How To Know If You’re Happy Or Not

What is happiness? The dictionary says it’s “A state of well-being and contentment.”

That’s a good start, but how can you know if you’re happy? What does happiness look like? 

Although happiness is in the mind of the “beholder,” you’re probably happy when the following things are true about your life: 

• Your Needs Are Being Met – Your needs are being met to the level you need them to be met, even if life is hard and you’re facing difficult times right now. 

• You Feel Satisfied & Content – You tend to be happy when you feel satisfied with your life; you consider your life and feel good about it. You evaluate your life and count your blessings. It could be where you live, who you’re with, living a life of purpose, family, job, home, belongings, opportunities, or simply being grateful for your health. You’re content.  

• You Have Peace – A happy person tends to feel and know everything will be okay. They’re at peace with their life, family, and friends. And they turn negativity into positivity. 

• They Define Happiness – They don’t follow social norms blindly or seek to please people’s expectations; they define what happiness means to them. They know it isn’t about acquiring wealth and possessions, being popular or famous, or gaining people’s approval. They embrace their freedom and use their power of choice to live life on their terms.

• It’s a Journey – A happy person realizes that happiness is a journey with ups and downs and struggles. But even during the ups and downs, they feel good about life and are happy (or at least hopeful and content) because they focus on the ups and not the downs.

• You Live & Act Happy – It’s one thing to claim you’re happy, but it’s another thing to live happily each day. When you choose to live and be happy now, you’re more hopeful, cheerful, and optimistic overall. And you tend to eat better, move more, think differently, and worry less. You believe it’s your privilege and right to exercise the power of happiness right now in your situation. 

Happiness is more than thinking positive thoughts. It’s having your needs met, but it’s not about having everything or even the best. It’s about being satisfied with WHO you are and WHAT you have while also being able to work for the things you want. 

While you must do more than think positively to really and truly feel happy, happiness starts with your thoughts and manifests in your actions.