Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. - Marcus Aurelius

I love history, and looking backward in time; learning from those who have come before me provides great insight into my own life, offers different perspectives and the opportunity to think and act a little differently. One such person is Marcus Aurelius [Roman emperor 161 to 180 AD] so here is a series on some of his words. _{image source}

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Marcus Aurelius says...

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Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.

I was given a reasonable upbringing; we didn't have a lot due to financial shortcomings, but we had what was required and, considering I knew no different I grew up happy.

We all went without a lot and many of the things I did have were second hand, not just handed down to me but purchased second hand, including Christmas and birthday presents, toys, books and clothing, but it didn't seem to matter and, if I'm honest, I never really thought about it much as a kid.

Looking back on my childhood now, I can see moments in which my parents struggled very much financially and went without things for their children, and I remember hearing them talk about finding money for food, school fees and various other life-requirements - they thought I was asleep and I wish I was because it made me sad for them - but in general, my childhood was a happy one and I believe I was raised as well as my parents could and knew how.

Manners, patience, courtesy, honour, integrity, kindness, generosity, ownership, responsibility, consistency and many other things were instilled in me, all of which I built on, added to and developed upon over the years. The hardships the family faced punctuated them, drove them home and burned them into my brain and being as my dad was so fond of saying...and along with them came a strong mindset and character, the ability to think independently and for myself, to know right from wrong, appreciate what I had and to understand how to maintain the right attitude. Sure, that didn't all happen when I was a kid, but the grounding was there and as an adult the experiences I had, together with that grounding, helped me along in life.

Looking at my adult life, I have to say I've had a good one. There's been some dark parts but the opposite also, and it's been an overall happy life.

Over the course of my life I've had many struggles, financially, emotionally, and physically with some of them having very negative and harmful effects upon me but here I am, still going and happy enough; I think many people could say the same. I was thinking about this the other day, and about what it is that allows us to to say, I'm happy, despite all the things that happen to us and in our lives.

I went flicking through my book of quotes, a notebook I've had for twenty five years in which I've handwritten quotes I've come across that mean something, are interesting or that I know I'll want to refer back to, and I found this one. It's simple, even seems like stating the obvious, but if asked by someone, what is needed to make a life happy, and I responded with it's within you and your way of thinking, I think a lot of people would be dissatisfied with my answer.

The quote basically says that happiness is a mindset, an attitude, and that we have the ability to effect how we feel by having the right thoughts and attitudes; The right thoughts and attitudes will cause us to take better actions which circles back to increase happiness. It's all so simple...to say...not so simple to apply...But didn't I do this when I was a kid? Well yeah, I did...so I know it's possible and, luckily for me, I've been doing it all my life.

I understand that physical things are required in life, that we have to buy things and some of them bring a degree of happiness, but I firmly believe that true happiness comes from within, and if it doesn't originate there, no amount of material items are going to fill the void.

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I'd like to know your thoughts on happiness.

I don't mean about how happy you were when you got the latest iPhone or some such thing though, I mean life-happiness. What has made you deeply and sustainably happy in your life, how have you maintained it and what challenges have you faced whilst pursuing happiness? Alternatively, if you're not happy overall, what do you think you could do to rectify the situation? Feel free to comment below.

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