Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"
Self-worth and happiness should, ideally come from within, not how you fare against others or how others regard you."
I'm still learning to be happy - to smile more from my heart. "What's so difficult about that?" some may ask. "Just live everyday as if it were your last, without any regrets whatsoever." But it's always easier said than done.
And then i begin to ask myself, what makes me happy or rather what would make me a happier person? By this, i mean what would make me happier in the long-run, not in the short-term. Could it be more friends, more love, more As, more money, more clothes or more leisure time? How do i exactly define 'happiness'?
Well, long-term happiness to me is:
- Knowing that the people whom i love and care are genuinely happy and healthy
- Leading a purposeful life, by giving back to the society in one way or another (knowing that my existence is making a difference in someone's life)
- Spending quality time with my family and friends
- Engaging in my favourite hobbies/activities
- Embracing and accepting life as it comes. Don't criticize, complain, or feel that the whole world owes me plenty.
- See and appreciate the beauty in life and others - in every human, animal, plant, and non-living thing
- Accepting my limitations, especially for the things which i'm not good at
And lastly...(that's what i can think of for now)
- Living in the moment and be forward-looking. Don't brood about yesterdays for what's past and past. Don't worry about tomorrow either, for tomorrow has its own set of problems to worry about. Live everyday as if it were my last, and mostly without regrets.
Having written down my definition of happiness, i've a clearer picture of how i should go about pursuing my happiness. And i'm even more determined to fulfill them all now.
I believe i can be happy, if i choose to be. (:
