Most people don't get through life <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/self/most-important-life-lessons-about-happiness-from-100-year-olds">without a few lessons</a> , and for me, having others share theirs is one of the most incredible gifts I can receive.
Even if I don't agree with their statements or actions, I often find out new things about myself and what I want out of life (and don't want) as a result of these conversations.
Of course, I have my own daily trip-ups, hang-ups, and stumbles to learn from as well. Here, I share the list I wrote for myself detailing the lessons (that make for happiness) I have learned thus far.

52 Simple Lessons That Will Make Your Life 1,000X Easier

If <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/self/how-live-life-thats-aligned-with-true-self-according-experts">you are living authentically </a>and without fear, you can't please everyone (or even most people) for longer than a couple of weeks. If you find yourself proving this wrong, take it as a sign you need to make a change.

1. Live life as your true self

You aren't supposed to get through life without scuffing your knees, breaking your heart, or taking a wrong turn. Lessons and sorrows are the shadings in the overall painting.

2. You're going to get hurt

In spite of what is perpetuated by <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/romance">romantic </a>comedies, the truth is that <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/love/significant-other-should-complement-you-not-complete-you">you are complete all on your own </a>, all of the time.

3. You are your own person

People who cannot communicate effectively, clearly, and respectfully tend to live very difficult lives.

4. Know how to communicate

Taking pride in your work, reputation, value system and appearance is a great way to get to where you want to go much faster.

5. Be proud of yourself

Your value does not shrink or expand in relation to how much emotion, time, or money someone else is willing to spend on you.

6. Your worth is not determined by how someone treats you

Rage, entitlement, and arrogance may help you break down a wall, but compassion, good manners, and a calm demeanor are the keys to getting through the door and being welcomed on the other side.

7. Kindness will take you so far

You can miss something, and still not want it back.

8. Missing them doesn't mean they should be welcomed back

It's almost as valuable as time with someone you love.

9. Love is a precious and valuable gift

You need trust, mutual respect, and understanding to make a relationship work.

10. That said, love is not enough

If you want something, you'd better work for it.

11. No one is going to swoop in and save you

12. Life is lovely and exciting, but it isn't always fair

When it's over, you'll wish you put down that phone and paid closer attention and you won't care about those petty arguments.

13. Appreciate all the moments good and bad

This is why you have your very own body, mind, and soul.

14. You're not supposed to be like everybody else

Forgive them for it, because you've been there too.

15. Most people get worked up over stupid Things

Every day we make a choice to go out and play or stare at a wall where the past is hanging.

16. Live in the present moment

Sincere apologies mean something. Those friendships without them mean nothing.

17. Apologize to your friends when you hurt them

Life is hard enough without having to spend it with hard people.

18. Know how to pick good people

Aside from your actions and reactions, you can't control it, whatever it is.

19. There are certain things out of your control

Those who love you care when they hurt you, even when they didn't mean to.

20. People who love you will hurt you

You're much smarter, stronger, and more capable than you think — and much less invincible.

21. Know your strengths and your limits

Every person on this earth is a human being and all human beings were created equal, so don't look up and don't look down.

22. Treat everyone the same

Your heart can be mistaken but <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/self/trust-your-intuition-gut-feeling">your gut is always right</a> , even when you don't want it to be.

23. Trust your intuition

No one is living a perfect life, they just have perfect moments like you and me. Everyone has problems.

24. Perfection is unattainable

Don't bother with people for whom decency/kindness/honesty is something they have to "work on."

25. Don't waste your time with the wrong people

Some obligations, disappointments, and heartaches are just blessings with the wrong name.

26. Know when something is actually a lesson

This will always be the right choice.

27. When you feel something is right, go with it

You have to put in the work to make your dreams come true.

29. Dreams are important, but reality only changes when we do

Love everything and everyone with kindness.

30. Passion without compassion is a disaster

But you have to make the step to go out there and look for it

31. Opportunity does not come knocking

You really don't have to put up with all of that crap, you know?

32. Know when a guy is being a jerk

You are not responsible for the things your parents did or did not say to you, do for you, or teach you. You are, however, responsible for everything you say, do, and show others. Drunk or sober, angry or joyful, sincere or not.

33. Your parents' actions are not your responsibilities

Sometimes you "win" by just deciding to stop talking, get up, and go.

