Five Steps to Happiness

Without a doubt, the most common search in the world is the search for happiness.  Many believe that happiness can be found by first finding the right keys.  They look for money, thinking money will make them happy.  They look for love, thinking love will make them happy.  They look for power, position, careers, education thinking they will make them happy.  Perhaps the saddest of all are those who seek out the darker things like drugs, alcohol, crime, sex and the like, thinking they will bring happiness.  None of these ever do and the disappointment is more than many can bear.

                Does this mean that happiness is a myth and can never be found?  Not at all.  Happiness is real, wonderful, and there for all to grab on to.  The true key to happiness is not going to come from other people and things, it comes from within you.

                What many misses is that life was created for a purpose.  Every person who has ever been born has had a purpose and that purpose was meant to be for good and to fulfill them.  Yes, I know the world has had and is now filled with evil and wicked people who do great harm.  No, that was not their purpose.  Just because we have a purpose does not mean we follow that purpose.  We all have one great freedom, the freedom to choose.  The reality is, many make wrong choices - but it is their choices to make.

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy,

and inspires your hopes."

- Andrew Carnegie

(1835-1919)

American Industrialist/Businessman

                For those who choose to live a life of purpose and good, I have five things you will want to incorporate into your daily life.  These five steps will help you find the real sense of happiness in all that you do.

#1) Know What You Want

                Our purpose in life is based on our dream.  Some people think that their purpose must be something they do not want to do or that will make them suffer.  The opposite is true.  Our purpose or dream is the one thing we want to do most.  It is that thing that you think about all the time and has thought about all your life.  Find that and you will have started down the road to fulfillment.

#2) Live With Passion

                When we know our dreams, it starts a fire in us that builds and builds.  This fire is called passion.  When you live with passion, that all-consuming desire to achieve your dreams, you will find a force that gets you up every morning with excitement and joy and carries you through the day till you lay your head down at night, satisfied and knowing you have another great day awaiting you tomorrow.

#3) Stay Focused

                People who jump from one thing to another all the time never achieve anything in life.  You do not have to do everything, you do have to do one thing.  Find that one thing you dream of; give it your full attention, learn about it, breath it, eat it, live it.  You can be good at several things or you can be great at one thing.  Choose to be great.

#4) Give You All to It

                Success comes through hard work and a determination to never give up.  Thomas A. Edison said, "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."  He should know, he failed so many times, but he never gave up and that is why we remember him as the brilliant inventor he was.

#5) Add Value to the World

                Yes, you have a purpose and that purpose is good and important.  What that purpose is not is just for you.  You are here to make this world better.  Remember that everything - I said EVERYTHING - matters.  Everything you do adds or takes away from the greater good in this world.  You may not always see its effect, but it is there all the same.  Whatever you do, think of how this will add value to others.  You may just be the answer to many a prayer and you do not even realize it.

You can learn more about Personal Development from author and speaker, John Patrick Hickey.  To get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. Be sure to sign up for the free membership and get even more tools to help you achieve your dreams.  

© 2019 John Patrick Hickey. No part of this may be reprinted or published without the permission of the author.