are happy and we can find happiness our way and it is always possible to be Happy
Cheers,
theSids.
@ricextreme (964)
• Ecuador
8 Jan 11
I agree completely not to be sad because of the past. We can't change it, but that doesn't mean we have to forget it.
We should enjoy our present, without committing mistakes of the past, and thinking about our future.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
6 Jan 11
I agree except for #4.I Always helped people be happy and yet I never was Really happy. #1 is Only possible if you believe you deserve to be happy . And then #1 and #2 are so much easier than before! Eventhough or maybe I should say Because I wasn't happy , I was always grateful for those moments when I wasn't worried about anything and I was truly happy. And even now I'm so grateful to be this happy. #5? I don't think there are "less valuable desires". As soon as a desire becomes less in your mind, it ceases to be a True desire.
The only thing I would add is keep your heart open. With a open heart , happiness can come and remain with you. If you are closed up , love and happiness can visit but it has nowhere to sit and stay so it leaves.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
6 Jan 11
Hi behen,
Yes, I can understand the #4 not going well. It is a difficult one especially with people of different mindsets... they would either think you are doing this for some favor or otherwise... We have become so very mechanical we just dont look at the other aspects but what we think.
From my personal experience - there is one incident that made me realize the #4 on my list - One day, I was morning-walking on a flyover. There was a beggar on his wheelchair trying to cross over. The passerbys looked, smiled and moved on. I wen up and helped him not only go up but also helped him cross and reach the other end. He was smiling with tears in his eyes and I knew for sure that he wasnt happy since ages. That day I felt so very satisfied, happy and blessed.(I wish I could have words to describe that feeling). My friends (from real world) said it was my ego. Their way of thinking. But I know what it was.
Try visiting an orphanage or an old age home nearby and spend some time making friends. It would take some time but once you start friends there, you would find giving happiness(sharing your time with them is enough) also brings happiness - and a sense of you are doing your contribution.
Oops that was long.
Yes, an open heart is the right place to start with... otherwise there is no happiness in real sense of the term.
1 person likes this
@eshaan (6188)
• India
8 Jan 11
Being contented is the best way according to me..to be happy..you have put in best ways but still if we see in context to the complexity of life..there are many points which can be added....depends on how much sure the person is that he is sad or his misfortune has taken him over....but according to me..whatever may be the degree of the suffering of the person...if he sees around him (not remain confined to self) then he will find that there are so many who are suffering more than himself...
the thing what i want to say are summarized in the song..."tum besahara ho to"
i think u must have heard this song...if not...the link is here-
http://ww.smashits.com/anurodh/tum-besahara-ho-to/song-35111.html
NOT A REFERRAL LINK
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
22 Jan 11
Hello Sid,
Our attitude or thinking in a positive way can make a great difference. Even if there is a failure, if we can think that the failure is the first step of getting success, it will be a good attitude. Recently our great film actor of India, Amitabh Bachan said in an interview, his father used to tell him that if he tried something and it works then it is good and if it does not work then also it is good. It does not work means ‘God stored for you something greater than this’.
The way of speaking is also important. If we listen somebody with a soft/kind manner then definitely we feel good. The word ‘please’ can always please us. Sharing happiness, for me I can share somebody’s happiness even if I am in trouble.
Thank you so much for the tips, Sid, I think I am a winner in finding happiness in me.
Our attitude or thinking in a positive way can make a great difference. Even if there is a failure, if we can think that the failure is the first step of getting success, it will be a good attitude. Recently our great film actor of India, Amitabh Bachan said in an interview, his father used to tell him that if he tried something and it works then it is good and if it does not work then also it is good. It does not work means ‘God stored for you something greater than this’.
The way of speaking is also important. If we listen somebody with a soft/kind manner then definitely we feel good. The word ‘please’ can always please us. Sharing happiness, for me I can share somebody’s happiness even if I am in trouble.
Thank you so much for the tips, Sid, I think I am a winner in finding happiness in me.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
23 Jan 11
Hi Sree,
If we listen somebody with a soft/kind manner then definitely we feel good. The word ‘please’ can always please us.
Very true. I think it is related to how you feel at that point of time. If you are happy within you find happiness around and if you are sad and feeling gloomy inside, all you would see is sadness and ugliness all around.
1 person likes this
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
6 Jan 11
Happiness comes when we least expect it. We can seek it out and we are blessed to find it. We can't let the path of finding happiness control our lives. if we do we may be disappointed by it.@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jan 11
Hi debsgw
Very true. They say drops make an ocean and smaller things that we just keep ignoring and not looking at... if we could do just a couple of those ... the results would be really worthy and satisfying. as you mention -
appreciating the simple things in life like a smile, sunrise, sunset, a compliment, a job well done. Each of those things adds to our general feeling of well-being.
@debsgw (256)
•
7 Jan 11
You're right thesids. There is no path of finding happiness - yet we can find happiness on any of the paths we walk. It is a choice and a state of mind.
