10 Critical Rules For Living A Happy Life

Some people spend their whole life searching for happiness. While you may think wealth, power, and fame will make you happy, you may be looking in the wrong place. In fact, all the riches in the world won’t guarantee a happy and fulfilling life. You don’t have to search the globe for happiness because it already exists within you. As Glinda, the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, said, “You’ve always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself.” Here are 10 critical rules for living a happy life:

Parents give you life. Only you can give it meaning. Everyone was put on this earth for a reason…what’s yours? Find your purpose and pursue it with gusto. It’ll add bounce to your step, make your heart smile, fill your soul with pride, and be proof positive that you’re making a difference. Remember, when you do something for satisfaction rather than reward, the reward is often the satisfaction of doing it.

Your mindset matters more than you think. You are limited by your thoughts. While some of your thinking is constructive, other times it is detrimental, actively working against you. A poor choice or misjudgment is unintentional, while a poor attitude is a deliberate choice. Look at the bright side, see the good in people, challenge yourself, be grateful, believe in yourself, and have faith. Remember, ability determines if you can; attitude determines if you will.

Put your heart into your relationships. The number-one factor to help you achieve happiness is healthy relationships. But like other desirable things in life, relationships require an investment. Make your relationships a priority. Agree on the big things, put others’ needs ahead of your own, nurture trust, say what’s on your mind, meet in the middle, keep your promises, show appreciation, share and share alike, and never win at the expense of the relationship. Remember, invest in relationships to avoid the time repairing them.

Value memories rather than things. Some people assume that accumulating material wealth automatically leads to happiness, but nothing can be further from the truth. Keeping up with the Joneses places artificial demands on you that undermine your happiness. These demands force you to work harder and harder to cross a finish line that keeps moving. Remember, material possessions get old and wear out. Memories last forever. 

Treasure what’s really important. There is a tendency to cherish physical goods and undervalue things that can’t be easily measured. How much do you value trust, honor, love, dignity, and commitment? If you don’t hold these treasures in high regard, you may ignore, neglect, or take them for granted. Remember, it’s so easy to lose sight of the things you can’t see.

Be grateful and give thanks. Take inventory of the wonderful things in your life and don’t forget to give thanks. If you appreciate what you have, you’ll never want for more. Moreover, when you take people or things for granted, you put them in jeopardy. Remember, appreciate what you have, while you have it, or you’ll learn what it meant to you after you lose it.

Do what’s right rather than what’s convenient. Knowing what’s right isn’t as important as doing what’s right. Do what’s right, not out of fear of getting caught, but because integrity matters. Remember, you have to live with yourself for the rest of your life.

Reach for the stars, but remain grounded. When you believe something’s possible and you set your sights firmly on the prize, you’ve taken the first big step in making it a reality. On the other hand, when you believe you can’t, you won’t. So reach for the stars. Others can stop you for a moment. Only you can stop yourself for good. Remember, it’s amazing what you can do when you don’t know you can’t!

Make every moment matter. Live every day to the fullest rather than reliving the past or worrying about the future. The fact is, precious moments pass in the blink of an eye. And once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. Remember, life is like playing musical chairs –– you never know when the music will stop.

Do yourself proud. What does it mean to be a trusted friend, to raise good kids, to be a thoughtful neighbor or an exemplary role model? Your life will be determined by the choices that you make. You set your course, make the difficult choices, determine what you’re willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals, and act accordingly. Own your life! After all, personal responsibility can’t be delegated. Remember, if you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see, don’t blame the mirror.

Excerpted from The Path to a Meaningful Life by Frank Sonnenberg.

Frank Sonnenberg is an award-winning author and a well-known advocate for moral character, personal values, and personal responsibility. He has written nine books and has been named one of “America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders” and one of “America’s Most Influential Small Business Experts.”