Harsh Truths You Need To Know To Be Happier

Do you want to live a happier life? There’s no question about it: Of course, you do! Who doesn’t?

But becoming truly happy isn’t always easy. In fact, it often necessitates facing some harsh truths head-on.

Here are these truths that can help you become happier in the long run.

1) You always have a choice

Have you ever heard the quote, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” by Charles R. Swindoll?

While we can’t avoid bad things from happening to us, we can control the way we respond to them. If you’re being treated badly by a friend, you have every right to walk away from that friendship. If your job is making you miserable, you can always try to look for a new one.

Even in the most hopeless situations, you always have a choice. And making these choices, no matter how difficult they may be, can empower you to live a happier, more fulfilling life.

2) Cultivating relationships are important

If you want to be happy, you need to have strong relationships with the people in your life. Whether it’s your family, friends, or significant other, these relationships are vital support systems that can help us keep going.

Studies support this, as according to a study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, adults who are more socially connected are healthier and live longer than their more isolated peers.

We need people in our lives to make us feel loved, supported, and appreciated. So make time for the people who matter to you and nurture your relationships, it’ll pay off a lot in the long run!

3) You won’t be admired by everyone

Do you have this irrational fear of being disliked? If so, you’re not alone.

In a world where we’re constantly bombarded with stories and social media reels of people having fun with their friends, it’s easy to feel like we’re not good enough.

But the truth is, you won’t be admired by everyone – and that’s okay! No matter how hard you try, there will always be people who won’t match your energy.

Instead, focus on surrounding yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are and who make you feel like you’re in the right crowd. With them, you’ll never have to put up a facade and can just be authentically you.

4) There’s no perfect time

Are you waiting for the “right time”?

Whether you know it from the back of your head or not, there’s no such thing as the perfect time.

Waiting for the stars to align is a surefire way to never get anything done. While you shouldn’t always jump headfirst without a second thought, overthinking and overanalyzing events can lead to analysis paralysis – which is, ironically enough, the ultimate waste of time.

So don’t wait for the perfect time. It doesn’t exist. Just go out there and do your best, and learn from any mistakes you may make.

5) You can’t change by fixing your past.

Do you often reminisce about opportunities that have come and gone? Or maybe those embarrassing moments you’d rather forget?

It’s easy to dwell on the past and what might have been. But trying to change the past is just like chasing a mirage in the desert – it’s an endless, fruitless pursuit.

We all have regrets, but continuously ruminating over them does nothing but prevent us from moving forward.

Instead, learn from your mistakes and focus on the present and the future. Because, unlike in the past, this is something that’s always within your control.

6) Material goods won’t make you happy

Do you find yourself constantly buying new clothes or gadgets, perhaps more than you should?

If so, you’re not alone. In our materialistic society, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more stuff will make us happier.

But the truth is, it doesn’t.

In fact, Croatian research has found that people who believe that possessions lead to happiness experience lower levels of well-being than those who don’t.

Instead of using material goods and the latest gadget to fill the void in your life, focus on gaining more experiences and growing your relationships. They’ll provide you with far more lasting happiness than any material good ever will.

7) Growth comes in adversity, not comfort

Sure, it’s comfortable doing the things you’ve always done before. But the real challenge – and real growth – comes in doing something totally new.

It’s during the moments of hardship and struggle that we learn the most about ourselves. We find out what we can handle and the extent of our capabilities.

While the comfort zone can be a calm and pleasant place to be in, when you’re not challenged, your ambitions and dreams won’t ever be realized. You’ll not grow as a person, and you won’t ever see yourself achieving things that you may want for yourself.

So instead of running away from adversity, embrace it. It might be tough, but it’ll make you a stronger and more resilient person later on.

Closing Thoughts

The road to a fulfilling, happy life isn’t always so straightforward. But with the right attitude and mindset, you can get there.

Do you agree with these points? Are there any points that we may have missed that you think helped you in your own pursuit of happiness? Share them down in the comments below.

That’s all for now, Psych2Goer!

References

  • Umberson, D., & Montez, J. K. (2010). Social relationships and health: a flashpoint for health policy. Journal of health and social behavior, 51 Suppl(Suppl), S54–S66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146510383501
  • Lipovčan, L. K., Prizmić-Larsen, Z., & Brkljačić, T. (2015). Materialism, affective states, and life satisfaction: case of Croatia. SpringerPlus, 4, 699. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1494-5
  • Lilywhite, M. (June 22, 2020) 4 Harsh Truths You Must Accept To Live A Happy Life. Medium Retrieved at https://medium.com/the-post-grad-survival-guide/4-harsh-truths-you-must-accept-to-live-a-happy-life-73907f9b44f5
  • Pandit, S. (Jan 26, 2022) 6 Harsh Truths You Need To Accept To Live a Happy Life. Good Men Project. Retrieved at https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/6-harsh-truths-you-need-to-accept-to-live-a-happy-life/
  • Jones, M. (Sept 7, 2016) 20 Brutal Truths About Life No One Wants to Admit. Inc. Retrieved at https://www.inc.com/matthew-jones/20-brutal-truths-about-life-no-one-wants-to-admit.html
  • Tsintziras, A. (nd) 10 Harsh Truths You Need To Accept To Live A Happy Life. Bolde. Retrieved at https://www.bolde.com/10-harsh-truths-need-accept-live-happy-life/

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