Happiness is a State of Activity: What You Need to Drop to Be Happy

Aristotle once said, “Happiness is a state of activity”, and to achieve this state of bliss, we must be active participants in our lives. It’s not something we’re born with, but it’s something we need to cultivate. However, sometimes being happy is about what we don’t do. Limiting harmful beliefs, mindsets, and habits can help us fully enjoy what life has to offer. Here are 11 things you need to drop today to be happy.

1. Spending time with toxic people

As Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” This means that the people we surround ourselves with shape who we are on a fundamental level. If you spend time around toxic people, their toxicity will eventually become yours. You’ll start to feel anxious, and it will drag you down.

We all have negative people in our lives, but we have to learn to let go of them. Start to peel away from those who are keeping you from being happy. Don’t surround yourself with people who only bring negativity and drama into your life.

2. Being too focused on the goal and not enjoying the work

While goals are essential, being too attached to them can make you miss all the joys that are sprinkled along the way. When we’re too focused on the end result, we lose sight of the journey, and we miss out on some of the most beautiful parts of life.

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, in his book “Flow”, discusses a state of mind we enter when we are so immersed in the task at hand that we lose sense of time and being. This state of flow can only happen if you concern yourself with the work itself, what’s right in front of you, not the end of the journey. Take time to enjoy the small wins and the progress you’re making.

3. Thinking of money as a goal, not a tool

Money has a large influence on our sense of happiness, but not in the way that we think. In order to make money work for you and help you be happy, use it to either be generous or to purchase experiences. Experiences have a more profound and long-lasting happy buzz than buying a new dress or an HDTV.

4. Being too focused on what you want and not grateful for what you have

Appreciation is a key component of happiness. Start appreciating what you already have, rather than constantly focusing on what you don’t. Gratitude changes our perspective, and when we’re thankful for what we have, we’re less likely to take it for granted.

5. Comparing your Facebook profile to your friends’

Social media is a great way to stay connected, but when we use it to compare our lives to those of our friends, we start to feel insufficient. We forget that social media is a page we can editorialize any way we want, which means our friends’ lives are not always as perfect as they seem.

6. Holding grudges and seeking payback

Holding onto anger and resentment only causes suffering in ourselves. While forgiveness is hard, it’s the highest form of love, and once we learn to forgive, we free ourselves from the burden of anger.

7. Worrying about the plan when there is no plan

Let go of the plan. Life is so immense that any plan you can think of will be somewhat off, at best. The beauty isn’t in the plan, but in your intentions, your work, and your reactions. To be happy you have to ditch “the plan,” and just try your best.

8. Being your own worst critic

Self-criticism is common, but it’s detrimental to our happiness. It’s crucial to learn to love ourselves and treat ourselves with kindness. We must recognize our worth and avoid catastrophizing.

9. Waiting for a reason to be happy

We often think we need specific conditions to be happy: a well-paying job, a successful love life, a perfect body. We think, “I’ll be happy when…” But this isn’t the case. We must start being happy now. When we learn to find happiness in the present moment, we create a positive feedback loop and attract more positivity into our lives.

10. Lacking purpose and meaning

Humans need to feel purposeful and meaningful in their lives. If we don’t have a sense of purpose, we’re more prone to feel lost and hopeless. Try to find activities and hobbies that give you meaning and purpose, whether that’s volunteering or learning a new skill.

11. Neglecting self-care

Self-care is crucial for happiness. We can’t pour from an empty cup, and when we neglect ourselves, we become burnt out and unhappy. Make sure to take care of yourself by making time for activities that bring you joy, whether that’s yoga, painting or cooking.

In conclusion, happiness is a state of activity, and you must be an active participant in your life to cultivate it. By dropping these 11 habits, you’ll start to feel more joy and happiness in your life. Remember, happiness isn’t a destination; it’s a state of being.