Is there a single true secret of happiness? Maybe. There are a number of important factors in your happiness - your happiness with life, and your happiness with yourself. Today I'll share some of the most important choices you can make to live a happier - or less happy - life. 
 
Are you often less than fully happy with your life? or with yourself? Do you wonder what it would take to become happier? Learn how to be happy with yourself by mastering the secret of happiness.

Everyone wants to know how to be happy, right? So how come happiness is so elusive to so many people? It really all boils down to one thing. Yes, really, just one thing: You have to consciously decide to make being happy your number one priority.

In every moment in your life you have the choice to make it a happy one or not. Most people spend more time picking out an outfit or making dinner than they do on their own happiness. When you get your priorities right your whole life will change and you will automatically make different choices.
Recommended: 

• 20 Simple Rules For Happiness and Success 
• How to be Happy in Life: Happiness is a Choice of no Cost

Here are some questions about happiness I've had in my life, and I'm sure you have too:

• What is happiness? 
• Can money buy happiness? 
• And, a little more obscurely, what is the art of happiness?
  

Interestingly, I now believe that knowing how to be happy has nothing to do with knowing what the answers to these questions are.

So, finding happiness? Well, happiness really is an attitude - so adopt the attitude. Here are some key points you should know:

• Choose to be with happy positive people instead of those who bring you down 
• Choose appreciation instead of complaining 
• Choose letting go instead of always having to be right or in control 
• Choose fun and adventure instead of the same old routine 
• Choose your happiness over EVERYTHING
  

You have the opportunity to be happy in every moment - make the decision to be happy right now and watch what happens!

Happiness comes from knowing what makes you happy in the first place, and making it so, but it also comes from understanding that happiness really is a choice to be made no matter what. (Fact is, some people feel 'happy' being miserable, they really do!) Self-awareness, and awareness of self-sabotaging behaviors is very important here.

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants
suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude,
rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is
correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy."
-- The Dalai Lama

Decide to be a happy person

Everything in life starts with a decision. A decision can make or break a person. When it comes to being a happy person, you need to decide that you want to stay happy. You need to be stubborn with this decision, and make sure that your problems do not affect you badly. There will be many instances in our day to day routine, which can erupt sadness in our life. You need to consider these issues a part and parcel of your life, and face them in the best possible manner without compromising on happiness.

Forgiveness is the key to happiness.

Holding on to resentments, anger, and hatred only hurts yourself - and robs your life of its joy and happiness. For your own sake - for the sake of your happiness - forgive everyone for everything that they have ever done - or failed to do - that caused you pain or upset.

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.
- Paul Boese
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.
- The Buddha

It is sometimes very hard to forgive, but total unconditional forgiveness is one of the great keys to your own happiness.

Laugh your heart out

Laughter is truly the best remedy available out there to be a happy person. Take some time for yourself and read some joke books. If you don’t like reading, then watch some funny television shows. This will certainly light up your spirits, and it’s a great way to unwind for the day.

Have Gratitude for All of Life

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Life is neither perfectly great nor perfectly awful - life just is. We can choose to complain about life's seeming imperfections - from the long line in the bank, to the slow commute, the driver that cut us off, the pain in our knee, the overdue bills, our bossy boss. That is certainly one way to live - it's not wrong to live that way, but there is no joy in living with that attitude toward life.

We also have the choice of celebrating life - all of life. We can be profoundly grateful for everything we have. However little we have, it is so much more than nothing. Our very existence is a daily miracle which deserves constant gratitude.

Make the choice to be constantly grateful for all of life, not because you are supposed to be grateful, but because you will live a much happier life if you have a grateful attitude.

Relaxation

Stress can be the nemesis of happiness. And we all know how stressful being a single mom can be. So make sure you take time out to take some deep breathes, meditate or listen to relaxing music. You don’t need to carve out an hour of time (although that would be great). You can do diaphragmatic breathing in the car while taking your children to soccer practice or even while you are in the bathroom.

Be grateful

It’s important for an individual to have certain qualities within themselves, in order to lead a happy life. More than often we take things for granted, and do not find it worthy to acknowledge or appreciate the people who have acted like a support system throughout our lives. If you appreciate their support, not only will it make them feel better, but you will also admire the fact that you took such a decision. 

Have a Purpose

Your life doesn't have a purpose until you choose your life purpose. So make that choice, and choose well. There is a very high correlation between lives of high purpose and joyful lives. There is also a high correlation between lives without purpose and unhappy lives. Create purpose in your life not as a moral dictum, but as a key element of a happy life.

Forgive Yourself

"What's done is done."
- William Shakespeare

Why throw away your happiness on regret, guilt, or shame? Change the rules. Where did you get the idea that regret, guilt, or shame was a good or noble thing? Did your parents tell you that you were guilty and should be ashamed? Well, shame on them. How about your church? Wherever you got the idea that regret was a good thing, change the rules now.

Regret is an appalling waste of energy,
you can't build on it -
it's only good for wallowing in.
- Katherine Mansfield

Always do your best - your very best - every time. But after it is over, let it be done - whatever the outcome. Learn lessons from your failures, but never label yourself as a failure. Forgive yourself for everything you have ever done - or failed to do - that didn't work out the way you intended.

"Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think."
-- Dale Carnegie

Honor Yourself - Love Yourself as You Are

Honor, self respect, and self love are crucial to your happiness. Don't confuse these essential attributes with pride - in the biblical sense of pride. You have to respect and love yourself in order to stand any chance for a happy life. You are perfect exactly as you are - whatever anyone else may say about you. If you sometimes choose to make changes in how you live, great. But you never have to change anything in order to be a perfect person - a perfect creation.

Wrapping up

"If only we'd stop trying to be happy we'd have a pretty good time."
-- Edith Wharton

All of us want to stay happy. Happiness presents us with a wonderful feeling that everything is absolutely fine in our lives. However, the underlying fact is that there is not a single person in this world who is immune to problems of any sort. Having said that, some individuals know how to stay happy even in adverse conditions, which is why they are able to live life to the fullest. Above you read some tips which you can incorporate in your life to be a happier person.