If you get to the core of what most people truly want in life— it’s that they just want to be happy.
But what does it really mean to be happy? Is it a temporary feeling of pleasure, or is it something deeper and more sustainable?
Many of us find ourselves chasing after external factors such as material possessions, relationships, and status in order to find happiness. We think that things and situations are responsible for how we feel.
However, true happiness cannot be found in these external factors, but instead, within ourselves. It is a state of mind and being that comes from within.
In this blog post, we will explore how to find real happiness and shift your perspective to embrace joy and positivity — regardless of external circumstances. By aligning your actions with personal values and cultivating practices that contribute to long-term life satisfaction, you can achieve a happier life.
What Is Happiness?
Happiness is a complex and multifaceted concept that has intrigued philosophers, scientists, and everyday people for centuries. Official definitions of happiness often refer to it as a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.
Most people tend to equate happiness with positive emotions and temporary pleasures, such as enjoying a delicious meal, spending time with loved ones, or achieving a personal goal. While these experiences certainly contribute to our sense of happiness, they are only part of the picture.
From a psychological perspective, happiness encompasses more than just fleeting moments of joy. Positive psychology, a field pioneered by Dr. Martin Seligman, emphasizes that true happiness involves a combination of positive emotions, engagement in activities that are fulfilling, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Mental health professionals also highlight that chasing happiness through external means alone — such as wealth, status, or material possessions — can be counterproductive. Instead, fostering life satisfaction and well-being through relationships, personal growth, and mindfulness is the key to experiencing lasting happiness.
Ultimately, happiness is a deeply personal experience. What brings joy and contentment to one person may not have the same effect on another.
Therefore, to find happiness requires introspection and a clear understanding of your own values and desires. By defining what happiness looks like for yourself, you can cultivate a more authentic and sustainable sense of well-being.
How Does Happiness Relate to Manifestation?
Happiness and manifestation are intricately connected because your emotional and mental state will influence the reality you create. When you discover happiness within yourself, you will naturally emit a higher frequency of positive energy.
Essentially, according to the law of attraction, the more positive and optimistic you feel inside, the more likely you are to attract positive energy and experiences into your life. This is because your thoughts and emotions act as magnets that draw similar energies towards you.
On the other hand, when you are consumed by negative emotions, such as fear, doubt, or sadness, your vibrational frequency lowers. Negative emotions alert you to areas of your life that require your attention. But when they become dominant, they can also attract more negative experiences.
Therefore, maintaining a positive mental state is essential for manifestation. When you focus on gratitude and feeling good, you enhance your ability to align with what you want to attract, rather than what you fear or lack.
When you are happy, you are also more likely to take inspired action towards your goals, trust in the process, and remain resilient in the face of challenges. In essence, cultivating happiness within yourself creates a powerful foundation for manifesting the life you truly desire.
5 Steps to Find Real Happiness
Finding happiness is a journey that requires intention, effort, and self-awareness. While happiness can often feel elusive, there are practical steps you can take to cultivate a more joyful and fulfilling life.
Step 1: Define What Happiness Means to You
What does happiness look like for you?
Reflect on the emotions you associate with happiness, such as peace, gratitude, security, contentment, or love.
Think about your ideal state of mind — whether it includes feeling optimistic about the future, confident and capable, or deserving of all good things in your life.
To gain a clear picture of what overall happiness looks like for you, try asking yourself some of these questions:
What activities or experiences make me feel most alive and fulfilled?
Which relationships in my life contribute most to my sense of well-being and happiness?
What core values and beliefs shape my vision of a happy life?
How do I typically respond to life’s challenges, and how do these responses affect my happiness?
Am I prioritizing self-care and ensuring I take time for activities that nurture my mental and emotional health?
When I envision my happiest self, what does that look like in terms of my lifestyle, environment, and daily routine?
It’s helpful to write your reflections in a journal or notebook so you can explore them more deeply.
Step 2: Visualize What Happiness Could Look Like
Visualization is a powerful technique to show your subconscious mind what you want to create in your life. Your subconscious can’t tell the difference between imagined and real experiences, so by visualizing yourself living in a state of happiness, you are creating the foundation for it to become your reality.
What does a happy life look like for you — free from societal expectations and pressures? Authentic happiness comes from within, so release any beliefs that you “should” be doing or achieving certain things to be happy.
Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Relax your body and focus on your breath.
Once your mind and body are fully relaxed, use your imagination to visualize yourself living in a state of pure happiness — fully embodying the emotions, thoughts, and sensations associated with it.
