{"id":27553,"date":"2014-10-21T21:06:04","date_gmt":"2014-10-22T05:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=27553"},"modified":"2014-10-30T22:18:03","modified_gmt":"2014-10-31T06:18:03","slug":"6-secrets-attaining-true-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/6-secrets-attaining-true-happiness\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Secrets for Attaining True Happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Do you read tons of blog posts or articles that tell you how to be happy?<\/p>\n

Do you try the things they say, but afterwards still feel crappy?<\/p>\n

Well, fret not because happiness isn\u2019t supposed to be felt all day, every day.<\/p>\n

So stop beating yourself up over it.<\/p>\n

Even the happiest people in the world have bad days.\u00a0\u00a0They just accept them as part of life.<\/p>\n

True happiness results from\u00a0accepting<\/span><\/b>\u00a0the full range of emotions, both good and bad.<\/p>\n

So build this acceptance and also your inner strength to deal with the situations that cause unhappiness, and happiness will follow.<\/p>\n

The following actions aren’t some temporary band-aids or quick fixes, such as telling you to go out and eat your favorite frozen yogurt or go hang out with some friends. (These are good, but they don\u2019t last.)<\/p>\n

Instead, they help secure true happiness \u2014\u00a0happiness built from within<\/b>.<\/p>\n

But like all things that are worthwhile, you’ve got to work at it.<\/p>\n

Don’t doubt yourself. You can do these things.\u00a0\u00a0Keep consistently trying and they will become habit.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/b>The following are six actions that secure your happiness:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

1. Stop the Comparison Game<\/b><\/h1>\n

When you play the game of comparing yourself to others, you will\u00a0always<\/span><\/b>\u00a0lose.<\/p>\n

Defining yourself in relation to others is unnecessarily stressful.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>You need to end this self-inflicted madness.<\/b><\/p>\n

First, realize that your perception of others is a personal one.<\/p>\n

It is not based on 100{54c12dad2cc2b53ae830e39915b1a3e70288dbcbbeb8bbf8395437c5dc3c512c} reality.<\/p>\n

You only see a small percentage of the entire truth.<\/p>\n

Think of other people you perceive as actors on television or the movies, where what you see is only an act.<\/p>\n

Everyone puts their best face and persona forward but not the depths of their soul or their finances.<\/p>\n

You can control what you see within your own reality, but you can\u2019t see everyone else\u2019s reality.<\/p>\n

Focus on your reality exclusively because this is the only truth.<\/p>\n

Celebrate all that you\u2019ve accomplished in your reality knowing the challenges you\u2019ve overcome or conflicts you\u2019ve resolved.<\/p>\n

Acknowledge all your personal victories, whether small or large, every day.<\/p>\n

Also, when comparing yourself to others, you are being extremely unfair to yourself.<\/p>\n

For example, comparing yourself to people who have reached success is pointless.<\/p>\n

They are at the apex of the success pyramid.<\/p>\n

If you are just starting out in whatever you are doing, remember that others have started just the same as you \u2014\u00a0at the bottom<\/b>.<\/p>\n

We all have different paths to follow, and different ways of doing so.<\/p>\n

Focus on your journey and yours alone.<\/p>\n

2. Value Your Voice Above All Others<\/b><\/h1>\n

Not caring what others think\u00a0<\/b>is definitely easier said than done.<\/p>\n

We all want acceptance on some level.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing wrong with wanting acceptance, but don\u2019t let this desire overrun all the decisions you make.<\/p>\n

In the end, it is not other people who will be living your life; it is you.<\/p>\n

If you base everything you do on what others think, you are not truly thinking for yourself and therefore not truly living.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be constantly haunted by what others think when you make decisions in your life.<\/p>\n

Be strong and stand by your convictions. This is the only way you can be true to yourself.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t risk regretting a decision based on what others\u00a0might think<\/span><\/b>\u00a0when you know your gut feeling is telling you otherwise.<\/p>\n

The haters may object, but you\u2019ll get over it knowing you stand by your truth.<\/p>\n

3. Run Into the Face of Fear<\/b><\/h1>\n

Fear protects us from harm.<\/p>\n

It is necessary for our survival.<\/p>\n

So you\u00a0should<\/span><\/b>\u00a0feel fear to understand where it is coming from.<\/p>\n

If you encounter a bear, venomous snake or threat of armed robbery, then obviously fear is real, important and legit.<\/p>\n

Your life\u2019s in danger.<\/p>\n

But if you are feeling fear for things that aren\u2019t life-threatening or may or may not happen, you need to feel the fear and then face it.<\/p>\n

For example, the following are fear-inducing thoughts you must face:<\/p>\n