How to be happy

导读：快乐的秘诀其实就是要全身心地接受自己，无论是缺点还是优点。生活中我们无法避免要面对恐惧、悲伤、焦虑等各种或积极或负面的情绪。对于这些情绪我们不能抵制，抵制就会导致挫败感，快乐就无法实现。

“When I had nothing to lose， I had everything. When I stopped being who I am， I found myself.”―Paulo Coelho

Someone once asked me if I was happy. The question confused me because it didn’t really seem like something I had a choice in. I had my parents and two wonderful sisters who loved me deeply. I was smart， and had opportunities many people throughout the world didn’t have. I never worried about being hungry or safe. Unfortunately， growing up happily doesn’t prevent us from developing fears and insecurities. Though there was laughter and creativity in my early life， I was too busy deflecting judgments and attacks to feel okay in my own skin. People would tell me to smile， so I learned that something was wrong with me if I wasn’t smiling. Someone told me I had a big nose and hairy arms， so I discovered my body was not up to others’ high standards. I often felt misunderstood or unseen for who I really was.

Throughout my twenties， my life began to totally change， but it was just two years ago when I was able to release limiting beliefs and past traumas and accepted myself. Through accepting myself I learned to love myself. Not all at once， but it happened gradually. I have days when I’m depressed. But I know my feelings are fleeting， so I can embrace them and let them be what they are. I have been willing to show up and see the truth of myself. This is what life is. It’s up and it’s down. It’s high and it’s low. It’s happy and it’s sad. And I love it all. I can’t reject the bad because it’s part of life. I embrace it and accept it. And that is how I am happy. So， if you want to be happy do this first： be willing to see the truth of who you are right now. Release judgment and accept everything about who you are right now. Show compassion for the parts of yourself that are difficult to bear. Begin to show yourself love.

Vocabulary

deflect v. 扭曲

trauma n. 创伤

fleeting adj. 转瞬即逝的

compassion n. 同情，爱心

（Have you found the secret of happiness from the article？）