34. Know when to leave

Just because she is pretty or he is attractive doesn't mean you're not. Just because he or she has a great job or has met someone doesn't mean you won't. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/self/ways-trained-brain-not-feel-jealousy-again">Turn that jealousy into inspiration </a>and watch your life blossom.

35. Don't compare your life to someone else's

It's about being intelligent, honest, kind, self-respecting, decent, and drop-dead smart. That's gorgeous.

36. It's not about being "hot"

If someone gives you anxiety, excuses, a reason not to believe him/her, or anything that requires a prescription, they need to be out of your life.

37. There are plenty of good men and women out there

Having a healthy, happy, and loving relationship (with yourself and then someone else) is.

38. Having a relationship is not the goal

You're an intelligent, compassionate, and professional woman. Carry yourself like one and surround yourself with women who think catty is best reserved for Lindsay Lohan movies.

39. There's never a reason to be a mean girl

When it comes to your relationships, spend more time than money, give more compliments than criticisms, and for goodness' sake, flash your manners.

40. Know how to act in your relationships

Just because they say it, or you think it, doesn't make it true.

41. A negative imagination is a dangerous, destructive device

Men who have six packs and great biceps often sustain themselves on a diet consisting of chicken and eggs and will choose the gym over date night with you. Remember that.

42. Buff men are not always the better choice

Don't lose friendships as you climb the ladder.

43. It's OK to be ambitious, but not ruthless

Spend it working to become a baller. He or she who dates someone for money should not be surprised when they treat them poorly. How do you treat that sweater you bought three years ago?

44. Don't spend your time trying to date a baller

If you have it with someone who has not shown you respect, told you they love you, or wanted to date you before having it, it's not a good idea to expect the act alone to change the status quo.

45. It's OK to like sex

This upgrades everything in your life from your relationships to your mental stability.

46. Keep your nose clean and live with dignity

Just because you rationalize it doesn't make it right, and just because you want him doesn't make him right for you.

47. Just because you ignore it doesn't make it go away

Change your actions, reactions, and the way you put yourself out there and you'll change the way the world responds to you.

48. Karma is really caused and effect

When you say "I Love You," you are taking responsibility for your actions and suggesting you will care about another person and their feelings. If they love you like they love hot dogs and songs on their playlist, that's not going to do much for you long-term.

49. Love means different things to different people

Happiness may not always be as easy as making a choice to be happy, but we always have a choice as to how to filter situations we find ourselves in. Is it proof the universe hates us or is it just life?

50. Happiness is up to you

51. You have things about you that make you Beautiful 

The world is moving and days are passing. This can be seen as time passing us by or an ever-present opportunity to experience something new, make amends, step in a new direction, reach out, and show gratitude. Just remember that everything you want is out there and everything you need to achieve it is inside of you.

52. Your life is happening, right now, in real-time

Life Is Quite The Journey, But These 52 Simple Lessons Will Make It Easier.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

philosophy

Philosophy

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

Your character is defined by your core values in life. And these are the result of your behavior. That means your values are defined by your actions—not the other way around.

Values define Character 

Values have a great impact on our inner world. They define us. <a href="https://dariusforoux.com/say-what-you-think/">They form the foundation of our character. </a>And since you have to live with yourself, your values should be one of the most important things in your life.

Importance of Values

Remember: Your values must be in line with who you are. Never copy someone else’s values. Looking at other people’s values for inspiration is great, and to help you with that. But this remains an inherently internal practice.

Don't copy Values

What are your core values in life? Everybody has values. You just have to look inside yourself to uncover your core values.

career

Career

communication

Communication

Uncover Your Values: A List Of 8 Core Values I Live By

From the Islamic perspective, happiness is not merely a temporary state of joy and delight, rather it is a lifelong process aiming primarily at:<ul><li>Bringing eternal happiness</li><li>Peace of mind</li><li>Tranquility of heart</li><li>Contentment in this world and everlasting bliss in the Hereafter.</li></ul>

Islamic Definition Of Happiness

It is commonly believed that happiness can be achieved through the accumulation of wealth of material possession, as a result of power, through fame, recognition, satisfying one’s each and every sensual desires. Materialists tend to disregard the spiritual aspects and view life as nothing but a means to satisfy ones’ whims and desires. This is a common trend in the west, which led to abandonment of religion.

