The Book That Altered My View on Happiness

5 secrets to lead a happy life from the book ‘The Happiness Equation’

Are you happy right now?

Some of you might say, ‘Yes! Somewhat’ or ‘Not really’

Now let me ask you another question, “What have you learned about happiness?”

Just hold that answer for a minute while I’m going to break the biggest myth about happiness: ‘Work hard today and enjoy in the future.’

With the amount of stress in our day-to-day lives, we often search for happiness in the future and forget that we can have it in the present moment.

How to be happy? Is there a secret to leading a happy life?

Neil Pasricha is an author, entrepreneur, podcaster, and public speaker known for his famous TED talk and best blog. He discovered the secret of happiness after conducting research with top CEOs, employees, billionaires, and students.

Neil Pasricha shared nine secrets to lead a happy life in his book, “The Happiness Equation.”

In this article, I will share five personal takeaways from the book. Are you ready to explore? Read on.

The Key Takeaway #1: Six Words that Will Forever Change How You See Happiness

A Harvard business study on happiness states that happy people were 31% more productive and three times more creative than others.

Most parents want their children to study and work hard so that they can be happy in the future.

They believe that happiness is associated with money and high-position jobs.

In his research, after analyzing the lives of businesspeople, CEOs, and wealthy individuals, Neil Pasricha found that some successful people are still struggling to find happiness in their lives.

This clearly indicates that happiness is not something achieved at the end; you can’t find happiness in the future or after achieving your goals.

First of all, you need to be happy before doing anything else.

• Great Work -> Big Success -> Be Happy

• Be Happy -> Great Work -> Big Success

Seven Ways to Be Happy

According to University of California psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, “10% of your happiness is based on you, and 90% of happiness is based on how you see the world.”

Do any of these seven things for two straight weeks to feel happier:

1. Three Walks — Walk for 30 minutes at least three times a week.

2. The 20-minute Replay — Write about your positive experiences for 20 minutes.

3. Random Acts of Kindness — Perform five random acts of kindness.

4. A Complete Unplug — Disconnect from the internet after your working hours.

5. Hit Flow — Approach your tasks with mindfulness.

6. 2-Minute Meditation — Meditate for two minutes daily.

7. Five Gratitude — Write down five things you’re grateful for.

Key Takeaway #2: Do This and Criticism Can’t Touch You

I had often wondered why rich people worry about their lives when they have more than enough money to survive.

Later, I realized that they are always chasing their goals. You all know the significance of setting goals, but after achieving certain goals, you raise the bar even higher.

For instance, you wish to start a business, and you successfully implement it.

Now your goal changes to making a profit, and after achieving it, you set your sights on expanding the business for even greater profit.

Just like the above example, you keep pushing yourself to higher levels, making you run after your goals all the time.

There are two types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. If you’re doing it because you want to, then it’s intrinsic. If you’re doing it because you get something in return, then it’s extrinsic.

People often want to stand alone and expect praise from peers and family for their success. These external motivations can ultimately make you unhappy, and you’ll never truly enjoy your success.

To overcome this, always work towards your internal goals.

Think about these four simple words:

· Do

· It

· For

· You

When you work for yourself, you don’t rely on external motivation, which also helps you handle criticism effectively.

Remember, there will always be a few people one step ahead of you. Instead of trying to catch up to them, focus on your internal goals without making comparisons.

The Key Takeaway #3: The Dream We All Have That Is Completely Wrong

How many of you wish to retire early?

Most of us, right? Financial freedom is a popular keyword on social media and in self-help books.

People dream of retiring early and being financially free for the rest of their lives. Many retirement plans are marketed based on these mindsets.

Once, a businessman sold his new start-up for a huge price and went on vacation.

One day, he saw a fisherman with a big fish in his hands. He approached him and asked about the fish and his plans for the day.

The fisherman explained that he had called it a day because he’d earned enough money from selling the fish. He intended to have a good rest and spend the evening with his wife and kids.

The businessman said to the fisherman, ‘You have great talent; why don’t you work a little harder and grow your business?’ The fisherman asked, ‘Why should I grow my business?’

The businessman replied, ‘When you expand your business, you’ll have more money, and in 25 years, you can enjoy your retirement with your family.’

The fisherman responded, ‘That’s what I’m doing right now!’

Retirement is a flawed concept. It is based on three untrue assumptions: that we enjoy doing nothing instead of being productive, that we can afford to live well without earning money for decades, and that we can afford to pay others to not earn money for decades.

You may have missed out on many small joys while working in your offices. Take a moment to list one positive thing that happened at work.

Embrace your job, as small challenges keep you alive and allow you to experience life.

This doesn’t mean you have to continue your day job without passion. You should continually learn new things, embrace change, and follow your passions.

The Key Takeaway #4: The Secret to Never Being Too Busy Again

‘Hey! I don’t have time to work on my passion’,

‘I’m too busy; I work for 14 hours a day.’

Working hard to achieve your goals is important, but it doesn’t mean that you should overwork and end up in a burnout stage.

Many of you may have seen news about people dying in their 20s from heart attacks and in their 30s from depression.

Don’t be fearful; lack of awareness is the sole cause of the above situations.

Smart and creative work is the new motto for all kinds of businesses.

How well you improve your work with the help of modern technologies makes you stand out.

So, how can you be creative?

“When we take time off from working on a problem, we change what we’re doing and our context, and that activates different areas of our brain,” says Keith Sawyer.

Most of the creative work happens during your leisure time. When you focus too much on a specific problem, you might not come up with an actual solution.

Your mind should wander to different things, so it can be creative.

Consider the history of great discoveries; many breakthroughs occurred in unexpected places, such as Newton’s famous discovery under an apple tree.

Create a habit of daily walking or sitting in complete silence for 5 minutes. When your mind stops dwelling on other matters, it will begin to wander, and you’ll generate new ideas.

The Key Takeaway #5: How to Turn Your Biggest Fear into Your Biggest Success

No matter how many books or motivational videos you consume, fear often stands in the way of taking action. The key to conquering your fears is to face them head-on.

The author shares a personal example of overcoming a childhood fear of swimming by simply diving in and doing it. By taking that first step, fear evaporates, and motivation takes its place.

In essence, if you want to do something, just go ahead and do it.

Jerry Seinfeld, a famous comedian, once advised to use a wall calendar with a whole year on one page and a red marker. Each day you complete a task, mark it with a big red X, creating a chain of accomplishments that keeps you motivated to stay consistent.

To combat a lack of motivation and fear, ask yourself two questions: What’s the worst thing that could happen if I do this? What are the chances of failing miserably?

In most cases, you’ll realize that your fears are unfounded and not worth your time.

If you want to make positive changes:

. To exercise daily, don’t invest in a gym membership or expensive gear. Simply take a walk or run for a short time.

. To speak confidently in presentations, start by speaking up in team meetings and saying at least one sentence.

Bronnie Ware’s book, “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying,” highlights common regrets among those at the end of their lives.

The most prevalent regret is “I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

Many people often express their desires to start a new business or improve their skills in the future but fail to follow through. Fear of failure, comfort zones, and concerns about others’ opinions often hold them back.

The key message is to take ownership of your life and not allow it to be controlled by the opinions of others. Embrace being yourself and prioritize your inner happiness.

Don’t be swayed by the common regret of caring too much about what others think.

Conclusion

Happiness is not something to be reserved for your future self; you can choose to be happy in the present, irrespective of your accomplishments.

Prioritize your happiness, work towards your goals for your own satisfaction, and refrain from fixating on retirement. Overcome your fears by asking the right questions and taking action.

Happiness is a choice that you can make now, not a distant gift to be earned in the future.

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