Last update: October 23, 2015
We spend our lives trying to be happy. Happiness seems to be the highest goal of our existence, but sometimes we forget one thing ... The simplest way we all have: making others happy! Try to think about it. It's not as simple as it sounds, is it?
How can we make someone else happy?
Our happiness
The first step, before trying to make others happy, is to investigate our own happiness. We are happy? If we are, we have taken the right path, but if we are not, we will have to change some things first.
There are walls that we build ourselves. We could knock them down, yet we don't want to, we cling to them as if they could defend us from others, because they prevent us from showing ourselves for who we are.
Here are some points to keep in mind to be happy:
- Grudge: having a grudge leads us to be unhappy. Not forgiving and continuing to stay angry with someone, despite the time passing, will make us bitter and sad people.
- Positivity: being positive does not necessarily mean being happy even when the situation is adverse to us. Being positive means being able to see the good side of things, learn and mature as a person thanks to what happens to us, whether it is positive or negative.
- See the two sides of the coin: it is important to reflect, to consider all aspects of what happens to us. We often worry about issues that don't deserve our attention, and that cause us an unnecessary headache. We take things more philosophically, we try to relax.
Steps to make others happy
There are 8 simple steps we can take to make someone happy, from a relative to a friend and even a stranger.
How many times have we helped someone who needed it? For example, holding a stranger under our umbrella on a rainy day. How did we feel? Happy, right? Well, the same goes for the other person, who will have felt happy and full of gratitude. And the truth is that it didn't cost us a lot of effort: it was just a small generous gesture, which we will surely remember for a long time.
1. Greet
The greeting is often seen as an obligation and if one day we are in a bad mood, we may do it reluctantly. At that point, it's best not to say hello. When we say hello, we have to do it by bringing out our best smile, to show the pleasure it causes us to recognize the other person and give him a sincere greeting.
It can also be comforting to greet a stranger. In big cities, this gesture has been lost. But in smaller villages, with few inhabitants, there is still the habit of greeting people with whom you meet even if you don't know them, out of respect.
2. Hug
Hugging is one of the most rewarding feelings there is. Hugs make us feel better, yet we don't give as many as we should.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjCukgtwTQI
3. Help
Helping does not involve donating large amounts of money, joining an NGO or going to the end of the world to help out those most in need. There are also other types of help, such as assisting an elderly person who is crossing the road, planting a tree, not throwing the garbage on the ground, or pushing a stranger's car that can't get it started. All of this is helping.
Every day we have a thousand opportunities to offer our help. The problem is that we don't see it or we don't want to see it. We think that to help you need to do great things, but that's not the case. A small gesture can make both others and ourselves happy.
4. Give thanks
Thank you for everything: if they give you your seat, if they keep the door open for you to pass, if they stop to let you cross the street, if they give you a compliment ... Thanking is never too much, not even for the small daily gestures or words that someone dedicates to us. Also thank for the company of one person: it will make you kinder, make you feel better, and give you happiness.
5. Listen
We all need to be heard in some moments, and for this reason it is good to be the first to know how to listen. Trying to understand the person speaking to us, to put ourselves in their shoes and to give advice when necessary will make us feel useful, because we will be helping them.
But you have to really listen, without judging and being sincere. You can make someone happy simply by being by their side, really helping and supporting them.
6. Stay in touch
You don't need to need a favor or break the news to call someone and ask them how they're doing. Today, communicating with others is very easy: why not use this medium to make someone else happy?
A simple phone call to ask if someone is okay, to greet him and inform us about the news of his life will certainly increase his happiness.
7. Giving
It doesn't need to be a special occasion. Simply, when you see something that reminds you of a loved one because you know they will like it or because it makes you think of them, give it to them! She will be grateful to you, she will feel important to you and very happy. A good gift is always sincere and selfless.
8. To share
If you have something you don't need or can share with someone else, do it! There is no more rewarding feeling than sharing something with someone who needs it.
