My Philosophy
Since I was named The Happiest Person in America by the New York Times (yes, that actually happened), I’ve been asked by hundreds of people, “What is your secret? Why are you so happy?†These questions made me wonder why happiness, which we all seek, can so often be elusive.
Sharing My Philosophy and Observations on Happiness
I don’t claim to know how to make everyone happy. After all, that would be quite a tall order! But I do know that…
…happiness comes from within and that it is possible for you to cultivate it in your own life.
I’d like to share my philosophies and observations about life as well as what I’ve learned through my research on happiness. I’ve spent hundreds of hours looking into what the experts have to say about happiness, and many consider me to be an expert on the topic.
Remember You Control How You React to Adversity
When it comes to happiness and getting more of it in your life, I believe that so much of happiness is dependent on one fact: how you react to what happens to you.Â
No matter who you are, there will be heartbreak, sadness, obstacles, unexpected failure, and triumphs.Â
You can’t control everything that happens to you or even when it happens, but what you can control is your reactions.
How you react to the “ups and downs†of life impacts not just your happiness, but also the person you are today and will become in the future.  It impacts how you treat those around you and the world at large. Ultimately, only YOU can make you happy.
4Â Additional Happiness Factors
I can’t do everything. I need others and those others have much to contribute to the world, especially when they are allowed to shine. Happy people realize that they are not the most important people in the world and that they don’t know everything. There is too much information, and that information is growing by the second. I need to listen and learn in order to grow and evolve. I am not perfect. I will make mistakes. I need to learn how to forgive myself. You can’t undo the past, but you can learn much from it. Don’t let past heartbreak and failures dictate what you do today and tomorrow. You have the power to escape tragedy. Fearing failure is fearing life. It’s not important that you failed. What is important is what you do after you fail.1. Respect
2. Humility
3. Time Machines
4. Don't Fear Failure
Environment, Community and Happiness
While there is no great “secret†to happiness, there are steps you can take to make your life a happier one. How you react to life is one factor and another is your environment. It is of critical importance that you surround yourself with happy thoughts and positive people who will provide you with yet more happy thoughts.
Photo by zanthia / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Environment plays a role in happiness as well. What do I mean by that? Obviously it is much more difficult to be happy if you are in the middle of a War zone or starving, but your environment impacts happiness in other ways as well. For example, the insightful Gallup Healthways Poll, which lasted for 5 years and consisted of 1.3 million total respondents, pointed to Hawaii as the being the Happiest State in the nation.
Many people zero in on Hawaii’s ample natural beauty, but I feel that there are other reasons for why my state ranks so high on the state happiness scale. What is Hawaii’s secret? I believe that Hawaii is such a happy state because we are a multiethnic, multicultural and multi religious community on a group of tiny islands. Â
In short, we have no choice but to get along with one another, respect one another’s choices, beliefs and perspectives. Our community is one that must depend on one another and co-exist.
Am I the happiest person in America? I don’t know for sure, but I do know this fact: I am indeed very happy.  I hope this site helps you feel the same way!
To continue the conversation and learn more information about happiness, visit The Happy Blog