We’ve all heard about the concept of learning from other people’s mistakes, but the truth is that it takes multiple times to learn at least from that one you’ve made on your own. And while this process isn’t necessarily pleasant and sometimes even painful, it takes its toll – such aching mistakes turn into true life lessons that eventually change your life for the better!
In this article, we would like to discuss several brutal life lessons everyone needs to learn to be happier. Perhaps, some of the thoughts mentioned below you’ve already digested and implemented some changes in your life following them. Or, perhaps some of them will turn out to be a new insight for you and will provoke you to reflect on some aspects of your life. Read on and remember – it’s up to you whether you’re going to enjoy your life to the fullest or not.
Not All Relationships Last Forever (And Not All of Them Should)
We are all for relationships and friendships, but we also realize that these things can’t last forever. In fact, there are many ways to strengthen them and make them last longer, but sometimes it happens that people just drift apart. And if you have a relationship that doesn’t make you happy, or causes you more pain than happiness, or leaves you with nothing but pain – why would you want it to continue? It’s better to break off this relationship (or friendship) and move on than to just be with someone who is not right for you.
On the other side, we believe that if you have a great relationship or friendship, you should do your best to keep it going. You can use various mechanisms to keep your relationship strong and healthy – from regular meetings to super romantic dates. But if your partner shows traits of a narcissist husband and you can’t do it anymore, don’t force yourself to stay in an unhappy relationship because it is never worth it!
You’re the Only Responsible Person for Your Happiness
The worst mistake we often make is transferring the responsibility for our happiness and well-being to other people. Often, this is done subconsciously when we try to get our needs satisfied by another person. For example, you can fall into the trap of trying to make your partner happy, or your parents, or your friends – and that’s why you feel so bad and unhappy. You don’t feel needed or loved because you’re constantly trying to get love and attention from them.
Learning from the past, you should realize that you’re responsible for your happiness. Nobody else can make you happy but yourself. And if you want to experience more happiness in your life, you should stop relying on other people and start taking responsibility for your happiness. Yes, it’s difficult to do, but once you master it, you will find it easier to cope with negative situations, less disappointed, and happier overall than before.
So, each time when you feel like blaming another person for your unhappiness, stop yourself and ask whether they had a direct impact on your feelings. If they didn’t, ask yourself what exactly are you blaming that person for? Do you want to be unhappy for a long time? Are you ready to go through this feeling of pain and sadness until the end of your days? If not, stop blaming others for your unhappiness and learn to be happy on your own!
All Benefits Come With Cost
In life, there are no things that come for free. If you want to take something, you’ll need to pay for it. And if you want to be happy in life, you’ll need to pay for it. But do not think that happiness is just a stupid fantasy because it doesn’t cost that much! Happiness comes with some sacrifices, and it’s up to you whether to make them or not. For example, if you want to find happiness in your relationships, you may need to sacrifice some time, money, or effort. You won’t feel happy in your relationship if you don’t spend enough time together. You won’t feel happy in your friendships if you don’t take care of them enough. And of course, there are many more examples, but we hope that you get the main idea – all benefits come with a cost, so be ready to pay for them.
You Cannot Change Other People
We all think that we can change other people, but this is a big mistake. You cannot change other people because they are who they are. You can only change yourself, which is another reason to take full responsibility for your happiness. As you cannot change other people, you need to accept them as they are and learn to live with them the way they are.
If you want to be happy in life, you need to understand the nature of the people you interact with and then start living with this knowledge. Perhaps, some people are not going to change, and that’s why you shouldn’t expect them to. But if you’re ready to keep your expectations reasonable and realistic, you can start enjoying your relationships more.
Happiness Isn’t a Final Goal – It’s a Means to an End
Sometimes, people think that they should be happy all the time, and if they’re not, something is wrong. This is a big mistake because happiness comes and goes, and it’s perfectly normal. In addition, the thing you find happiness in today might not be the same thing you’ll find happiness in tomorrow. Happiness is a means to an end and not the final goal!
You can achieve happiness, but only if you keep up some effort and make changes in your life. Don’t expect to be happy for a long time without taking any steps to achieve it! Happiness is not a goal – it’s a means to achieving your goals and living a better life. So, if you want to be happy, you need to create happiness around you!
There are some brutal life lessons that everyone needs to learn to be happier. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is for you to learn them and then implement them in your life. The way you go about it is up to you, but we’re sure that the more effort you put into it, the more success you will achieve! Only this way can you become the master of your own happiness and start enjoying life to the fullest.