Common Misconceptions 

Statistics reveals that the highest suicide rates, divorce rates, run-ins with the law, drug problems and rehabilitation problems are always rampant in the rich and elite of society.

The Reality At A Glance

Many people attempt to follow complex paths in order to achieve happiness. However, they fail to see the easier path that is Islam.Happiness can be achieved by:<ul><li>Sincere worship</li><li>Competing to do righteous good deeds</li><li> By performing acts of kindness or giving charity</li><li>Bringing smile to the face of a child</li></ul>These things have the potential to make our hearts truly happy.

On Attaining Happiness

True happiness and contentment, is the result of a number of factors and can only be achieved by striking a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life. If we overlook the spiritual aspect of life, it will result in the illness of the soul, which is a common spiritual disease. The cure is quite to believe in God Almighty and to accept the faith that He has approved for mankind.

“There is no Muslim servant who says in the morning and the evening three times: I am content with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad ﷺ as my Prophet, except that it will be a right upon Allah to make him content on the Day of Judgment.”

A believer does not believe in gathering as much wealth as he can in this life, for the Prophet (SAW) said,“This world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the non-believer.”(Sahih Muslim 2956)

Eye Opener 

“And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Qur·an and worship of Allah) , We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan devil) to be a Qarn (an intimate companion) to him.”

A content believer relies on Allah SWT, puts his trust on Him, which, ultimately result in warding off his worries and distress, relieving him of mental and physical sickness leading to comfort and happiness to the heart.

Relax Your Mind

A believer becomes mindful of the fact that Islam does not order its followers to become monks or to distance themselves from worldly pleasures; on the contrary, it obliges a believer to exploit whatever worldly possessions they have in a legitimate way to obtain true happiness.

Moving Towards Contentment

Belief plays a vital role in a believer’s life to make him feel content with things that have been destined for him. It is through this that one can enjoy the blessings of this life and everlasting bliss in the world to come.It drives him closer to Allah and makes him turn to Almighty when faced with trials seeking His help to alleviate the problems that he faces. Polytheism, not believing in God ultimately results in anxiety and misery.

Faith and righteous deeds

The Qur’an portrays the life of the misguided and wicked ones as “the mutual rivalry for piling up (worldly gains)” (al-Takathur, 1), and “play and amusement, a show and boasting among yourselves, a quest for greater riches and more children” (al-Hadid, 20).

“But, as for those who desire the life to come, and strive for it as it ought to be striven for, and are true Believers- they are the ones whose strivings find acceptance and reward.

A true believer appreciates all that Allah has bestowed on him; body, mind, faculties and property, and utilize them towards his real objective and that is to earn the pleasure of Allah and the rewards of Jannah.

The Objective of Life

A true believer loves the Hereafter more than this worldly life and prefers it to all that exists in this world. For such believer, Allah has promised a great reward. Allah S says in the Quran, “God will say, ‘This is a Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness. They will have Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain for ever. God is pleased with them and they with Him: that is the supreme triumph.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:119)

The gateway to achieve the happiness and contentment of the heart and its tranquility and satisfaction is abundant remembrance of Allah SWT. Remembrance of Allah results in bringing expansion and tranquility to the heart, and eliminating worry and grief from it. If due care is not given to suffice the soul, it will ultimately lead to great worries, feelings of discontentment and unhappiness.

Refining the heart

“When disaster strikes them, they say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy and it is those who are the rightly guided.”

‘Whoever abandons habits for the sake of someone or something other than Allah, will surely suffer hard and difficult times. However, whoever abandons habits for the sake of Allah sincerely from his heart, he will not suffer from leaving it except at the beginning so that his credibility will be examined. If he bears this pain it will be turned into pleasure, and satisfaction within his heart, its strength, activity, happiness, and contentment.’ (Al Fawaid)

It is wisely said that in three situations our relationship with our Lord gets justly determined: when listening to the Qur’an, during gatherings of remembering Allah, and during times of solitude. If we do not find our heart in these three situations, better to ask Allah to grant us with a heart, as we do not have one.

