The Secret to a Richer, Fuller and HAPPY Life.

Ever wondered why you're not happy? Why nothing seems to excite you much, it's like you're just passing through life and doing same old routine but deep inside you, you know there's got to be more to life than this boring routine. You may have dreams and goals that you're working on and it finally feels like your life is going somewhere- 'a reason to be alive' but even that isn't really enough to keep you happy for too long. Before long you're feeling down. When you're alone, away from everyone and all the distractions that has kept you from losing it all day, in your bed alone at night, can you genuinely say you're happy or do you shed secret tears in bed? Do you take alcohol and other hard substances to numb your pain and sleep fine? Do you rely on that phone call from "Bae" to brighten up your face and other pleasure Bae gives you? If this is you, I have a simple solution for you- If you want to be HAPPY, get YOURSELF off your MIND!

It's really that simple you know, I have read a lot of articles on happiness, they are brilliant articles and they usually work for a while but you get tired eventually because everything they tell you to do in those articles are usually centered around "you" and that's why it eventually leaves you miserable again, it's not sustainable. The reason you're not happy is because you are on your mind a lot and life is so much bigger than just "you". You are too focused on you you you and "your" problems! And you are not paying enough attention to others around you. If you want solution to whatever you're going through in life, always search the bible.

The secret to happiness is found in this particular scripture that says "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it". And guess what! This scripture is found in five different places in the bible!!! It is found in Matthew 16:25, Matthew 10:39, Luke 17:33, Mark 8:35, John 12:25. Five different scriptures saying the same thing, that's how important this is. When the bible emphasizes something like this, you might as well take it seriously. Guess what again, they were all actual words from Jesus himself! Scriptures in the bible that are actual words from Jesus are usually marked in red ink, these scriptures were all marked in red ink, implying they were teachings from Jesus when he was on earth.

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity"- John 12:25. "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you let your life go, you will save it."- Luke 17:33.

So if you're always worrying about all the things that you want in life but you don't have yet, focusing on your fears and they are making you miserable, it's time to let go and try something new. Instead of focusing on you, why not find out what you can do to put a smile on someone else's face for a change? Care for them, be kind, be generous etc. The reward for putting a smile on someone's face is that you get to be happier yourself. You must have discovered by now the joy you feel when you do something for someone and they are so appreciative of it, it usually leaves you feeling elated. Because that is the way God designed us to live, we live for "one another". The bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive- Acts 20:35. The giving isn't only limited to material things, it could just be a simple act of kindness.

Examples of things you can start to do to enjoy genuine happiness.

1. Make it a duty to call friends and family on their birthdays: Don't just limit it to WhatsApp chats & posting their pictures on social media but you never actually called. Call and tell them what you love about them, say something nice to make them feel special, it's their day, get them gifts (no matter how small).
2. Pick a friend whom you've not spoken to in a while, and just call to check on them: You can do this once a week, everyday or as frequently as possible. The current friends you still keep in touch with, don't let them become that friend you haven't spoken to in a while.
3. Look around you, there's someone who needs your help or attention: I always love how when I smile at the security guard of a bank near my area, it always just brightens his face, he's probably been bored at his job all day. That smile cost me nothing but it means a lot to him.
4. Go the extra mile for other people: Don't be too lazy to help, treat them like you would treat yourself. For instance if you are craving one particular chocolate and you can go all the way to Shoprite that's far from your house to get it, don't be too lazy to do that for someone else. I'm guilty of this, if I want something, no mountain is too high for me to climb and get it but I'm usually lazy to go to such length for someone else especially if you're not my lover or brother. But God has been dealing with me on that and that's definitely changing.
5. Pay for someone's TFare when you get the chance, don't just hope your friend will pay for both of you.
6. Practice random acts of kindness: As the Spirit leads, do something nice for someone who probably wasn't expecting it. 
7. Charity: Give charity donations.
8. Genuinely care about people: Be interested in them and everything that concerns them, genuinely listen to them when they tell you about themselves, offer assistance where needed, freely give yourself away, don't be too stingy with "you".
9. Visit People: Yes! We live in a WhatsApp and Instagram world, where people keep in touch by just liking photos and viewing your WhatsApp stories, it's sad. Get up from your bed, get your phone off your thumbs and pay someone an actual visit!!! Or invite them out and just spend time with them, your physical presence adds more personal touch to the friendship.
10.  Speak softly to people, be open minded, be adaptable, be humble, make new friends etc.

If you commit to doing these things, I can assure you that you won't have the time or energy to focus on your issues, you will feel happier, lighter and free. Your life will be so much richer and fuller because the reward for caring about other people is that you get to build meaningful relationships and relationship is everything, if you want to be successful in life you can't do without this. I'm not saying you should completely ignore you, push your problems to the left and not figure out a way to solve them if you can. I'm just saying, do not let it get to that point where your problems occupy your whole life and thoughts and you start worrying a lot that it steals your happiness and wrinkles your face. Because half of the things we worry about most times will eventually sort themselves out with time, if we don't worry so much about them and just let them go. Stop clinging too tight to your life and you will LIVE!