“The happiest man in the world” named 9 simple steps to happiness (10 photos)

77-year-old Mathieu Ricard, often called “the happiest man in the world,” is a remarkable personality. He is a molecular biologist by training. But at some point in his life he gave up his successful scientific career in France and became a Buddhist monk in the Himalayas.





Today they listen to him, they believe him, they ask him for wise advice on how to achieve harmony and well-being. Do you want to be happy? Here are 9 simple but effective tips from Mathieu Ricard.

1. Understand your emotions to manage them



You can look at your life experiences as a burning fire. If you are aware of anger, you are not angry, you are aware of the emotion. To be aware of anxiety is not to be anxious, it is to be aware.

The more you can distance yourself from your emotions, the more skillfully you will be able to manage them. Then, over time, negative emotions will dissipate, like clouds floating across the sky. And if you get hung up on them, then, on the contrary, over time they will take hold of you even more.

It's easier to put out a spark than a forest fire. Therefore, try to identify your negativity at the very moment when it arises and “stop” it.

2. Get rid of what makes you suffer





Our mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

True human happiness, called “eudaimonia” (ancient Greek), arises from the elimination of sources of suffering, such as hatred, pride and jealousy. Happiness is a kind of bonus that comes when a person experiences feelings of empathy, goodwill, altruism - and it is long-lasting and stable.

This state is different from pleasure - it may be pleasant and beautiful, but it is not happiness. When happiness comes, it seems to permeate a person’s entire life and can be felt even in moments of grief and regardless of material well-being.

3. Don't compare yourself to others



Comparison kills happiness.

We compare ourselves not to Bill Gates, but to our neighbors. I came to understand that although some people are naturally happier than others, their happiness is still vulnerable and incomplete, and that achieving lasting happiness as a way of being is a skill that requires constant improvement of inner peace, altruism, and attention to people.

An honest assessment of our progress compared to past achievements can be very helpful. However, when we compare ourselves to others, it often opens the door to dissatisfaction, increased envy, resentment, disappointment, and even hostility.

4. Meditate



This shouldn't come as a surprise; A Buddhist monk spends a lot of time in meditation, and for good reason.

Meditation is not about emptying the mind or blocking thoughts, but simply about relaxation. Try to think about something kind and good. This is similar to 10-15 minutes of physical exercise or any other process that requires a gradual increase in strength.

Different thoughts will come to your mind, and that's normal. Just let them come and go. Don't get hung up on them. Don't run after them. Let them pass. Once the stressful thoughts have dissipated, you will be able to fill your mind with positivity and love.

5. Replace unproductive anxiety with effective compassion.



Today, many young people feel constant fear and anxiety. The antidote to this feeling is to take action to empathize and help people.

In 2004, Mathieu took part in a research project that analyzed his brain as he thought about compassion. The electroencephalogram recorded unprecedented levels of gamma waves, typically associated with well-being and increased concentration.

6. Develop altruism in yourself



Constantly focusing on yourself and striving for self-improvement can be draining, anxiety-provoking, and ultimately lead to unhappiness. The answer lies in the desire for altruism, benevolence. This makes the person feel better and more comfortable, and other people begin to treat him more positively.

If you are positive, it is a very healthy and correct state of mind. It promotes prosperity of both soul and body.

7. Control your ego



People think that a strong ego is strength. No, a strong ego is the ultimate vulnerability. You are so preoccupied with your strong ego that you cannot sleep peacefully.

On the contrary, you should minimize your ego - this is a wonderful way to increase your level of happiness. When a person detaches himself from his ego, he begins to attach less importance to both praise and criticism. As a result, a feeling of joy and peace grows and expands inside him.

8. Enjoy simple things



Enjoy the moment when you are just sitting quietly at home, or the moment when you are in the middle of a big city and see all its lights, or the moment when you are in nature and admiring the blue sky...

These little joys in life are very important.

9. Be in nature as often as possible



There is a deep connection between man and nature. Prolonged separation from nature can lead to depression. Mathieu cites as an example a study in which hospital patients recovered faster when they had views of a picturesque landscape from their windows.

Take every opportunity to spend time in nature and enjoy its beauty.