I often thought about what makes people happy – what it takes to achieve happiness.
1- First and foremost is good health. If you don’t enjoy good health, you can never be happy. Any illness, however trivial, will deduct something from your happiness.
2- Second, a healthy bank balance. It doesn’t have to run out, but it should be enough to provide comfort, and there should be something to spare for recreation – eating out, going to the movies, traveling, and vacationing in the mountains or by the sea. Lack of money can be demoralizing. Living on credit or loan is humiliating and demeans a person in his own eyes.
3- Third, your own home. Rented locations can never give you the comfort or security of a home that is yours forever. If you have garden space, even better. Plant your trees and flowers, watch them grow and bloom, and cultivate a sense of kinship with them.
4- Fourth, an understanding partner, whether your spouse or a best friend. If you have a lot of misunderstandings, it steals your peace of mind. It’s better to accept differences than to fight all the time.
5- Fifth, stop envying those who did better than you in life – rose higher, made more money, or gained more fame. Envy can be corrosive; avoid comparing yourself to others.
6- Sixth, don’t allow people to come to you for gossip. When you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their gossip.
7- Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that satisfy you – gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing, or listening to music. Going to clubs or parties to get free drinks or meet celebrities is a criminal waste of time. It’s important to focus on something that will keep you meaningfully occupied.
8- Eighth, every morning and evening devote 20 minutes to meditation or introspection. In the morning, 10 minutes should be spent keeping your mind still and listing the things you have to do that day. In the evening, five minutes should be set aside to keep your mind still and 10 to go over the tasks you intended to do.
9- Ninth, don’t lose your cool. Try not to be moody or vindictive. Even when a friend was rude, just move on.
10- Above all, when the time comes to go, one should go as a Person without any regrets or hurt against anyone.
