Here’s a poem (author unknown) that simply and beautifully describes the four steps to happiness. More than that, it emphasizes the fact that each one of is unique and we should celebrate our uniqueness. I had come across this a long time ago in a book and saved it. While going through my stuff, I came across it again and felt as inspired as I did the first time I read it. Enjoy!
4 Steps to happiness
Everybody Knows:
You can’t be all things to all people.
You can’t do all things at once.
You can’t do all things equally well.
You can’t do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else’s.
So:
You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of *being you*.
Then:
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you’ll be a most vital mortal.
Dare To Believe:
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it’s more than a right, it’s your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you’ll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.
Just imagine—how remarkable and miraculous it is to be YOU.
Millions and trillions of people are born on this earth, but not one of them is like you!
Nobody, but NOBODY who has come and gone or is yet to come has this unique combination of your skills, talents, looks, friends, problems, and opportunities. Why, nobody’s hair grows the way yours does. Nobody has your fingerprints. And definitely no one has your unique sense of humor and the insider jokes and facial expressions that you have.
Sure there are people who are amused at what amuses you—but they do not sneeze or cough exactly like you. Nobody loves or is loved by the same people that you do.
It’s because you are completely unique!
Celebrate that uniqueness.
Practice the 4 steps to happiness.
Enjoy it. Don’t even try to pretend to be like someone else. You were not meant to be like them! No need to hide parts of you wishing they were different.
You are different. At no point in time will the same things going on in your mind or your soul be going through someone else’s mind.
If you had not been born, there would be a huge gap in history, a missing piece in the puzzle that’s mankind.
Cherish your uniqueness. It is an exclusive gift meant for you—so rejoice in it, share it.
No one can mean what you mean to others in exactly the same way. No one can talk like you or express themselves the way you do. No one can love like you do. No one can smile the way you do and definitely no one can have the same impact that you have on another person.
Let people know how unique you are. Let it flow through your family, your friends, the people you connect with in the course of your day.
You are a gift—let people enjoy you.
Let people be inspired by you!
You are enough exactly as you are!
♥
What do you think?
Do you believe in the four steps to happiness?
Wednesday Wisdom is a series with short bursts of easy-to-consume wisdom in the form of stories, quotes, anecdotes, reflections, easy meditation, thought-provoking questions and humor.
7 comments
This reaffirms that happiness lies within us yet we spend our whole life looking for it in someone or something else. I guess years of conditioning, to act, behave and think in a certain way, takes time to go away. But I am glad we are at an age where self-love is promoted and understood.
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Such a lovely and inspiring poem. True, it is actually amazing to note that in this whole wide world, not one of us is exactly the same. We are unique and we must celebrate that uniqueness in us, believe in ourselves, our potential… These 4 steps to happiness are work in progress for me, but I know that I will get there soon. Thanks for this dose of inspiration, Vidya ♥
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Good morning Vidya. I like this article alot. I myself are in general a very positive person and I like myself and I’m not shy to say it. I believe that is the root in order to live a happy life. I try to see the positive in every situation❤️
I have learnt that more than anything that I am enough. It was my greatest lesson. There is goodness out there and we create our own happy space each day
Thanks Vidya for the input to remain as you are. Now this also reminds me to write my next letter to my niece to say ‘You are UNIQUE, and be the person you are”. Such affirmations are definitely going to help our kids see themselves as a true person. thank you
This is so inspiring Vidya! Thanks for sharing! We all need a little nudge from time to time and that poem at the beginning did it for me. So well written and hits the nail on the head perfectly.
Wow…really I’m fan of yours. Sometimes people come to me with their issues then I also suggest them good things as you explained above.
Keep writing it will change the life of people who doesn’t know where to go and ask solution about their issues.