The first and foremost step on the road to consummate happiness is the decision to stay happy. Being in an enthused and inspired state all the time, even in your hard days, is possible only when you have decided it. Happiness has a direct connection with optimism. Deciding to be happy means that you have committed yourself to be optimistic and to always look at the bright side of the things, because in the end, it's you who decide whether the glass is half full or half empty.
Now that you have decided to stay happy, the next step is to work towards your goal. You have to figure out the temperaments and attitudes in you that militate against your goal of staying happy and you have to allow yourself to be extricated from those unbecoming attitudes. This might be difficult to practice in the start and you might often feel like getting into a state where it seems impossible to stay happy and contented. But remember, an artist who commits himself to his art in the toughest and the most miserable times is the one who reaches the zenith of perfection.
As you approach further towards your goal, you should start looking out for small and petty things that could earn you happiness. Reading a thrilling passage from a book or watching a titillating scene from a movie, listening to the delightful chirping of birds, having an adventurous walk through the woods and enjoying nature, pursuing any activity that interests you the most are all the easy-to-do and inexpensive things that can fill you with sheer delight.
You may have mastered the art of living your day-to-day life happily but long-lasting happiness and contentment is guaranteed only when you are satisfied with what you have achieved in life. These could be intellectual or academic achievements, professional achievements or any contribution to the general good of the society. Moreover, if you pursue philanthropic causes and concern yourself with the welfare of others, like every other altruist you are certainly going to discover the true secret of happiness.
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