10 skills for a happy life

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Happiness is the result of effort, a harvest that blooms when it has been sown. Skills for a happy life are guidelines for working towards our well-being, which includes a feeling of satisfaction with ourselves and with life.

Sometimes we think, mistakenly, that happiness is a matter of chance. That’s not true. In reality, that global well-being that we call happiness is mainly the result of work. We can develop skills for a happy life, no matter what good or bad happens to us.

It is clear that in everyone’s life journey there is a component of chance. In principle, we are not the owners of circumstances and we cannot shape them as we please. However, When we develop the skills for a happy life, we find a way to address those circumstances in the most constructive way possible.

The skills for a happy life are not otherworldly talents. They have to do with educating our mind so that it can find the path to well-being. be a more autonomous task. The determining skills for this are the following.

“Someday anywhere, anywhere you will inevitably find yourself, and that, only that, can be the happiest or the most bitter of your hours.”.

-Pablo Neruda-

A happy life…

1. Happiness is also planned

We all talk about happiness, but not all of us would know how to define it. Likewise, it is possible that we have a global concept of happiness, but that we cannot specify it in specific situations.

So the first of the skills for a happy life is to develop our own concept of well-being; not only in general, but referring to specific areas or aspects in which we operate.

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2. Focus on growth, one of the skills for a happy life

Challenging ourselves brings us closer to happiness. Conformity is a sign that we are invaded by fear or lack of motivation.

Take on challenges On the other hand, it revitalizes us and adds a touch of flavor to what we do.. Wanting to be better and doing what is necessary to achieve it increases our satisfaction with life.

3. Learn to see the best in everything

Out of self-preservation we tend to focus more on the negative than the positive in situations. Therefore, it is not easy to learn to see the best in each person or each situation.

The most advisable thing is let those negative approaches emerge, but immediately counter them with optimistic approaches and keep these.

4. Be able to trust yourself

One of the great skills for a happy life is self-confidence . To develop it, there is nothing better than becoming our own best friend..

Let’s leave constant self-criticism aside, forgive ourselves for the mistakes we make or for not immediately achieving what we want. Let’s be self-compassionate and try to understand each other, not judge each other.

5. Balance between the different dimensions of life

Work is an important part of life, but not life itself. It is good that we dedicate a good part of our time to it, but we cannot allow it to become the axis around which everything else revolves.

We are happiest when we experience not one, but many facets of our being. The couple, friends, family, health and creation must have an irreplaceable place.

6. Develop resilience

This is one of the most important skills for a happy life. It has to do with the ability to recover and grow after you have had a setback.

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Sometimes it takes time, sometimes it takes a lot of effort, but, ultimately, it is a capacity that we can all develop. with enough will and work.

Resilience, in turn, increases self-confidence and security. In other words: we get three for the price of one.

7. Fight against automatisms

We are all full of mental, emotional and physical automatisms. Sometimes they help us make life simpler, but other times they are mechanical actions that only lead to discomfort. It is good to observe ourselves to detect if this is happening.

In that case, A good idea is to start by changing the physical automatisms of the behaviors that we want to eradicate, and then continue with the mental and emotional ones.

8. Find a purpose

Most of us know that life is more interesting and enjoyable when we have a purpose to fight for. The problem is that we don’t always find that great existential purpose.

Perhaps it is best to let ourselves be carried away by our spontaneous impulses towards small, immediate purposes. Surely, these will lead us to discover those great goals for life.

9. Practice kindness

Perhaps you’ve already noticed that the kindest people are also the happiest. On the other hand, those who are filled with bitterness are also the most selfish and, at times, cruel.

Being kind to others gives us a deep and lasting feeling of happiness. The joy that comes from positively impacting the lives of others is priceless.

10. Build healthy relationships

The feeling of happiness is only full when it is shared. Relationships with others are essential for personal well-being. The best way to build them is by valuing each person for what they are and how they are, respecting and being grateful. with what they give us.

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These 10 skills for a happy life don’t develop overnight. It takes work, perseverance and determination.

Finally, it is likely that we will not achieve that type of idealized and total happiness, but we will certainly achieve a much higher level of well-being and a significant degree of satisfaction with existence.