Key Messages
9 Secrets To Unlock Your Happiness And Achieve A Joyful Life
We all want to be happier in life, and with the right tools and knowledge, it is achievable.
The Happiness Equation outlines nine secrets that you can use to become a happier person – without having to invest in expensive yoga classes or jet-setting around the world.
One of the secrets outlined in the book is that we are all lottery winners by simply being born into this earth.
Along with that, it also reveals a part of our brain which constantly looks for problems to solve, while paradoxically explaining why retirement isn’t as great as everyone expects it to be.
So if you’re wanting to upgrade your happiness levels and make your life a better place, take a look at “The Happiness Equation Book Summary” for 9 secrets which makes becoming a happier person easier than ever before.
The Secret To True Happiness Is Not Seeking Success Or Rewards, But Doing What You Love
Most of us have been taught that happiness comes after we’ve done a considerable amount of work and become successful.
But, this “equation” is wrong!
Success actually comes when you’re already happy.
Happiness shouldn’t be something that’s chased – instead we should focus on seeing the world in a more positive light, as this accounts for the majority of our personal happiness.
To help identify everyday moments of joy, practice the 20 minute replay – at least once a day write one thing that made you happy, so you can remember and relive those happy moments.
Additionally, don’t do things because you want to get external rewards or admiration; rather than chasing happiness or success, do things because it brings you joy.
This was the lesson learned by author Neil Pasricha, who started a blog 1000 Awesome Things as he was motivated by enjoying what he wrote about without any expectations of success or attention.
When it became popular, he found himself setting goals that never stopped – and his pursuit for happiness didn’t last long enough.
Happiness isn’t an elusive state to reach through success – success isn’t even necessary!
You need to start from a place of joy and continue to reward yourself with activities for only their own sake if you truly want to be content with your life.
Contend With Your Negative Thoughts By Putting Life Into Perspective
When it comes to feeling content and happy, two conflicts often get in the way.
On one side, there’s a battle between our old brain (the amygdala) and our new brain (the prefrontal cortex).
The amygdala is designed to be on high alert and detect any potential threats or problems–not only those that present genuine danger, but also those which are much less scary such as making an upcoming presentation.
On the other side, we struggle with feelings of envy or doubt about how well we measure up to others.
For example, if you see your neighbor’s new car you might feel envious of their purchase and discontent with your own life.
Thankfully, all hope isn’t lost when it comes to feeling happy.
When things start to feel too overwhelming remember that simply being alive gives you the ticket to happiness!
Reminding yourself of this incredible fact will help put things into perspective and realign your thinking so it can be more positive going forward.
Taking a moment to recognize your own amazing existence amongst this cosmic lottery called life can make a world of difference.
The Fourth Secret To Happiness – Stay Productive And Keep Your Ikigai Alive!
Retirement is no longer the ideal way to enjoy your golden years.
In 1889, the average lifespan was 67 – now someone at that age could have many more active and healthy years ahead of them.
Studies confirm that healthy and productive people want to keep working, with 50-60% of those over 65 wanting to postpone retirement.
This leads us to a key factor for happiness: having a purpose in life.
Tokohu University’s study on 43,000 people found those with an ikigai (a Japanese concept meaning “the reason you wake up in the morning”) were 95% alive by the end of the study and less likely to be stressed out – compared to 83% without one.
So if you’re looking for true long-term happiness, don’t turn straight to retirement; rather, stay purposefully active and maintain your ikigai so you can find joy in life until your last breath!
Value Your Time More Than Your Paycheck: Making Room For The Things That Bring You Joy And Meaning
How you spend your time is often more important than the amount of money you make in a given year.
This is especially true when looking at two distinct people, such as a Harvard graduate with an average salary of $120,000 and an assistant retail store manager earning $70,000.
Though they both receive two weeks of vacation and earn the same per hour rate ($28/hour), the Harvard grad’s 85-hour workweek leaves them only 4,250 hours per year to sleep and do things that bring joy.
