

If you ever ask people what they want most out of their life, one of the most common responses you will get is this: “I just want to be happy.”

The search for true happiness has been an ongoing quest for many and continues to elude most of us. It seems because most people don’t realize that happiness is not dictated by their external circumstances, but their perception of those circumstances.

Mother Nature has given us the gift of self-awareness. Unlike other creatures on the planet, we are not solely being driven by our instincts. Yet so many of us don’t know how to handle our consciousness in a healthy way. We’re not taught how to do this and we usually gain this wisdom after going through many years in the “school of hard knocks”.

But is it really necessary to go through the pain and hardship when we can easily bypass most of it? All of us have the capacity to self-manage and learn by example if we are open to it. That’s how it worked out for me.

Of course in my case it did take a few challenges to wake me up to the fact that I was creating my own misery. Sometimes it does take a difficult experience that shake our world to motivate us to change; but most of the time these “life crises’s” can be avoided if we have the right perspective and life skills.

Based on my personal experience and what I have observed in the world, here are what I think are the top three most common ways people sabotage their own happiness:

1. They base their happiness on external events and people: We live in a world driven by consumerism. Corporate giants skillfully deceive us with the false notion that if we buy their product or service, we will be smarter, richer, hotter, etc. Some people who derive their happiness and identity from relationships want others to approve them and develop an unhealthy dependency on this external validation. What I have realized that is that this is all ultimately an attempt to fill an internal void- a void that can only be filled when we genuinely love and accept ourselves no matter what.

2. They don’t prioritize their health: Our body is our vehicle for our life. When we abuse or neglect it, we are ruining our vehicle thereby ruining our ride for our journey. Our body is essentially a concoction of chemicals that is directly impacted by the kind of lifestyle that we choose. Most of the health-related issues and mood fluctuations are a result of the poor management of health. Respect your body and it will return the favor with good health and a sense of wellness, balance and vitality.

3. They are disconnected from their internal world: We have become more distracted and busier than ever. This has resulted in a world filled with people who are constantly on the go and living in what I call “auto-pilot” mode. With all this focus on the outside world, very few take the time to pause and tune in within themselves. We miss the opportunity to check in with our thoughts, emotions and body which are constantly in flux based on what is going on around us. The practice of mindfulness can significantly reduce our anxiety and dissatisfaction and help us tap into the gifts that we have. True and lasting happiness can only happen when we are willing to enter a deeper realm of existence and develop a strong connection with ourselves.

By managing these three potential roadblocks, you will be well on your way to creating fulfillment, joy and meaning in your life.

All my best on your journey,

Seline

Question for you: Do you think that you are sabotaging your own happiness? If yes, what can you do to change this?

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