Live Like the Honey Badger: Principle 9

This is the ninth in a series of posts entitled, Live Like the Honey Badger. On Fridays, I address one aspect of developing confidence, self-worth, a fearless nature and the like. Previous weeks are linked below.

Principle 1: Honey Badger Don't Care
Principle 2: Accept Yourself. Your Whole Self
Principle 3: Surround Yourself With Honey Badgers
Principle 4: Break the Mold
Principle 5: It's Not Selfish. It's Self Fulfilling 
Principle 6: It's Your Life. Take Responsibility
Principle 7: Find Your Strengths and Play to Them
Principle 8: Embrace Failure

Principle 9: Define Your Own Happiness

Take a look at yourself. A good look.

Do you know who you are?
Do you know who you want to be?
Do you know where your strengths lie?
Do you know what makes you happy?
Better yet, are you happy?

I am.

I can say, without a doubt, that I am genuinely happy with myself and my life. And I want the same for you.

My happiness is not a result of my life being perfect.

I have struggles and hardships. But I tackle them and embrace them as an opportunity to change and improve myself in ways I may have never considered.

It's not the result of having or being everything I could ever want.

I have imperfections and hang ups. But I know that they don't define me. Maybe I can eliminate them over time and maybe I can't. Either way, I won't let them defeat me.

And it's not the result of having reached all my goals.

I have successes and failures. But I realize that neither outcome is the end of my story. I'm a work-in-progress and I have so much further to go.

My happiness is not defined by any of those things. Instead, it is defined by my ability to be true to myself, to the people I love and the things I place value in. I define my own happiness.

And you can, too.

Stop worrying about what others expect from you and who they expect you to be.
Stop worrying about what is blocking your path to happiness and find away around it.
Stop worrying about what others will think if you stay true to yourself.
Stop worrying about making everyone else happy and take the time to make yourself happy.

Happiness is contagious. If you're happy, the people around you will aspire to do the same. And if you're happy, you'll be better equipped to help those around you find happiness too.

Don't wait for someone or something to make you happy. Take control of your life and define your own happiness.