On the other hand, their retail manager counterpart has 50 hours a week leaving them 2,500 hours annually to enjoy their life away from work.
When determining how much value you place on time versus dollars in your life remember the fifth secret of happiness: overvalue your time.
Take steps to structure your day accordingly by evenly splitting your 168-hours into sleep, work and “things I love doing” categories.
With a well-rounded schedule, you will find yourself feeling more energized and more in touch with the activities that give you meaning and purpose.
6 Secrets To Making Time When You Have None
If you’re looking to reduce stress and find more time in the day for what’s important, one of the best ways is to reduce your choices.
This way, you don’t have to waste mental energy on small decisions, such as when to check your mailbox.
Benjamin Lee found that by simply buying a set amount of clothes at once and not needing to think about what to wear each day, he was able to save 15 minutes every day and an entire week over the course of a year.
That’s why it pays off in time and stress reduction if you can remove unnecessary decisions from your everyday life.
Another great way to make more time for things that really matter is using creative deadlines.
C.
Northcote Parkinson founded Parkinson’s Law which states that work will take as long as the deadline allows – so by cutting down the available time for procrastination, you can create more space in your schedule as well as improve the quality of your work at the same time.
If you’re looking for ways to feel less stressed and find more time for what’s important, reducing your choices and creating space are two proven strategies that can help improve your life.
Overcome Your Can’T Do And Don’T Want To Barriers To Enjoy The Many Joys Life Has To Offer
When it comes to living a life of true happiness, it’s all about overcoming our inner barriers.
We often fool ourselves into thinking that we can’t do something, or even convince ourselves that we don’t want to do something, and these are two major barriers that keep us from achieving an optimal level of happiness.
The Happiness Equation encourages us to break through these walls and take a leap of faith, even if we’re afraid.
The author’s own story – how he overcame his fear of swimming – is an inspiring example for us all.
He realized he had been fooling himself with reasons as to why he couldn’t swim or why it wasn’t worth his time, so he decided to face his fear and actually sign up for swimming lessons.
Remarkably, once he got in the water and started taking lessons, he completely changed his thinking and created a new belief: he could swim!
And not only this, but he also enjoyed doing it and was glad that he had taken up the challenge despite initially being scared.
This serves as a major reminder to all of us – break through those barriers and do the things you love, even if you’re afraid!
It may seem daunting at first, but ultimately it will lead you down the path towards greater inner joy and personal fulfilment.
The Ninth Secret To Happiness: Trust Your Own Thoughts And Feelings And Don’T Live According To The Advice Of Others
The Happiness Equation offers a helpful secret to true happiness: be yourself and don’t rely on the advice of others.
It’s important to take care of the most fundamental relationship we can have in life – that with ourselves.
When we do things that aren’t in alignment with our real selves and standards, like trying to please someone else or furthering our career, it can cause discomfort and pain.
To avoid this, and to ensure you’re living an authentic life, try taking The Saturday Morning Test: ask yourself what would you like to do when there are no obligations? Follow your heart’s desire and listen to your own gut feelings; if you stay true to who you are it will bring about much more joy than following somebody else’s ideas for success.
Trusting your own thoughts is important too; with so much advice abound from experts, friends and family members it can be intimidating – but only you know what’s best for your situation regardless of conflicting opinions.
So don’t be afraid to embrace who you really are!
Wrap Up
The Happiness Equation is focused on teaching its readers that true happiness comes from within and not from external sources.
It teaches us to practice healthy habits like stopping to appreciate the present, focusing on relationships rather than material possessions, and most importantly, doing what we love.
Its goal is to convince us that it’s possible to start enjoying our lives and living it to the fullest.
The book’s main take-away is this: don’t allow the pursuit of external goals or rewards prevent you from pursuing authentic happiness.
Start by taking actionable advice such as tackling a seven-day challenge using one of the practices you read about in the book and keeping track of your progress each day.
Once you realize that even small changes can bring immense joy and contentment, you’ll be motivated to keep going and ultimately find true happiness without relying on external sources for validation.
