subject: How To make Youself a Happier Person [print this page] How To make Youself a Happier Person How To make Youself a Happier Person
Happiness means different things to different people, but there are a few very easy principles that can generate a sense of well being and peace for virtually anyone, whatever their circumstances.
There tends to be two schools of thought around how someone's mood is created.Some people believe that how a person feels is totally determined by what happens to them, good or bad, that their 'locus of control' is totally external.
Other people believe that it doesn't matter what happens to people, it show they deal with it and interpret it that determines their mood, that their locus of control is internal. The phrase 'locus of control' is used by psychologists to explain how people view the world.
Most people view the world and explain how their life is the way it is by virtue of having either an internal or external locus of control. The reality is that, in someone who is reasonably balanced and has sound mental health, they will see the world, both in external and internal modes.
They will know that what happens to them does matter, good or bad, and how they interpret it and deal with it matters as well, that both aspects are part of being a healthy integrated person.
The reason is a fairly obvious one, but worth re-stating - that such a world view puts the person in control of their life in an emotionally sound way, by actually embracing an inner and outer reality.
However you are going to define happiness, being in control of your own life is an absolute pre-condition of it, in order to connect with a real sense of self, and an awareness of ones own internal sense of freedom.
Freedom to be yourself is the absolute key to happiness, and is often blocked by other peoples views of how you ought to be - that can be a real struggle, but ultimately comes back to another key principle, which is about being true to yourself.
Once a person really embraces that principle, then real happiness is not far off, whatever their life circumstances.
