We all want to be happy, but a lot of us face obstacles in the way of happiness. All of us encounter challenges in life, losses, and other hardships. Sometimes, when bad things happen, it feels like happiness is an impossible dream. The problem with many people is that they believe happiness is something that just happens. They don't think you can work toward being happy, and that a lot of it depends on luck.
They look at people they think are happy, and decide these people were just in the right place at the right time. However, even the happiest person has faced some difficulties in life. They may have dealt with grieving over a loved one, or they may have had problems in their love life. No one's life is perfect and free of anything difficult or negative, no matter how it may seem on the outside.
Thinking you have no control over your happiness can be a self fulfilling prophecy. You don't think you can be happy, especially with your current circumstances, so you completely give up on ever becoming happy. You can end up with a very negative outlook on life, and you can completely overlook a lot of the things in life that could be making you happy.
An important step in becoming more happy with your life is to open yourself up to the possibility of being happy. Just because you have negative things to deal with in your life, and just because your life doesn't seem ideal, doesn't mean that you can't be happy in spite off your hardships. Don't think that happiness means never having a bad experience in your life. Happiness means being happy, in general. You can learn how to find happiness even if bad things have happened in your past. Everyone still has to face bad situations and losses in their life. However, not everyone allows the bad to overwhelm the good things in their life.
One thing that can lead to a lot of unhappiness is an inability to just let go of some of the negative things that have happened in the past. You shouldn't live in the past, especially if you're not benefiting from it. If you can't change the bad things in the past, it may be time to stop beating yourself up about them and focus on making the future better.
Staying in unhealthy relationships can also have a profound negative impact on one's happiness. This is not just love relationships, but any relationships with those who focus on the negative more than the positive. If a person continues to put you down or ruin your day, ask yourself why you continue to associate with that person. Focus on making new friends instead, and being around people with a positive outlook. Taking control of your relationships and other aspects of your life can be empowering. It can make you feel better just to think that you are in control of your own attitude and your own destiny in life and you can still learn how to find happiness. Don't let your circumstances make it seem like you are destined for unhappiness.
Felix Makmur is the owner of Secret of Happiness where he shares various tips and strategies that you can apply right now to find happiness in your life, regardless of your circumstances. Download your FREE Exclusive Report "How to Be Happy Now - 7 Powerful Secrets to Find Happiness No Matter What" and 30-Minute Relaxation Meditation MP3 Worth Over $37 at http://www.secretofhappiness.net/