Happy People Create Long-Term, Ongoing Happiness

We are an instant gratification society. Everyone wants something right now. It's one of the reasons fast food drive-throughs are always so crowded. It seems like nobody wants to go home and take the time and effort to prepare a healthy meal.

They would rather choose a cheap heart attack in a sack just because it's quicker.

Video streaming services are everywhere. If you think back a few years, your streaming options were limited. Now satellite companies and cable providers are getting nervous. They have begun to offer on-demand streaming services because that's what everybody wants. People want to watch any television show, movie, news report, or other video-based content whenever they want instead of only when it's life.

This mindset doesn't belong to the people who are usually happy. They set themselves up for long-term happiness rather than only trying to smile and laugh right now.

Create a Happiness-Friendly Environment

What do you do when you get off of work? A lot of people go straight home. Their routines are mapped out, and their evening ritual begins with a trip to their cozy, comfortable home environment. Some people who do this might grab a bite to eat and perhaps shower before meeting friends.

They enjoy spending time with certain people. They have friends that make them laugh and smile, and who wouldn't want to be a part of that? Whether getting together at another person's house or enjoying dinner with friends, this can be the highlight of their day.

• There are a lot of positive emotions that make them smile when they remember these occasions. That's great, but what happens when they return home?

If they haven't created an environment that promotes positivity and happiness at home, they will always want to flee to an environment that does provide those things.

People who make a habit out of happiness ensure their homes are places where they enjoy being. They can still meet friends and loved ones away from home, but they don't have to. They plan the possibility of future happiness instead of just worrying about smiling and laughing right now.

Prioritize Long-Term Smiles

Suppose for a moment that two people are very happy. They are identical in almost every way. Call them the twins of happiness. They are indistinguishable from one another, like two identical twins, except in one important way.

Happiness twin #1 always plans for future happiness while seizing opportunities for fun and smiles today.

Happiness twin #2 never takes the time to worry about the future.

The first twin doesn't want to worry about finances when he's older. He plans for a safe and reliable financial future. He knows he'll be more inclined to have a happy and carefree retirement if he doesn't have to pinch pennies and wonder if he has enough money to survive.

The second twin lives in the moment. He produces a lot of current happiness, and that's a good thing. However, his desire to always be happy means he's putting no money away for his retirement. He may be the happiest person you'll ever encounter now, but that smile will probably disappear if he has to work into his sixties, seventies, and maybe even eighties to get by.

Have fun now. Also, take some time to plan for the future. Being content now and in the future is possible if you plan for that. You're more likely to enjoy a happy future if you prioritize creating that reality rather than using all your resources only to be full of joy right now.