What Does It Take To Be Happy?

What does it take to be happy? In our age of consumerism many will likely tell you that in order to be happy you have to keep up with the trends, or as they used to say in the 50's and 60's "you must keep up with the Jones's".

I think it is clear that if this were a solution to your unhappiness you likely would not have been drawn to this article. You see, the fact that you are reading this at all means that you likely are still confused about this critical issue.

The fact that you are concerned about something as simple and basic as your own happiness also says something important that many of us forget. That is that our happiness is perhaps the most important thing to many of us.

Isn't that what we try to base most of our decisions on? Well perhaps you'd like to think so but I would suggest again that if you did then again you would have no desire to read this article. You see if you reflected on each decision you were about to make and noted whether it was truly going to make you feel happy then you would already have your answer.

Many individuals "think" that this is what they do but in fact are doing something altogether different. What is that, you ask? Well in order to address this it is important to look at what it means when one says that "a particular decision makes one happy".

If you look at it closely, I think you'll find that it means that that "particular decision" fulfills something "one wants" for themselves. How often do you make decisions based on what you want? How often are you even feeling that "wanting" what you want is even acceptable? Don't many individuals live with the inner belief that "wanting" is selfish or bad?

These days, many individuals are so stressed that what they base their decisions on is not what they want but rather on what they "think" they need. In other words, their "wants" or their "desires" are left completely out of the picture.

What is the net result of all of this? Well it often leaves individuals feeling empty, unhappy and unfulfilled. Indeed it is this state of unhappiness and lack of fulfillment that I define as "stress".

So what is going on here? Well if you look closely at where your "desires" or "wants" originate from within you, I think you will recognize that they are felt in your "emotional heart". That is also where I know you will likely feel the feelings of happiness when your desires or wants are fulfilled.

To fulfill your desires or wants means to heed your emotional heart. That is when you experience the feeling of happiness or feel happy. To do less means to feel unhappy or unfulfilled. How many of you are in the habit of consulting the emotional heart in matters that have to do with happiness or fulfillment?

Well again if you're reading this article likely not as much as you would like!

In a recent article (see "Intelligent Emotions") I discuss this in greater detail.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is a Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called "Spirituality And Science" (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of "Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation" (available in ebook format on his web site), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being. Business URL #1: http://www.telecoaching4u.com

---

Eleven Keys to Success and Happiness

1. Mend a quarrel Seek out a forgotten friend and... Read More

Life Management Skills for Greater Happiness

"Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; they are but... Read More

How A Psychovirus May Be Destroying Your Life

A pervasive sense of low self-esteem, a feeling of unworthiness,... Read More

Its All About Me: Why Its Good to Be Selfish

I started thinking about this topic during a discussion of... Read More

Emotional Baggage

We all have them. It has many faces. We carry... Read More

Got Play?

Passion Love Action You! Playing with your own divinity, spirit,... Read More

10 Ideas to Jump Start Your Self-Confidence

To begin feeling that first spark of self-confidence within you,... Read More

Create a Balanced Lifestyle and Begin Living a Happier, Healthier and Enriched Life

Are you living a balanced life?Many people are not. Their... Read More

Are You Getting in the Way?

Getting out of our busy mode and into our heart... Read More

Boosting Your Success with Six Easy Happiness Tips

In what areas of your life would you like to... Read More

Get Right! Make a Difference

Want to make a difference? What can one person do?... Read More

Happiness and the Single Person; Changing Myth Into Reality

Does the expression "single and happy" sound like an oxymoron... Read More

OBSCURED (Angel)

Being raised in a household without a mother or a... Read More

Creating Happiness

Whatever we want in life, a partner, more money, good... Read More

Do You Love Yourelf?

Learning to love yourself isn't easy - especially if you... Read More

Making Peace With Sloth: The Value of Natural Pace

Though his racing speed is a maximum 6 feet per... Read More

5 Keys to Understanding Why Your Life (probably) Sucks! #3

The outcome of Reason # 2 is that you become... Read More

Great Relationship Problem Solving Technique

This is one of my all time favourite problem solving... Read More

Discover a Momentary Miracle

Each moment is filled with miracles - very special treasures... Read More

The Most Beautiful Flowers

The most beautiful flowers, in conjunction with their design and... Read More

The Happiness of Others

Is there any necessary connection between our actions and the... Read More

Laughter

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."... Read More

Happy Buttons

What makes you happy? What are the simple pleasures that... Read More

The American Dream ? At What Cost?

When people are asked, "How many of you are content... Read More

You...Your Emotions...Your Relations...Your Happiness and Your Life...

We are living in an era, where relations' management is... Read More

In Pursuit of Happiness

In pursuit of happiness, what will we do as women?... Read More

The Personal Cost of Shyness

Has someone nearby been sending you emails rather than calling... Read More

Why Do We Feel Happiness?

Although many for us strive for happiness in our daily... Read More

How Good Are You?

The demands of being a good person can sometimes mean... Read More

Achievement and Happiness the 80/20 Way

If there was ever a principle that was responsible for... Read More

Inner Peace

Are you content and at inner peace?Or are you insecure... Read More

Personal Alchemy, Turn Your Suffering into Gold

I am sure it is safe to say that each... Read More

A Bad Hairdresser Day

"Hey everybody!" Hairdresser Lady called out. "It's The Happy Guy.""Don't... Read More