The Happiness Cypher

by Charlie Page

Have you ever noticed how some people are just happy all the time?

They face the same challenges we all face. They have ups and downs and get their hearts broken, just like we all do from time to time.

But they smile on, looking on the bright side and making the best of things.

What’s their secret?

How and why are they so happy?

More importantly, how can YOU be happier beginning today?

Put another way…

Is there a hidden code to happiness?

In a word … no.

As much as the books and seminars would have us want it, there is no one event or thought or mantra that will bring universal happiness.

But there is a hidden secret, one that can help you become happier beginning today.

I say “hidden secret” because this idea is so simple it seems almost to behiding in plain site.

But it’s so profound that it changes lives for the better.

It certainly changed mine, and changed it radically.

Here’s the idea.

You can set goals to accomplish THE THINGS THAT CREATE happiness.

You see, setting a goal to be “happier” rarely works.

But setting goals to do the things that bring happiness almost always works!

Why is this true?

Because happiness is a BYPRODUCT of achieving other worthy goals.

Many people struggle in life and wonder why they are not happy. They are good and sincere people who want to be happy and so begin pursuing happiness as if it is a lost treasure.

But this approach seldom works simply because happiness is a byproduct of other actions.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Let me begin by saying that you and I don’t know each other well enough for me to presume to know what will make you happy.

I won’t pretend about that.

But I’ve been on the planet a while and made this observation.

See if you agree with me.

I believe MOST people want these things …

• To be happy
• To be healthy
• To be more prosperous
• To have more friends
• To have more peace of mind
• To feel more secure
• To have better relationships with others
• To love and be loved
• To feel like your life matters

If you agree with that basic idea, that the list above is what most people want, then consider this.

With the one exception of being happy, every one of the things on that list is a SKILL that can be acquired!

This is important so I want to say it again …

Every one of the things on that list (except happiness itself) is a SKILL that can be acquired!

This is great news because it means that setting and achieving goals in all these other areas will create happiness automatically!

And skills are something you can learn!

You learned how to cook, how to drive, how to write, how to draw, how to speak.

In fact, you are a learning machine!

So the thing to do now is to learn the skills you need to succeed in the areas that will create happiness!

Can you learn how to make more friends? Dale Carnegie will teach you how. It’s been proven that this is a skill that can be learned.

In like manner, every one of the things on that list can be learned!

Let’s take two examples and see how this works.

1. To be healthy

They say when you have your health you have everything. Being a person who once lost his health, I believe that to be true.

While being healthy alone does not ensure either prosperity or happiness, it’s almost impossible to achieve either from your sick bed.

So how can we be healthier, no matter where we are now?

NOTE: I know some of you reading this have serious health issues. Please know we pray for you and understand. I’ve been there and am not preaching at you, only saying we must all do our best every day.

I believe almost anyone, regardless of current health concerns, can do these things more.

• Reduce stress
• Get more exercise
• Eat a better diet
• Laugh every day

If the average person did only these things they would almost certainly get healthier.

An entire industry, and a huge industry to boot, exists to convince us to eat a reasonable diet and get reasonable exercise. Yet poor health still plagues far too many.

BOTTOM LINE: Almost everyone reading this (and the guy writing it!) would benefit from reduced stress, more exercise, a better diet and more laughter.

2. To be more prosperous

Ah, money. Thy name is trouble.

But we need it, don’t we? We all want to have nice things, to do fun things and to never worry about how the bills will get paid.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, there is everything RIGHT about that.

Nothing at all wrong with wanting more of the things that money can buy, and all of the things that money can’t buy.

I believe Zig Ziglar was right when he said this …

“You were born to win! But to be the winner you were born to be you have to plan to win, you have to prepare to win and then (and only then) can you reasonably expect to win”

So how can the average person become more prosperous?

Here are three keys that people in the financial field universally agree work for almost everyone.

• Increase income
• Cut expenses
• Pay yourself first

You might expect me to talk about Internet marketing or my products here. But I’m not going to do that.

This time we have together is far too important for that.

What I will say is this — it is vital that we all find ways to make time our ally. To create true leverage. To work once but profit from that work many times.

While there are many ways to do that (and I write about them often) what I’m saying now is this …

Do what you can to increase your income — AND — do what you can to reduce expenses — AND — always pay yourself first.

Even if it’s just a dollar, make your first dollar go into savings.

EXCEPTION: As a Christian my first fruits go to God. If your faith calls on you to tithe or give by all means do that first, they pay yourself next.

I was given this advice when I was 24 and ignored it.

How I wish I had not ignored it then!

If there was one message I wish I could share with the world it would be this …

A successful life is a series of successful days. If you set goals in the areas that matter in your life, and achieve those goals, happiness WILL be the byproduct.

Ready to be happier today? Spend some time thinking about the list above. Then make your own list, prioritize it and begin to dream big.

No matter where you are or what your life looks like now, you can accomplishanything if you follow a proven path, set goals and take things a step at a time.

When you do that you will have a power you can’t currently imagine — the power to shape your own destiny and bless those you touch every day.

And when that happens you will be living a beautiful life indeed!

This is a guest post by Charlie Page.

About Charlie Page

Happily married for 39 years, Charlie is the dad to two wonderful daughters. He is the author of 10 books on Internet marketing and owner of The Directory of Ezines,