10 Things You Should Release for Greater Happiness

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10 Things You Should Release for Greater Happiness
Shannon King, Charity Director

We all love those moments that are full of joy and happiness. Wouldn’t it be great to have those feelings vibrating around us more often? We absolutely can, but we need to loosen up a bit and let go of some things. Learning to remain joyful throughout the day can have dramatic positive effects on physiology and even improves the overall mental function. Starting today, let’s give up on all those things that no longer serve us and embrace a happier state of being.

  1. Give up your need for control.

Be willing to give up your need to try to control everything that happens to you. We often don’t realize that getting caught up in trying to stick to schedules, trying to modify the behavior of others, or trying to create predictability in our lives, only causes us anxiety and chaos. Allow everyone and everything to be just as they are and roll with it.

  1. Give up your need to be right.

So many of us get so caught in the web of wanting to be right, we don’t even realize how much suffering it’s causing us. Ask yourself: Would I rather be right? Or would I rather have peace?

  1. Give up your criticism of yourself and others.

This often begins with loving intentions: we want to motivate, inspire or help ourselves (or others) to be better, do better, or have better. But this quickly goes sideways and ends up deteriorating our well-being. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, move toward what’s going well, what’s working, and what kind thing you might be able to say.

  1. Give up your need for people to understand you.

We can spend an enormous amount of time and energy trying to get someone to understand things from our perspective—for them to see things from our point of view. People can only process information through their own filter so they may just not get it. Remember, this one is similar to wanting to be right because in the end, peace is found within, knowing that only person who needs to understand you is you.

  1. Give up your desire to be liked.

Stop trying so hard to shapeshift yourself into something that you believe other people will like. Everyone is different and the only person’s opinion of you that really matters is yours. Be your true and authentic self. Let your inner light shine forward and you will attract the right people into your life.

  1. Give up your resistance to change.

Change is necessary for growth and both can be uncomfortable. As a chick grows inside of its egg it gets cramped and uncomfortable. The protective egg begins to crack and break apart. This rupturing of the chick’s protective bubble seems traumatic but its only birth and the chick must continue forward and break out and into the new vast life before him. Not only is change good, it’s inevitable. Nothing stagnant ever grows. Resisting the changes in your life only creates suffering. Follow your bliss and embrace change—don’t resist it.

  1. Give up trying to please others.

So many people are living a life that they don’t truly want. They are living the life that their parents, friends, competitors, teachers, or their children think is best for them. They’ve stopped, or never even listened to their inner voices. They are so busy pleasing everybody that they’ve completely lost themselves in the process. Make it a practice to check in with yourself first. Don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from the life YOU want.

  1. Give up your attachment to the past.

This one can be hard when your past looks much better than your present moment. And I know it’s frightening, but the present moment is all that we really have. To release the past, you must stop deluding yourself and stop telling the stories of how life used to be. We tend to glorify these memories and often they aren’t an accurate account of what happened anyhow. Require yourself to be present in this moment, right now. If you don’t like the present moment, change it—and start to create a future that you love.

  1. Give up your need for acknowledgment.

We chase after love, approval, and appreciation because we think that this acknowledgment will help us feel happier, loved, and more at peace. But the pursuit of these things causes immense stress and suffering. To live a happier life, give up your need to be special, acknowledged, and appreciated. The moment you do this, you stop waiting for an external green light or approval. Relax and tap into your own inner well of joy. The only approval you truly need comes from within and guess what? You already are special, loved, and appreciated. Plenty of people will want you to live a nasty life that may bring you praise or admiration of others but leaves you feeling dark and lonely within. Trust yourself and strive to be the person that you are proud of.

  1. Give up your distractions.

We distract ourselves constantly. Whether we’re binge-watching Netflix, munching through a bag of Doritos, constantly checking social media, or browsing through the digital aisles of Amazon.com. Distractions keep us from focusing on our life in the now and the people who are here with us. We use distractions to keep us from facing our issues or completing tasks. But when we refuse to distract ourselves, we come face to face with what’s really going on within us and around us. It’s the only way that we’ll be able to make smart decisions for lasting change.

You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path. Embrace your inner happiness and allow that to be your new perpetual now in every moment.

 

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