3 Simple and Healthy Ways to Feel Happy

I remember my life coach telling me something quite profound. Our sole purpose in life is to be happy. It’s as simple as that, yet we make life more complicated than it should be.

Is it the expectation our family or society has of us? Is it the insecurities we have deep within that we need to show a different side to us? Or are we taught to have a lifestyle that we think will give us the happiness we’ve been craving?

Each person is on a different journey, yet everyone’s path leads to the search for happiness. Sometimes I wonder if feeling happy is the new rich in the modern world.

“Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool.”

— Syed Balkhi

You can do unhealthy (sometimes dangerous) things to feel happy, like consuming large amounts of alcohol or drugs or bingeing on everything like food, Netflix and video games.

Based on what I learned through life experience, there are healthier ways to feel happy in the modern world.

Progress = Happiness

Tony Robbins made a famous quote back in the late 90s that changed my life.

“Progress equals happiness.” That’s because reaching a goal is satisfying, but only temporarily. “There are levels of making it in life, and whatever you think ‘making it’ is, when you get there, you’ll see there’s another level. That never ends because if you stop growing, you’re going to be unhappy.

Around this time, I graduated from school and was already entering the workforce. I knew that if I earned the income I wanted, I would have to find a way to become the best version of myself.

The truth (I later found out) was that aiming to become the best I can be is a never-ending process. Once I get to a certain level of success, there’s always another level.

Although becoming a better version of yourself will come with many trials and hardships, the moment you stop growing, you become less satisfied. Unlike many people I know, I never want to settle for a mediocre life.

I’m willing to fail many times if it means that it will help me level up as a person.

I’m not saying everyone has to live a life of never-ending self-improvement. If you’re already happy with your life at present, then good for you!

If you feel that you’re stuck in life and want something better for yourself, then levelling up is the first step.

Photo by iStockPhoto.com

We are wired for service

During the pandemic, Jay Shetty became one of my main mentors at a time when the world seemed bleak. He tweeted something that resonated with me at a deep level.

“We’re wired for service, educated for greed. Scientifically, spiritually and practically service is what gives us the deepest joy and makes the greatest difference in the world” — Jay Shetty

When I worked for a recruitment agency, I began to get more joy and success when I focused on helping the client rather than on the placements and the commission.

We are born to help others, whether we realise this or not. If you think back at a time when you truly helped someone, and they gave you the biggest thanks, do you remember how you felt?

Scientifically, spiritually and practically, service is what gives us the most profound joy and makes the most significant difference in the world.

If you get great satisfaction by harming or cheating others, beware that it’s only a matter of time until Karma gets you back. (Trust me, it happened to me)

Happiness is a skill

Another way we can get into a state of happiness is by doing the small things that actually make us happy regularly.

I’ve got a long list of activities that bring joy, but here are a few I’d like to share.

Reading and writing on Medium
Reading non-fiction books
Watching Movies and Comedy
Listening to my favourite podcasts and music
Spending time with my wife and daughter

I’ve noticed that the more I do them, the more my mood is uplifted for the day.

You see, happiness is something that we can control as people. It’s not predicated by outside events but rather on the meaning we give to it and the actions we take.

I recently read a book called Solve for Happy, and this quote made me think about happiness from a new perspective.

“Happiness is a choice. You can actually achieve it and there is a method to make it happen. Happiness is not a coincidence, it is not given to you by life, it’s entirely our responsibility.” — Mo Gawdat

It’s our job in this life to be happy consistently regardless of what happens in our life. We have the power to tap into a happy state!

It all starts with our mindset and our actions.