my speech on happiness for the sudut satu suara, satu malaysia:

Hi, everyone! :D on this beautiful morning, I would like to talk about something which is essential in life, which is HAPPINESS :D

Herman Cain once said that ‘success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.’

Happiness is something that everyone wants to achieve. While on the surface, people may seem to be looking for other things, such as money or recognition, what they actually seek is happiness. Unfortunately, some people never reach the level of happiness that they desire.

What is happiness? :O Well, Aristotle said that ‘happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.’ I think that’s a little extreme, though. Meanwhile, the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines happiness as a state of well-being and contentment or a pleasurable or satisfying experience. Generally, however, happiness is a state of mine or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.

Different people will find joy from different things. Sometimes, happiness is as simple as a child finding a toy that he has lost for a long time. When a teenager passes the entrance exam to university, this also brings happiness. Adults find happiness when they find their true love and get a stable job. Meanwhile, older people are happy enough when their children look after and care for them. What makes you happy? For me, spending time with my best friends make me happy. What about you?

While I can’t claim to be the happiest person in the world, ( I wish I could ), I do learn something about it. Thus, I would like to share a few ways to fill your life with more happiness and joy ;D

Before I start, however, I would like to stress on something: OUR happiness is OUR responsibility. YOUR happiness is YOUR responsibility. Don’t blame outside conditions or other people if you are not happy. While things around you could change or go bad, it is YOU who decides how you will respond to them. YOU CAN DECIDE TO BE HAPPY!

With that in mind, here are a few ways to find happiness in life:

Firstly, accept yourself, and stop comparing yourself to other people. Yes, she may be prettier. He may be smarter. They may be richer, and etc. So what?! God has made each and every one of us different. We are all special, none of us are the same. This isn’t something that you can’t control, so instead of fretting over it, why not just accept yourself as you are? You are unique, and thus, this is something you should be grateful for!

Instead, think about those who are less fortunate than you. Think about the children in Haiti, the people in Africa, think about those people in war-torn countries! Living in hunger, no homes to live in, in need of medical aid, torn apart from their loved ones, while what do we have? More than enough food on the table, clean beds to sleep in, a peaceful country, good health, having our loved ones close to us, and SO MANY OTHER THINGS! We always want so much more, but we should realize that these simple things should not be taken for granted. These are the things we should be grateful for, but so often, we forget them. When you realize how blessed you are, you will certainly be happier. And there goes my second point, count your blessings.

Next, help people in need. Giving is an essential key to happiness. While we often think that we will be happier when we receive, truth is, we are happier when we give. This is one of the most difficult things to understand, but it is also the most important!

Besides that, saying ‘thank you’ and smiling can also be a great way to boost your happiness level. Even in the darkest days, the mere act of smiling, and someone smiling back at you can brighten up your day. I know, because I’ve been in that situation before. Also, spend more quality time with your loved ones, be it your family or friends. Relationships give us happiness more than any material in the world. In such moments, be sure to devote your FULL UNDIVIDED ATTENTION to them. Or else, what’s the point?

There are so many ways which can help you achieve for happiness in life, but unfortunately, I’m running out of time. I hope that my topic today has been able to guide you, and help you, even if it’s just a little :D
Thank you, and bye! ;)