Hi Chris,
I don’t know why, but I never seem to be happy. I’ve got a good job, all the latest gizmos and lots of friends. But something’s missing. What does it take to be happy?
Unhappy
Chris says,
Hi Unhappy!
Happiness is never about your job, your friends or your fancy gadgets. It’s about who you are. Your personality and your behaviour. The way you treat and respond to others.
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So make a point of meeting lots of new people. Especially those with different backgrounds or beliefs. Be open to their ideas and learn from them.
Judge others by their actions, never by their words. Focus on the people who treat you well and avoid those who don’t.
Never be afraid of failure, and instead, see your setbacks as trial runs. Real failure is giving up; everything else is practice.
Set yourself high standards, but don’t become a perfectionist. That’s just a form of procrastination. Stop trying to make things perfect and just get them done. And avoid working for people who always want more for less. The less someone is willing to pay you, the harder they’ll be to work with.
Above all, realise that you’re not your bank account, your car or your house. What really makes you happy is your family and the life you love.
This means that the most important choice you’ll ever make is your spouse. So choose well, and then treat him the way you’d want your children’s future spouses to treat them. And have lots of good sex together. Marriage is really that easy.
But parenting is harder than you can imagine. So, learn to do it well. That means being tough and consistent. Your children will thank you in the long run. And don’t fight all their battles for them. Helicopter parents end up with children who can’t stand up for themselves.
Never see someone else’s difficulties as a moral issue. Get to know them and ask yourself what you can do to help them. It’s in helping others that true happiness lies.
All the best,
Chris
