Happiness Your “Unalienable Right!”

Happiness is one of the most powerful of things – and it’s something I believe that everyone is seeking. What’s interesting about it is that it’s the only thing that humans desire for its own sake! People seek riches not for the sake of being rich, but to be happy. People seek fame, not to be famous, but because they believe fame will bring them happiness too! As a result, people do things as a means to an end, which ultimately is happiness. It’s a great outcome!

In the United States Declaration of Independence, it refers to the “pursuit of happiness” as being a fundamental, “unalienable” right! Interestingly, it’s also found in the Constitution of Japan – ultimately, this is something that everyone is seeking, and has been seeking for all of time. It’s certainly something that has been commented on throughout history, and has been considered directly or indirectly in every relationship.

Are you happy? Happiness is an emotional state, and we know it when we feel it – it has that warm sense of enjoyment, satisfaction and a hint of fun. It’s often linked with good circumstances like a supportive family, a great marriage, and strong finances. At the same time, when circumstances shift and families experience tragedy, marriages crumble and the economy tanks, there is a tendency of happiness to diminish – in most people.

So what’s the difference between those who are happy when things are going well, and those who are happy no matter what’s going on?

Some scientists think that genetics have something to do with it, and others see it as a stimulus-response to circumstances: good conditions = happy, bad conditions = unhappy. However, one of the biggest indicators of happiness centers on our sense of control. If you feel you have some degree of influence, some bit of control over things, you are likely to feel happier.

So how can we make this work for us day to day? There are some simple things that can shift us toward happiness quickly, and easily. Here are a few ideas.

1. Change your state. Each of us have a physical state (our body), an emotional state (are we happy?) and a mental state (what are you thinking about?) and if you change one, you change them all. Which one is easiest to change? Your body. Stand up. Move. Look up, stretch your arms out and put a big grin on your face – you can feel instantly happy.

2. Change your attention. Write down three things you are grateful for, right now. Go ahead. Describe them. What happened and why were you grateful? Now go back to that moment in time. How did you feel? You should get the feeling back and you can feel happy right now. This is a great exercise to do every night, before you go to bed.

3. Express gratitude. Instead of just writing it down and keeping it to yourself, go tell someone. Tell someone why you are grateful for them. If someone does something nice for you, even if it’s very minor, tell them you’re grateful. Say out loud the things that make you grateful; and happiness will be the result.

Now, happiness is different than pleasure. Pleasure is very temporary and it’s simply the fulfillment of a physical need. Some people think that eating makes them happy. It doesn’t – that’s pleasure. So how do we make sure we’re on track to create happiness? There are two useful ways.

First, start all tasks with the specific intent of being happy. It is not what we do in life that makes a difference, its how we do it. We can be cleaning toilets and choose to be happy to serve. Or we can be leading nations and choose to be miserable – either way, it’s not what we’re doing, it’s how we’re doing it. Intend to be happy.

Secondly, our goals are great vehicles to move us toward happiness. When you have goals that are worthy to you, that will create a life of success by your definition. When you act on those goals, you have the opportunity to choose happiness. When you are acting on your goals, you have control over yourself. You are directing your efforts and your energy – and that’s the key to creating happiness.

Happiness is not hiding. It’s not avoiding you, it’s waiting for you. Simply call it into action and it will show up (happily)! You have control over you – always. You can’t always control your circumstances, and while it’s desirable to be in a supportive environment that’s positive and growing, remember that you can always control your response to your circumstances. You can choose your state. Choose to be happy, and bring the world along with you.