The feeling of insufficiency and incapacity is the major source of discontent and unhappiness. We tend to look at people above us and desire to be like them. Islam advises us to look at those below us and feel content at what Allah has provided us. The most effective way is to forget the people with higher standards of living. Allah says in the Quran, “Do not strain your eyes in longing for the things that we have given to some groups of them to enjoy, the splendour of the life of this world through which we test them. The provision of your Lord is better and more lasting.” (Quran 20:131)

Avoiding comparisons

Happiness has more to do with human mind and heart. Hence peace of the mind and psychological security play a key role in the attainment of happiness. That is why we see that many affluent people do not find the way to happiness despite all the prosperity and luxury they enjoy.

Sense of Peace

One of the useful ways to attain the happiness and tranquility is to have self-confidence and strong will. These are the leading factors to develop and direct the life of the individual toward success and happiness. They are also instrumental to get rid of the hardships and difficulties of life and endure all odds that hinder the way towards the achievement of happiness.

Developing Resilience 

One of the greatest injustices we do to the Quran is that we treat it as if it was a thing of past and of no relevance to the present. The ideal way to benefit from the Quran is to read it thinking as it is being revealed to us. We must feel that we are in conversation with our creator. It is imperative to make sure that we are not only reading it rather we are living by what it invites us to. It must have the impact upon your actions.

Reading Quran with understanding

One of the prime reason for rampant anxiety, grief, unhappiness, in every society, is abandoning the Quran and our grave negligence towards the rights of the Quran. We must observe what it enjoins and avoid what it prohibits. If we are impacted by Quran, and start sincerely changing our lives according to its commands, Allah will certainly help us in finding the peace and tranquility of happiness.

It is completely ordinary that man wants to possess as much as possible. However, an enlightened, guided and spiritually charged individual never deeply attach to worldly affairs so that it holds their lives. It is due to the occupation in the hearts that people cling to this worldly life. The strong desire in this life undermines the very purpose of our creation and diminishes the real desire for the Hereafter.

Detachment Feom Materialism

The more firm we are in this material world, the more we are cut off from the Hereafter. This inevitably increases the people in uncertainty and discontentment.The desire to acquire more and fear to lose are the real causes of feeling unhappy and uncontended. Therefore, the remedy for this decrease is to know that Allah SWT has allocated for us our provision. As long as one strive, one will get what is written for him.

“Know that even if the whole community were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you; and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you.” (Tirmidhi 2516)

The aforementioned narration is profound to enlighten us. A true believer is aware that everything that happens is by the permission of Allah (swt). Therefore, the intelligent person finds his heart attached to the highest aim (the Hereafter) which potentially removes all the pains and regrets. A believer never seek help except from Allah.

It is therefore of utmost importance for a believer to ensure that he is not attached to the worldly affairs to the extent it starts controlling his life and distracting him from the real goal of Hereafter. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Desiring the Hereafter can only be achieved by eschewing life of this world.”

An intelligent person does not put money high on their priority list, which are the main causes of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Thus if one intends to achieve the contentment, he has to repel the greed of want of more. The prophet (SAW) said, “Be happy, and hope for what will please you. By God, I am not afraid that you will be poor, but I fear that worldly wealth will be bestowed upon you as it was bestowed upon those who lived before you. So you will compete amongst yourselves for it, as they competed for it and it will destroy you as it did them.”(Sahih al-Bukhari 4015)

Eye Opener

It will be wrong to assume that we should not enjoy the good things of this world. Rather, we are encouraged to strive to achieve our career goals and acquire possessions that will earn us the pleasures of this world provided we remain mindful of our Allah. There is no true enjoyment of the good of this world if we do not strive for the Next world.

A believer is aware that his very existence and his unending sustenance are only dependent on Allah. All the praises, therefore, are due to Him alone.Therefore, a believer is always grateful to Allah for all the blessing he received and patient over calamities he is afflicted with or tribulation he is in, and as a result, finds perfect peace of mind and happiness. Every person experiences both the conditions. Hence, neither a state of affliction nor a state of prosperity mean we are ultimately successful, or ultimately doomed. Allah has already made that clear to us.

Living between patience and gratitude

It is incumbent upon every Muslim to exercise endurance to compel his self into obedience to Allah. Almighty says, “Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe’, and that they will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make fit] known [the truth of]those who are true, and will certainly make [it] known [the falsehood of]those who are liars [although Allah knows all that before putting them to test].” [Surah Al-‘Ankabut (29), Ayah 2-3.]

Enduring trials and tribulations

A content believer accepts God’s decree for him and leads a happy life free from total despair or unbearable pain. He feels the pains and trials of this life, but does not complain about them.

