We all make the mistake of believing that we’ll be happy when all our problems are solved, when we’re like this rather than like that, when our life is like this rather than like that. It’s a mistake that keeps us waiting for happiness, in vain. So here are 4 tips to stop waiting for happiness and be happy here and now.

1 – Understand that happiness does not lie in perfection

I began my apprenticeship in happiness when I got fed up with moving from one problem to another, when I realized that as soon as one problem was solved, another took its place.

In fact, I began my apprenticeship in happiness when I got tired of waiting for happiness.

And, very quickly, I learned that happiness isn’t when you have no more problems, when everything in your life is perfect.

It’s when you’re happy that your problems don’t take up so much space in your life.

Can you see the difference?

Because it’s really going to change your life, just as it changed mine.

Indeed, when I began my apprenticeship to happiness, I was on the verge of divorce, I didn’t have a job, I lacked self-confidence, I was afraid of everything, I was anxious about nothing…

In other words, I had a lot of problems.

And, I realize that all these problems were resolved over time thanks to my happiness and not because I spent years dwelling on my problems.

In fact, I realized that the more I dwelled on my problems, the more space they took up in my life, and the more I thought about them, the more they crushed me.

And, little by little, I discovered that the more I took care of my happiness, the less my problems crushed me.

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to stop waiting for happiness, to stop giving all the space to your problems and make more room for the things that make you happy.

2 – Taking care of your problems

So stopping waiting for happiness doesn’t mean pretending that everything’s fine. Indeed, when we have problems, it’s essential to become aware of them:

“I have problems in my relationship, in my work. I have problems with my self-confidence, my way of thinking…”

Because if you don’t become aware of your problems, you’ll simply try to adapt to them at all costs, and little by little, you’ll find yourself stuck in a daily life you don’t like at all, in which you simply can’t be happy.

In fact, I’m not saying that you’ll radiate happiness even if you’re having problems in your relationship or at work, even if you lack self-confidence.

Because yes, you need to be in a relationship that you enjoy, have a job that you enjoy and have enough self-confidence to take on the projects that are close to your heart.

In fact, I’m telling you not to give them all the space.

Because we need to become aware of our problems and deal with them too. That means maybe starting couple therapy, a professional reorientation…

But we need to keep on doing things that make us happy. That means continuing to believe in and nurture our happiness.

Indeed, all too often, when we have problems, we immerse ourselves entirely in them, thinking that they define our life and even our person.

In other words, we believe that we can’t be happy until we’ve solved our problems. But we can’t. We can be happy in spite of everything, as long as we continue to nurture our happiness.

Perhaps our happiness will be less intense, more discreet, but it will always be there inside us. And it’s thanks to it that we’ll be able to keep moving forward, finding solutions and keeping hope alive.

3 – Nurturing happiness to stop waiting for happiness

I learned happiness by setting up daily habits and rituals, and today I nurture my happiness in the same way.

In fact, if I’m happy in my life today, it’s because, day after day, I take care of my happiness.

That’s why I wholeheartedly invite you to find the habits that will enable you to invite happiness, to nurture it every day, in spite of everything.

To do so, find those little everyday things you love, activities that make you lose track of time and soothe you.

Find your happiness.

Personally, I find happiness in reading, writing and walking.

That’s why every day I schedule these moments that feed my happiness.

That’s why I invite you to learn to do the same, because yes, you can learn. I’ve learned too.

So, as a first step, list all the things that can help you nurture your happiness.

What do you enjoy doing? What makes you smile, makes you lose track of time, soothes you?

If you don’t know, take a look at the things that inspire you in the lifestyles of the people you admire. In the films or books you’ve read. What would you like to take from their daily lives?

In fact, if you were to close your eyes and dream of an ideal everyday life, what would you do to nourish your happiness?

Then, the secret to stopping waiting for happiness is to turn those activities that make you happier into habits.

Indeed, we tend to do the things we love when we find the time or feel good.

In fact, let’s stop waiting to be happy and start doing the things that make us happy.

Because happiness doesn’t fall from the sky (or too rarely), so make it a habit, nurture it day after day.

4 – Training to stop waiting for happiness

I waited for happiness for years, and it was only when I felt this desire, this need to be happy for real, in a healthy and lasting way, that I stopped waiting for happiness.

I’ve learned to be happy, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

Because it changed everything in my life.

The way I live my daily life, the way I carry out the projects I care about and the way I take care of myself and my relationships.

That’s why I can only advise you to learn about happiness too.

Because we haven’t learned how to be happy.

Yes, we’ve been doing what we can for too many years. We adapt to things that don’t suit us, or worse, to things that make us unhappy.

And too much is too much.

Fortunately, we can learn to be happy. I know, I’ve learned.

Today, I’m not telling you that I no longer have problems, but I don’t experience them in the same way.

I’m more confident, more serene, happier in fact.

And I know that it’s my happiness that helps me to get through the difficult times, to find solutions to my problems and, above all, to stop letting them take over.

I’m not my problems. They’re waves, obstacles, milestones on my journey.

And my happiness is my foundation, my pillar, my guide. It’s my path.

And it’s what I hope you’ll discover too. So stop waiting for happiness. Learn it. Cultivate it. Nurture it. I’ll be happy to guide you.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Procrastination: 11 tips to stop!
Discover Maslow’s pyramid: 5 steps to happiness

I recommend this inspiring book:

Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop
The author offers a direct and stimulating guide to freeing ourselves from self-imposed limitations and taking our happiness into our own hands. He challenges us to confront our own self-talk, overcome excuses and take personal responsibility. The book offers practical strategies and a straightforward approach to help individuals shift their mindset and create positive change. With a focus on empowerment, it encourages us to stop waiting for happiness and start actively pursuing a more fulfilling, intentional life.

In short: life happens. you just have to face it positively. that’s what this book is all about.
Brilliant writing, well worth the read.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself