13 Reasons To Stop Chasing Happiness & Live The Moment

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Mind

Are you chasing happiness and hoping to find it? 

Most people answer ‘Happiness’ is one of the things which they want out of life. It is simple, but only that cannot be your goal as there are different

Ideas of happiness. 

The happiness you feel today may look different tomorrow. Whatever you thought would make you happy today, might be different on the other day.

Why do people chase happiness?

It is known that you have been taught from a young age that success is to have money, a good job, and raise a happy family. You would spend your whole life chasing the idea of happiness without looking inside yourself. These expectations have been ingrained in your brain over the years. This is causing stress and anxiety, which is making you unhappy. 

You might spend a lot of time chasing happiness without realizing it’s already out there. You can find happiness in being content and embracing the present moments that are worth living. If we wish, we can find many reasons to stop chasing happiness, we just have to look around us and understand it.

Here are a few reasons to stop chasing happiness and live the moment.

1. Know what is happiness to you

Understand what happiness is for you? Is it confusing, or have you overuse it? Ask yourself, what do I have in life instead of Am I happy?

Know what you prefer? Is it contentment? Enjoyment? Laughter or Hopefulness? You need not experience all of them. Just have a clear picture in your mind of what defines happiness to you.

2. Enjoy being in the moment.

Let go of the past regrets, enjoy the present moment. Know what is happening around you. Each moment has its narrative of your life. Just be here now. Don’t worry about future anxieties. The best way to be happy is to Live the moment.

Live the moment
Enjoy Being In A Moment

3. Know what you really want to do

People who are searching for happiness often end up with shiny object syndrome. You are looking for someone who can take away all your suffering, and you bounce from goal to goal. 

Understand what you want so that you can develop purpose and focus on that. You need not waste your time chasing happiness. You may realize happiness is not what you want at that moment. Sometimes you might be willing to be unhappy. It gives you a sense of achievement and makes you proud.

4. Let go of unrealistic expectations.

You should know that it is alright to live an average life with brief periods of joy. Do not set the bar too high. Unrealistic expectations can be exhausting to chase. Find simple and small goals to meet and let them bring joy to you. 

Letting go is one of the reason of not to chase happiness
Let go of unrealistic expectations, things & People

5. Do not be self-centered.

Unhappy people are usually self-centered. This does not mean that they are bad and do not care. Research says that giving time and happiness to others is more rewarding than receiving. Serving others will help you to break the pattern of self-attention.

6. Differentiate between happiness and your achievements

Understand your sense of self-worth. Learn to separate achievements from your happiness. Reaching goals can encourage you to be proud. It may give you a deep sense of achievement. But it should not mean the absence of happiness. You should be happy along the path to your achievements.

7. Let go of the people and the things that make you feel sad.

Let go of things that make you feel discomfort and sad. Get rid of the toxic relationships and influences that make you grasp for happiness that you cannot find. They can hold back your feelings, and you may never be satisfied.

Surround yourself with peers with positive influence who make you realize the true joys of life.

8. Come out of your comfort zone.

Get out of your comfort zone if you want to know your worth. You may feel anxious before doing something, but you will do it as it benefits you. Later you will feel a sense of relief that having something done which you were scared to do.

9. Take care of yourself.

Pamper yourself. Take a day off your busy schedule. Bring as much joy to that day you possibly can. Eat your favorite food, watch the shows and do the activities that bring you joy.

10. Give space for other emotions.

Other emotions such as sadness, anger, and jealousy also have their place at times. If you suppress these, you are phishing back feelings that have come to the surface. If you try to replace these with artificial joy, you would be hurting yourself rather than helping.

reasons to stop chasing happiness is feel emotions
Feel Different Emotions And Give Space To Them

11. Find inner happiness

Look inside yourself rather than chasing external outlets. Find out the core of what makes you smile. Look for internal joy. Meditate to find inner peace. Make yourself happy before anyone or anything can affect your feelings. 

12. Change your perspective

Changing the point of focus can make you happier rather than chasing random thoughts of assumed happiness. Do not waste your time on something that you assume would bring you joy.  Instead, focus on small things that make you happy.

13. Go outside

Unplug yourself by going outside. Most of your worries are linked mainly with the environment in which you live. Go out in nature and experience relaxation and acceptance.

Meet new and positive people who can give you the energy to focus on enjoying the present. Find people with similar interests and connect with them. 

Go Outside

You must know that if you spend all the time chasing happiness, it can wear out too! It will discourage you and makes you unhappy. It will make you desperate. Instead, stop and deduce what you should be chasing after.  

Thus, the best way to live a happy and fulfilling life is to enjoy and experience it all. Experience every single moment with joy. Permit yourself to feel the way you want when something terrible happens to you. 

Know that life is full of wonderful and horrific events. You cannot get away with pain. From that, you will learn to appreciate the good things that happen to you. Happiness and sadness, Anger and Joy go hand in hand. WithoutWithour the one, you don’t realize the existence of the other emotions.

So if you want to live a happy life, stop chasing happiness. You can force true happiness, and you cannot fake it. Just live the moment. When happiness comes to you, your life will be fuller, meaningful than you would be able to catch up with happiness. 

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Dr. Bob Singhal

Professor Bhupendra 'Bob' Singhal, has taught creativity by joy and right-brain thinking, is a renowned international architect, won major design competitions, has over 70 awards, publications, and media mentions, and served as President of the American Institute of Architects South Bay. In 2011, in his book Joy in Health and Happiness: Your Optimal Path to Success, Professor Singhal wrote about the transformative power of joy and helped readers learn to enhance their daily experience of it.

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