Bringing Happiness into your Life

1. Control Your Thoughts.

It is our thoughts that determine our state of mind. If we engage in negative, destructive thoughts, we can never have peace of mind and happiness. When angry and negative thoughts try to enter, we can decide to not pursue them. If we say no to wrong thoughts, they will eventually stop bothering us.

2. Focus on Good Things.

Most humans are a mixture of good and bad. If a close friend does something wrong, the nature of the mind, is to dwell on his imperfections. However, when we are criticising others we can never be happy; by seeing the bad in others, we do not help either ourselves or others. If somebody has annoyed us, try to force yourself to think of some of their good qualities. When we remember their good qualities, we help to be more forgiving of their failings. Others will definitely appreciate us, if we forget and forgive their mistakes. This is a great boon for bringing more happiness into our lives.

3. Don't Let Yourself get Bored.

If we feel bored and have nothing to do, then happiness is difficult if not impossible to achieve. The mind likes to be active. It is best to look for something that requires our active participation; if we look for passive entertainment, like watching TV, we do not engage our mental and physical faculties. Often a real sense of happiness can come from a sense of achievement.

4. Don't wait for Outer circumstances to be favourable.

Often we think that happiness will come when our outer circumstances improve. However, in reality the world is always creating problems; If we wait for the world to attain perfection, we will never have an iota of happiness. To achieve inner happiness, we need to cultivate an attitude of detachment. This does not mean we will be uncaring, it just means we will not be overly influenced by the depressing things that can happen in the world.

5. Meditation

Our inner happiness can be cultivated through the practise of meditation. Meditation helps us to control the mind and our thoughts. If we can have a silent mind, then it allows our inner, spontaneous joy to come to the fore. This happiness is not dependent on outer circumstances, but comes from our own soul. meditation is not the same as just sitting still quietly; real meditation is the expansion of our consciousness. When we no longer are constrained by the limitations and anxieties of our ego, we will discover an abiding sense of satisfaction and happiness.

I am very happy


Because I have conquered myself


And not the world.


I am very happy


Because I have loved the world


And not myself.

- Sri Chinmoy