Step #1: Doing right. There is a universal law that states that there is absolutely no joy found in doing wrong. People who do wrong (live the untruth) experience anxiety, stress, dispair, anger, doubt, lack of confidence, fear and pessimism. When you break a law you empower other people to be in command of your life, like a judge, jailer or warden, etc. Therefore doing good is the primary step in becoming a happy person.
Step #2: Control. The surveys showed that people are happiest when they are in control of their lives. Self-control and being in command of one's destiny produces immense freedom and feelings of security. Those who possess a strong mental self and are able to control their physical self are happiest.
Step #3: Seek the positive. Optimistic people always anticipate the best. They have hope for the future and focus on the positive in life. They make use of the positive side of their subconscious mind by thinking optimistic conscious thoughts. Consider that your mind is similar to a stage and you control the players on your stage. You can choose to think positively or negetively; it's your choice.
Step #4: Faith in a higher power. Researchers found that people who have faith in a higher power are happier than people who don't. The majority of people who recover from a severe drug or alcohol addiction report the need of a higher power. Faith in the unknown is a life rewarding experience.
Step #5: Close relationships. The single most powerful force in on earth is love. To give love and receive love is the highest human experience. Happiness in life is equal to the amount of love we have in our life. To see how powerful love is just look at those who do not receive enough love- nothing in life is more damaging than being rejected, lonely and unloved.
Step #6: Meaningful activity. The happiest people in life have meaningful activities that they enjoy such as work, hobbies or other activities they participate in. Those who don't have meaningful activities to participate in experience unhappiness.
Step #7: Service. Researchers found that one key activity common in happy people was helping others. Helping other people provided them with immense joy and deep feelings of fulfillment. We see that life is a mirror and people who give, receive. What is it that people receive when they help others? It is an interesting question to consider.
Step #8: Forgiveness. Successful, happy people forgive themselves and others. They understand that to err is to be human-that life is bursting with difficulties that help us grow. They recognize that others are human too and they treat others how they would like to be treated. Unhappy people do the opposite.
The very first step that unhappy people must take to find permanent happiness is to become self-aware. Self-awareness through cognitive restructuring is effective therapy for self inflicted issues. The point is that if people are not happy it's their fault and responsibility. Nobody can make them happy but themselves.
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Decades ago, Larry Lloyd founded the American Community Corrections Institute. ACCI sponsors a news blog on the topic of criminal behavior and related topics.