Happiness is very elusive, especially in today’s times. For centuries now, people have deliberated over what happiness is and how one can achieve it. We all want to be happy but not all of us are able to make it to happiness.
While there are certainly quite a few things that we should do to be happy, there are also some others that we should give up.
Here are 10 things that you should give up if you want to be happy.
1. Give up your need to always be right
Many times, we can’t stand the idea of hearing that we are wrong. We stick on to this attitude, even at the cost of ending relationships, jobs, or our career. Whenever you feel like jumping into an argument wherein you are proving the other person wrong, ask this question to yourself: “Should I rather prove myself right, or prove myself kind?”
2. Give up your need for control
If you want to be happy, then you must give up your need to control everything around you – people, events, and circumstances. The people working at your office, your family members, your siblings or even your partner – just leave them to be rather than dominating them with your choices and opinions.
3. Give up your limiting beliefs
Break the chain of your limitings beliefs and dream big. Do not restrict yourself with choices that make you unhappy just because you think you can’t achieve things that make you happy. Achieve the unacceptable, spread your wings, and fly high!!
4. Give up the luxury of criticism
The habit of criticizing people, events, and situations around you can make you feel depressed. No two people can be the same and you will certainly not agree with every person around you. However, agree to disagree, and let the peace remain.
5. Give up your need to impress others
We live with the burden to impress everyone around us, forgetting about and compromising on our happiness. The moment you stop trying hard to impress people around you and start showing what you really are, you will be happy. Start embracing the real person inside you and you will see people drawing towards you automatically.
6. Give up your resistance to change
The only thing constant in the universe is change. With time, changes are bound to happen. When things change, you have two options: either crib about the changes or take them up as challenges. The latter should be your choice if you want to be happy in your life. If you start embracing changes, you start embracing life.
7. Give up on your fears
“Where fear is, happiness is not.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Fear is an emotion that is just in our head. We all have fears – fear of height, fear of water, fear of socialising and even fear of stage. The problem comes when you allow your fears to take over your dreams and ambitions.
8. Give up your excuses
We have a tendency to convince ourselves with excuses about our failures and unhappiness. You might have excuses ready for everything that you couldn’t achieve in life and for what you want to achieve in future. Excuses make you feel stuck and don’t allow you to grow in life. Ditch them!
9. Give up the past
What’s gone is gone and since it’s not coming back, why to even be bothered about it? It’s hard to forget the mishappenings of the past but you must try to look at a bigger picture. Enjoy what you have right now and embrace it. Life is a journey and there will be ups and downs. Learn to enjoy your present and be happy!!
10. Give up attachment
Detach yourself and feel the happiness that you get. Don’t confuse love with attachment, love is pure and effortless whereas attachment comes with fear. Attachment and love do not go hand in hand.
What else do you think one should give up to gain happiness? Do let us know your views!
