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I’ve been blessed to see many happy, successful people up close. Definitions of success vary wildly, but they’re all people who largely seem to be getting what they want out of life.
I’ve also met quite a few struggling people. Many of them are great folks, but for one reason or another, they can’t seem to figure life out. They’re always getting in their own way.
What’s interesting is how easy it is to spot important differences between these two groups and how they live. Differences that I’m sure are causal in creating a better life.
How do I know? One reason is that every time I’ve had the chance to witness someone turn their life around, I see a number of habits that go hand-in-hand. Every time I’ve pulled myself out of a long funk, it involves returning to some of these very same practices.
None of these practices or habits are esoteric knowledge. They’re the same pieces of wisdom that people have been passing along to those they love for generations.
The reason I’m taking the time to write them down is that many of us need to hear these lessons again and again before they stick. All it takes is for a message to reach you at just the right moment, and your path can be changed forever.
I recently came out of a period of low motivation that I had felt stuck in for half a year. What got me out was going on a daily one-mile run. I spent so much effort trying to figure out why I felt like I did, when all I really needed was to move my body more.
Sometimes we need to be reminded of an old truth we may have forgotten.
7 Little Things Happy, Successful People Do
You can do these things too—I hope something in this list of things happy people do sparks a positive change in your life.
Happy people:
1. Savor Ordinary Experiences
The other day, I looked out my window and saw all four of my children bouncing on the trampoline together. It was a sweet moment for me to see them so full of joy. If you can cultivate a mind that is grateful for such ordinary pleasures, your life will never feel empty.
2. Seek Out Community and Plan Get-Togethers
A few good friends in my life taught me this lesson through their example. Rather than saying such things as, “Let’s get together” or “We should do something,” they actually create a plan and make it happen. These friends are invaluable, and the good news is that you can become that friend yourself and make your little community a happier place.
3. Live With Contentment and Avoid Comparison
Some people have a healthy level of ambition, while others are restless and never satisfied with anything. While the happy, successful people I know have an inner drive to make things better, they seem deeply happy in their own skin. It’s as if they’ve decided to play their own game well and not worry about what game others have decided to play.
4. Keep Promises They Make to Themselves
One of the best decisions I ever made in life was trying out for my high-school cross-country team. It was a competitive team that eventually had me running up to 70 miles a week for training. The big lesson I took from the miles was how transformative self-discipline could be. In a few short years, I transformed myself into a different person by simply keeping the promises I made to myself each day.
5. Follow Through With Plans
While the stereotypical image of a happy person might be someone who is carefree and goes with the flow, my experience has been a little different. The happy people I know are fun to be around, sure, but they are serious people. They make plans and they execute them. It’s this aspect that gives their life structure and purpose, enabling them to achieve the goals they set out for themselves.
6. Consider Others’ Feelings
We should treat people well because it’s the right thing to do. An added benefit is that it makes you a more likable person. Treating people well goes a long way in life. When you treat others well, they want to return the favor. By taking a little bit of energy to consider the feelings of others, you are increasing your surface area for good things to happen.
7. Make Exercise Non-Negotiable
There are a few people I know who have a good life but aren’t taking care of themselves with regular exercise. Regular exercise might be the highest return-on-investment activity you can do for yourself. When people ask me for advice, I usually say that if you’re not exercising regularly, it’s the first change you should make before anything else. Start breaking a sweat daily, and many of your problems may melt away, revealing a happier you.
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Udumbara