Seeking beneficial knowledge brings happiness. The angels flutter their wings and keep records of those who seek knowledge. Occupying oneself with useful knowledge is among the means of warding off anxieties and eliminating what is distracting the heart from being in peace and tranquility. However, what is integral in seeking happiness through knowledge is having good intention of doing it with sincerity and seeking the pleasure of Allah.

Occupying with Useful Knowledge

Being rich is all about the soul and mind. The Prophet (pbuh) once explained that whoever makes this world, rather than the Hereafter, his most important matter, God will confound his affairs and make poverty appear before his eyes (Sunan Ibn Majah), so wherever he wants to look, he will see only poverty. Poverty will become his greatest fear. But whoever makes the Hereafter his most important matter, the Prophet (pbuh) continued: “Allah will settle his affairs and make him content in his heart and the world will come to him although he does not want it.”

True Richness

“Richness does not lie in the abundance of (worldly) goods, but richness is the richness of the soul (the heart)” (Sahih Muslim 1051).

The constant nagging in the heart for more is what makes the people unhappy. We see many among us who possess the material goods of the world and yet not happy, rather they are often the unhappy people. Therefore, we find that those who have little but feel no need for more do not feel this nagging in their heart. Certainly, the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who is content with what he has.

“today people spend more, but have less, they buy more, but enjoy less. They have bigger houses, but less warmth and smaller families in them, more conveniences, but less time. They own houses, but not homes. They have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment and wisdom, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. They have multiplied their possessions, but reduced their values. They have learned how to make a living, but not a life. They have done larger things, but not better things.”

True happiness is not about acquiring the wealth, fame, prestige, status, and satisfying one’s desires. Rather, it is achieved by accumulating the pleasures of the body, heart and soul.

Conclusion

Almighty said, “But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

The guidelines provided by Islam helps us seek happiness in this world. However, the point worth noting is that the total peace, tranquility and security and everlasting happiness can only be in Paradise where there will be no fear, anxiety and pain which we human experience in this worldly life.

In light of the above, we are able to draw the conclusion that happiness is purely our decision. We have the choice to be happy and content or to remain an unfortunate victim of our current situation, as we are responsible for our own happiness

The humanity is desperately looking for the solution to all the problems the world is facing today at every front. The remedy is with Muslims, the carriers of the last Divine message, the Quran. It is high time to reach to humanity reeling from the illness of body and soul, and convey the sole message of Almighty guaranteeing the peace of mind, tranquility, eternal happiness and contentment in this life and everlasting bliss in the Hereafter.

Final Note

An indepth insight into achieving Happiness 😊

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

mentalhealth

Mental Health

Secret of Happiness In Islamic Perspective | The Companion

"There are many things money can buy, but the most valuable of all is freedom. Freedom to do what you want and to work for whom you respect."-J. L. Collins

Author Quote 

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/51187846">The Simple Path to Wealth </a>is a three-step template for achieving financial freedom in a straightforward way, passed from a wealthy man to his teenage daughter through a series of letters.

The Simple Path To Wealth  Book Summary

Read our summary of The Simple Path to Wealth to discover the 3-step money approach a wealthy father recommended to his teenage daughter.

The Simple Path to Wealth Summary

Find 100+ Philosophy Ideas, Insights & Facts - Curated from popular Videos, Podcasts, Books & Articles - Genuine Insights from like-minded Users like You!

52 Simple Lessons That Will Make Your Life 1,000X Easier

Uncover Your Values: A List Of 8 Core Values I Live By

Secret of Happiness In Islamic Perspective | The Companion

The Simple Path to Wealth Summary

10 Real Life Lessons from The Last of Us

Socrates Best QUOTES That Will Change your Mindset Forever

Be A Friend.

Are You Fully Charged Summary

Letters from a Stoic

As A Man Thinketh Summary

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

52 Simple Lessons That Will Make Your Life 1,000X Easier

Uncover Your Values: A List Of 8 Core Values I Live By

Secret of Happiness In Islamic Perspective | The Companion

The Simple Path to Wealth Summary

10 Real Life Lessons from The Last of Us

Socrates Best QUOTES That Will Change your Mindset Forever

Be A Friend.

Are You Fully Charged Summary

Letters from a Stoic

As A Man Thinketh Summary

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.