Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America had this to say about happiness:
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be
In the same vein hence comes the question: Are you really a happy person? Unsure? Consider some signs below:
1. They don’t check Facebook so frequently
Because it’s hard to relax when you feel like there is something you should be doing or looking at.
2. They don’t forget to take a break
They know they can do their best work when they prioritize their schedule. Can’t avoid a packed day at school? Grab a few minutes between classes and focus on your breath—it’s your best tool for relaxation during a hectic day. Count your inhales and exhales, allowing the exhales to be twice as long as your inhale to slow your heart rate.
3. They don’t hang out with complainers
For the most part, you are in control of who you spend time with. If the air gets thick with negativity or a pity party has gone too far, excuse yourself from the conversation.
As the saying goes: If you hang with 9 broke friends, you are bound to be the 10th one. So goes with a friend who is perpetually miserable!
4. They don’t assume everyone is out to get them
When things don’t work out as planned or they get an unexpected response, happy people are curious and expect there to be a reasonable explanation. “They ask, ‘What just happened?’ as opposed to getting angry and thinking ‘how could they do that to me?’”
Even when someone is hurtful, happy people tend to be concerned about what might be happening in that other person’s life that would lead them to act that way. In other words, they don’t take it personally.
5. They don’t compare themselves to others
Another strike against Facebook: it can chip away at your happiness because it makes it too easy to compare yourself to others, several studies have found. Instead of getting down on yourself, give yourself a reality check. A woman, Nanette has this witty quip that goes: “My mother told me long, long ago that people brag to make themselves feel better.”
Being aware of this fact about human psychology frees you from the lure of comparing yourself to others, especially braggarts.
6. They don’t forget to celebrate others’ success
A happy person’s reaction to someone winning the lottery? “Wonderful, great for her!” Unhappy people live in a small world where rewards are scarce. Happy people live in a big world with plenty to go around.
The next time your friend gets fantastic grades, congratulate him/her and mean it. And those lottery winners? You never know when it will be you, so why not be happy for them?
Finally, there’s plenty of good to go around — being happy for others doesn’t mean you won’t get your turn. It just means that you will be happier in the time being.
