Life’s Cheat Code: Spend Time Around Happy People
The ultimate happiness hack
There is a very simple formula that you may already understand.
Miserable people = miserable you
If you spend too much time around miserable people, you will also become miserable.
You’ve felt it before.
That negative friend who just drains every ounce of happiness out of your soul every time you see them.
There is one more formula, though, one that we all take for granted.
Happy people = happy you
By consciously applying this to your life, happiness will follow.
The overly optimistic friend
In the same way, you have that negative friend, you also have the overly optimistic friend.
This is that guy whose positivity is almost annoying. No matter what happens, he always has a positive way to look at things.
Got fired from his job? Now he has more time to do what he loves.
Forgot his lunch at home? Guess he’s fasting now, which will help him lose weight!
Lost the championship final? He learned so many lessons and will do better next time!
Here’s the thing. Even though it can be exhausting to be around this person, whenever you leave their presence upset, you’ll actually be in a better mood.
But they’re still exhausting.
So, imagine about 80% of that person. Still very optimistic, more realistic, and quite enjoyable to be around.
That’s what you need to aim for.
The “80% optimistic you” (Not very clever, I know)
By taking on the aura of the 80% optimistic friend, you are now a much happier person.
The colours are a little brighter, music sounds better, traffic is a great time to listen to podcasts and make phone calls, and you prefer pizza cold anyway!
To be perfectly clear, it’s not easy to take on the personality. It will take time and practice.
Here’s the cheat code…
Whenever you are faced with a negative situation, ask yourself what the overly optimistic friend would do. Trying to be like that person will be impossible, but you will get 80% of the way there.
Don’t get me wrong, you’ll still fail this task a lot of the time, and that’s exactly why you need to surround yourself with other optimistic people.
Pick your surroundings wisely
You are a combination of the 5 people you spend the most time with. This is a truth as old as time, and it continues to prove itself so.
That’s why you need to surround yourself with optimistic people. This is how you increase your happiness and become that 80% optimistic person.
If you’re surrounded by negative people, you will fuel each other when something bad happens.
If you are surrounded by optimistic people, you will make each other happier anytime anything happens.
It’s a life hack for all of you.
And trust me, I know, although it can be helpful to surround yourself with successful people (and you should), make sure you pick the ones who are also happy.
After all, if you become like those around you, why would you want to be successful and unhappy?
I know what you’re thinking…
“Where do I find these happy people? Those 80% optimistic people?”
The truth is, they’re everywhere.
You can meet them through sports teams, clubs (chess for me), at the gym, or at random events. (If you have other ideas, please share!)
You can really meet them anywhere, but you won’t find them if you aren’t looking for them.
That’s why the purpose of this was not to point you in the right direction, but to open your eyes so you can spot them, and want to befriend them, when you do find them.
Closing thoughts
The ideal life is really any life surrounded by people you love. Everything that happens is better when you can share it with those who matter.
People you love help make great experiences better, and help make bad experiences more tolerable.
Unfortunately, those plagued with constant negativity are not those people.
And often, no matter how hard we try to, they continue down the path of misery.
Do yourself a favour and prioritize your time for those in your life who bring you up.
Thanks for reading