Those who actively seek happiness are missing the point - that it is something that comes from inside - we can make a conscious choice to help others each day, to look at the positives whenever possible in a situation so that other people appreciate our outlook and seek out our company in order to help them feel better in themselves. All those things help to create that inner feeling you tried to describe.
Helping others and thinking positively helps us to feel fulfilled in some way and that in turn is what generates happiness..
It's about recognising the value of the small stuff - as someone else mentioned, appreciating the simple things in life like a smile, sunrise, sunset, a compliment, a job well done. Each of those things adds to our general feeling of well-being.
1 person likes this
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
7 Jan 11
You're right. Most of the time, it's our choice if we're gonna stick with the negativity we've accumulated during the day or choose to phase out from it. Some people are not aware of that. They just dwell on what's actually happening to them that's why it seems to them that they can't get out. They feel like they're stuck with they're situation when in fact they actually have a choice.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
11 Jan 11
I think the most important here is number 1. Which is to find happiness in small things. Which is the way I live my life nowadays. I can't do anything with most of the things that happen around me anyway. So if something does go my way, I try to enjoy it. Small victories, small happiness.
@meerat75 (111)
•
9 Jan 11
I agree with many points out here. But if we do not refer to our past, and if we do not think of the future, then there is no life. All our present life is BASED on past and all our future life also is BASED on the past only. If you think rightfully, you will understand why I am telling so.
Also, helping someone is a nice feeling. But if the help is in anticipation to something esle is never appreciated. Here people do all the helps only thinking 'something' in mind only. If I help someone, I need peace of mind, helping some one for get something back, and if there is no intention behind the help, it will be just an act of hopelessness and we may not derive any happiness out of it.
Every action what we do has a reaction on it. So, being desireless also is a pain. Life like how life is and enjoy the life with a peace of mind, and who what we feel good. Here we have only one life and our thinking should justify us with the natural and ethical grounds. Forget about the law, what we (human) are made. Because we are liable to live here in this society abide to it.
Do what you feel good and make sure that it does not hurt any one. Eat what you feel like, which make yuou good and so on. Life is only once in this form and it reminds many things at a time.
Meera
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
11 Jan 11
Hi meerat,
I should have been more explicit on the post.
Anyways, what I meant with the past and future was that dont get too occupied with those coz if you are that occupied, you would not see what is happening right now and by the time you are free and available... the moment is gone. I do believe the past and future is important and should be on the minds...but should not possess you.
It is important to be and enjoy happiness... do your thing if it gives you enjoyment and happiness That is my point. The above is based on my experiences and I also add up your points on this.
Cheers,
theSids.
@jhartana (1084)
• Australia
7 Jan 11
Just think something positive and do something that make you happy. More importantly if you believe in God, pray to God to put faith and hope in you and to take anything negative out of you. As long as you believe in Him and have Him in your heart, He will give you happiness.
@jahernandezrivas (11288)
• United States
7 Jan 11
That was great!! I really enjoyed reading all those things and you are absolutely right! I am always happy I wake up and I am in a good mood even if it has been a terrible day or week or month or year, I still keep my head up and smile because we only live once!!Have a great day!!!
I really enjoyed reading all those things and you are absolutely right! I am always happy I wake up and I am in a good mood even if it has been a terrible day or week or month or year, I still keep my head up and smile because we only live once!!Have a great day!!!@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jan 11
Hi jahernandezrivas,
Thanks for your kind appreciation of my research.
Wake up in good mood is always a great start for the day. and I feel that is one reason why we all need some sleep in the night - to forget the busy day that went past and start afresh.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
6 Jan 11
Hi Vandana,
Happy New Year.
This is the new me... I was sulking too much over many issues - bad health, being jobless and what not... but my thoughts have changed for quite sometime now and I think I can pull along my new self better now....
I would wait
@mtrguanlao (5522)
• Philippines
7 Jan 11
Hi there friend!
Good to know you do all those to make you happy!
I'm just a simple person with simple happiness in life. Having my family is my real happiness! And now that I was able to know more about our Lord,it's not just happiness that I'm feeling,I already felt JOY in my life! Putting God into our lives made our family more closer to each other. He made us look into our lives with gratitude to a simplest blessing we are having each day. I can never explain how much joy we are having,but I know you know what I'm trying to express for I know God is also with you!
See you around my friend!
Good to know you do all those to make you happy!
I'm just a simple person with simple happiness in life. Having my family is my real happiness! And now that I was able to know more about our Lord,it's not just happiness that I'm feeling,I already felt JOY in my life! Putting God into our lives made our family more closer to each other. He made us look into our lives with gratitude to a simplest blessing we are having each day. I can never explain how much joy we are having,but I know you know what I'm trying to express for I know God is also with you!
See you around my friend!@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
7 Jan 11
Hi mtrguanlao
It is the people who lead a simple life enjoy more of happiness because they dont get fascinated by the mechanical life that most of us lead. That is what one of the points above mentions.
And yes, a belief in God starts all the good things to happen in life.