Visualize all aspects of your life thriving — relationships, career, health, personal growth — as if there are no limits to what is possible. Allow yourself to feel grateful for this state of being, and in love with your life.
You’ll be amazed at how a simple visualization can begin to shift your experience. The more you practice this exercise, the easier it will become to manifest happiness in your life.
Step 3: Cultivate a Positive Mental State
Achieving and maintaining happiness involves nurturing a positive mental state. Your thoughts and perception of the situations and circumstances of your life can either enhance or detract from your sense of well-being.
Generating happiness is like building a muscle. It takes consistent practice and awareness to shift your way of being. Here are a few ways you can begin to cultivate a more positive mental state:
Meditation: Take time to quiet your mind and observe your thoughts. By creating space between you and your thoughts, you can gain perspective and tap into inner peace and clarity.
Gratitude: Make a habit of acknowledging the good things in your life every day. Notice even seemingly small moments of joy and blessings.
Reframing: Become aware of any negative self-talk or limiting beliefs that may be holding you back from experiencing happiness. Look for the silver lining and replace the negatives with positive thoughts.
Affirmations: Use affirmations to reprogram your mind towards positivity and happiness. Repeat phrases such as “I deserve to be happy” or “I choose to focus on the good in my life.”
Trust: Have faith in the process of life and the universe. Trust that things are always working out for your highest good, even if you can’t see it at the moment.
Practice Mindfulness: Emphasize being present in the moment. Engage in activities that cultivate attention to your current experiences and emotions. This can lead to reduced negative thoughts and greater overall happiness.
Step 4: Take Action to Create Your Happiness
Now that you have a clearer vision of what happiness looks like for you and the tools to maintain a positive mental state, it’s time to take inspired action towards creating your ideal life.
Revisit Step 1 and what happiness means to you. Then consider what actions you need to take to make those ideals your reality.
This could mean setting boundaries in relationships, pursuing a new career path, or making changes to your daily routine to prioritize self-care. Trust your intuition and take one step at a time towards creating a happier and more fulfilling life.
Here are some possible actions to get you started:
Practice self-care: Make time for activities that bring you joy and nurture your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Surround yourself with positivity: Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. Limit time spent with negative influences or situations that drain your energy.
Try new things: Step outside of your comfort zone and try new experiences or hobbies. This can help expand your perspective and open up doors to new opportunities for happiness.
Let go of perfectionism: Embrace imperfection and let go of unrealistic expectations. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them instead of beating yourself up.
Step 5: Understand that Happiness Is Always a Choice
It’s important to understand that happiness is not something that will magically happen to you — it is a conscious choice that you make every day.
Even when faced with challenges and difficult situations, you can choose to find the good in them and maintain a positive attitude despite negative circumstances. Remind yourself that you have the power to create your own happiness, no matter what external circumstances may be present.
This mindset can be very empowering as you are no longer at the mercy of your surroundings or those around you. When you decide to create happiness in your life, nothing can take that away from you.
FAQs on How to Find Real Happiness
1. How do I find my true happiness?
Finding happiness starts with self-awareness. Reflect on what genuinely brings you joy, contentment, and a sense of fulfillment. Cultivate a mental state that supports positive perspectives, engage in activities that align with your values and passions, and prioritize your mental and emotional well-being.
2. How do I know if my happiness is real?
Real happiness is often characterized by a deep sense of contentment and peace, rather than fleeting moments of pleasure. You can gauge the authenticity of your happiness by assessing whether it is consistent and enduring, and if it aligns with your core values and inner self.
3. What is needed to achieve true happiness?
Achieving true happiness requires a combination of self-discovery, mindful living, and proactive efforts to nurture your well-being. It’s about creating a balanced life that reflects your values and desires. By consciously choosing actions and thoughts that promote joy and fulfillment, you can achieve happiness that is both real and lasting.
4. Is it possible to be happy all the time?
It’s natural to experience a range of negative feelings throughout life, including sadness, anger, or frustration. So it is not realistic to expect to feel happy all the time. However, cultivating mindfulness, practicing gratitude, and maintaining a sense of humor, even during tough times, can help you navigate life’s ups and downs with greater ease and find happiness amidst challenges.
Finding Happiness in Everyday Life
Happiness is not something that can be found outside of yourself. It is an ongoing, internal state of being that each person has the ability to cultivate in daily life.
Sustainable happiness arises from within, blossoming when your thoughts, feelings, and actions resonate with your values and passions.
Happiness is a choice — one that requires consistent mindfulness. Enduring happiness is not dependent on external circumstances, but instead, on your internal state of mind.
The power to find real happiness lies within you. So embrace it and live your happiest life!
