Living a Happy Life

Hi there!

Welcome back to the MoodiNews. Every Thursday, we discuss a variety of matters related to mental health and self-improvement. 

I’m so glad you’re here.

Today, we will be wrapping up our recent discussion on happiness with some TIPS FOR A HAPPIER LIFE! YAY!

Last week, I introduced the idea that progress = happiness. 

Today, we will explore the practical application of this equation in further detail.

To begin:

Progress can be defined as the process of setting preferential goals for ourselves, chunking those goals down into manageable tasks, and then achieving those goals through concentrated effort.

Essentially, progress is the practice of moving purposefully towards meaningful milestones.

People often gripe that ‘work’ is what prevents them from being happy, but that is only sometimes true. In fact, it’s voluntary pursuits that actually afford us some of the best opportunities for happiness without compromising self-respect (which is what cheaper, short-term gratifications tend to do).

So, here’s what I tell my clients:

It’s time to grow accustomed to the fact that LIFE IS WORK.

Assuming that you choose life over death (and we’ll talk more about suicide later), you can rest assured that your life will take effort:

Whether you avoid your problems or deal with them—that will take work.

Whether you hate yourself or help yourself—that will take work.

Whether you compromise on your values or live with integrity—that will take work.  

Being alive will always require lots of energy—and that’s never going to change.

Therefore, in order to be as happy as possible, we must radically accept that life will always be effortful and respond with the willingness to do what is required of us.

You will undoubtedly work hard if you choose this way of life—but you will be more content than ever in doing so. That’s the whole idea.

 A fulfilling life (and I’m talking about true happiness here—not artificial fluff) requires lots of healthy STRIVING.

Progress is all about committing ourselves to pursuits that offer us undeniable benefit, even if we fail.

So, here are some examples of progress-seeking activities that are likely to bring you fulfillment:

1) Dedicate yourself to a passion project or hobby that brings you joy, and get really good at it.

2) Practice holding yourself accountable to difficult tasks—whether that’s keeping your house clean, staying fit, or staying sober. Each time you achieve (or maintain) your commitment, you will gain experience, build mental fortitude, and ultimately get closer to being the person that you want to be.

3) Set lofty goals for yourself that you can spend a lifetime working on— BIG projects that will challenge you forever and provide endless opportunities for progress.

(You can find purpose in almost anything: parenting, saving the elephants, entertaining people… whatever! My passion is helping people recover from mental illness and unnecessary psychological suffering—and even on the hard days, it’s more satisfying than most other things to me.)

The point of today’s discussion is this:
We must learn to embrace the importance of fulfilling work, find projects that are seriously worth our effort, and then commit ourselves to those pursuits 100%.   

(It’s great to start with the tasks that we already have or would want to do, free of charge with nobody watching, and go from there.)

Remember: Progress is the secret to a happy life.

Work is necessary. Growth is good.

Don’t be afraid to push yourself—pursue, and overcome.

Happiness is always available to you, so go make it happen.

There is no better investment of your time and energy than in building a life that’s worth living to you.