14 Keys to Happiness

Behold!  In which these are the ingredients needed to live a happy life. I have been miserable before, but a soothing calm has overtaken me the older I grow. First, realize that the happiness of others is often exaggerated in your mind. Do not compare yourself to others. Usually they aren't as happy as you imagine, while some of the people you imagine being miserable are truly content. Second, you must not expect too much from the world and others around you, for it does not revolve around you. You would be more content to serve the others around you, in myriad forms, as being helpful saturates the spirit with wholeness. Third, forgive the ones who have wronged you, no matter how hard it is. You don't know what life is like living in their shoes, and seldom do you know the situation they're in. Sustain judgment for the crass and idiotic. Not until you've lived their life can you fully understand the million little pieces of them. Fourth, find love by marrying well and having children. You are a social being, and nothing will make you feel more connected than family.  Fifth, find God, even if you can't see it. Knowing God will give you purpose. It doesn't have to be a literal being; the rhythm of the universe will suffice. Sixth, make your home well. Nothing reflects inner feeling like the environment around you, so keep it clean and welcoming. Decorate your life with the things that bring you peace and balance. Seventh, moderate your pleasures and passions. Too much of anything will squeeze the succulent juice out. Eighth, be thankful, for often we are unaware how bad our life could be, even on the worst days. Ninth, be a minimalist. You don't need a lot of things to make you happy. The appearance of being happy is not the same as being at it. Tenth, work hard at what gives you a feeling of completeness, at something that you feel no one can do quite like you can. Your contributions are needed; your uniqueness is a soft note on the web of humanity, no matter how many others you touch. Eleventh, be authentic, your true self. Pretending to be someone you're not will drown the soul. Twelfth, find acceptance in the faults of others and especially yourself. Though striving for it may make us happy, perfection can never be achieved. Bad things will happen in this life or the next one. It's how we react to them that makes the difference. Be accountable, assertive, resilient-your self pity won't slow you down and you'll have few regrets. Thirteenth, have respect for all life, human or animal or plant. Treat the person next to you the way you would want them to treat you. Fourteenth, after mastering this list, throw it away. "Very little is actually needed to make us happy", said Marcus Aurelius. Live like this list was second nature, don't think about it too much. Fret not for things out of your reach.