By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
AIESEC US winter promotional material: Winter Days, Get 100 dollars off your exchange.AIESEC US winter promotional material: Winter Days, Get 100 dollars off your exchange.
5
min. read

Mindset Hacks for Happiness

Mindset Hacks for Happiness
Mateusz Milaszewski
May 26, 2020

You often hear that people want to be happy, but do not know how to achieve a state of happiness. What if I were to tell you that every single person reading this has the power to attain happiness using the power of their mind?

When you type the word “happiness” into Google, what comes up is a short description along with an example, which goes as follows, “the state of being happy,” and “she struggled to find happiness in her life.” Looking through the lenses of a neurologist, the higher the levels of endorphins your body produces, the happier you might feel. So what actually causes the level of endorphins to go up. Well, the list is enormous, try running, sunlight, eating correctly, meditating, and many more for starters. The point is, there is not a single path towards attaining happiness, it is simply a state of mind.

I began this journey towards attaining happiness after a difficult chain of events in my life, about two years ago. It was a period of my life where everything that could be going wrong, was going terribly. It was one of those moments where you  had to sit down and ask yourself,

“What the heck is going on?”

I began reading various self-help books, studied religion and philosophy, and began taking medication accompanied by therapy. Before I go any further, I would like to emphasize the importance of reaching out for help when needed.


What helped me the most was being vulnerable with the people closest to me in my life. Luckily I live with over 60 people, which in and of itself can be a blessing and a curse. The power of vulnerability has helped me a lot, opening up about who I really am, about what I really struggle with, and about my passions and motivations helped me release the emotional backpack I’ve been storing my entire life. Another thing is meditation and mindfulness. Simply focusing on my breathing and letting go of my ego has helped me be more present and happy. I like to say that meditation is like preparing for death before dying. Knowing that makes me happier.

It really are those simple mind shift changes that cause a person to be happy.  

The Buddhist monks of Tibet meditate for hours on many ideas, including the idea of happiness. Buddhists believe that suffering is inevitable, thus one must suffer in order to attain happiness. You cannot have one without the other, they are interchangeable. After all, how can you know you feel happy if you’ve never felt the opposite of happiness. I agree with the fact one must suffer in order to truly appreciate happiness.

One person that has really motivated me to literally chase happiness is David Goggins. He is not the person to tell you to be happy, he is focused on making you go through discomfort. It’s like the Ying and the Yang. Happiness in my opinion, is a choice, and it all starts with the power of your thoughts. I am not telling you to take cold showers or push yourself to your limits, after all, the journey towards happiness is different for everyone. 

Be wary of attaining simple pleasure vs happiness, there is a difference. Pleasure is achieved through the satisfaction of achieving goals, entertainment, sexual activities, and levels of dopamine and serotonin, plus many more. A serotonin deficiency results in symptoms such as poor memory, low mood, craving for sweet or starchy food, difficulty sleeping, low self- esteem, anxiety, and even aggression. Some of the best ways to increase the amounts of dopamine and serotonin are exercise, spending time in nature, nutrition, and meditation. The thing about pleasure, is that it is never enough. This is especially important for leaders who constantly pursue goals in their careers. Work hard enough for a promotion, achieve a new record quarterly revenue, for aiesec leaders this can become overwhelming.

Too often, we measure our worth by goal achievement, so focused on the task at hand that we forget to be happy ourselves. 

Self-care is crucial to attaining happiness. Taking at least an hour every single day to focus on yourself. For me it varies, sometimes I do yoga, sometimes I read, I watch television, or play video games. Sometimes it lasts for more than an hour, and that's ok. Taking the time to recharge is crucial for everyone, it allows for future bursts of energy and motivation. I run sprints, not marathons when going through life, and self-awareness has allowed me to discover this about myself.

This one might be controversial, accepting death. The idea of dying brings me peace, it makes all the problems life has to offer less relevant. For example, I understand that I have a finite amount of time before dying, and I want to make the most out of this experience, don’t get me wrong, I love my life and want to achieve as much as I can before it is my turn to go. Accepting death and letting go of your ego allows me to feel happier during moments that are cherishable. Don’t get me wrong, I am not the enlightened one. I still feel the tough moments in my life, I have my own demons I fight with. But I try to understand that I have the power to dictate the way I feel, and how I respond and react to situations.

Emotional intelligence is a trait that is highly sought after in this business world, especially cross-cultural intelligence. Understanding that emotions are a universal trait gives us such an advantage in communicating with one another, but it also allows us to better understand ourselves. 

Our mind is a powerful tool, if we know how to use it. The field of psychology allows us to better understand what motivates us and drives our behavior. Knowing the self is very important to our state of happiness, and it is important to understand that it is not possible to be happy all the time. Going back to the Buddhists saying that suffering is inevitable, it’s important to understand that happiness is a mindset, and it is not permanent. Without suffering, one cannot achieve a state of happiness, and you cannot have one without the other, so next time you want to stuff your face with those cookies, how about you make yourself wait a few hours to really enjoy those cookies, and maybe limit yourself to how many you can have. Not only is this discipline training, but it will make you appreciate the little things, and really reap the benefits of a happy mindset. 

What are you waiting for?

Sign-up in under five minutes and explore thousands of opportunities in more than a hundred countries and territories.

Sign-up!

Explore more

 5 Top Benefits of Building an Internship Program in Your Company

5 Top Benefits of Building an Internship Program in Your Company

In today's fast-paced and competitive business environment, companies are constantly seeking innovative strategies to stay ahead of the curve. One such strategy that has proven to be highly effective is the establishment of internship programs.

3
min. read
Written by
Soraya Morales
How my AIESEC cultural exchange in Poland impacted my career in 5 ways!

How my AIESEC cultural exchange in Poland impacted my career in 5 ways!

At the age of 22, I decided to take a leap of faith and step outside of my comfort zone. ‍I embarked on a life-changing adventure with AIESEC, the world's largest youth-led organization, that took me to one of the most beautiful countries in Europe - Poland. And that too for six straight weeks. So what are you waiting for? Just like mine, yours can also be a turning and inspirational adventure. It might just be the turning point in your career and your life, just as it was for me. Embrace the unknown, for it has the power to unlock your potential and change your life forever.

4
min. read
Written by
Nishad Kinhikar
Five professional benefits of joining AIESEC!

Five professional benefits of joining AIESEC!

Joining AIESEC isn't just signing up for an organization; it's embarking on a transformative journey. From widening your network and honing your leadership skills to gaining practical experiences and cultural intelligence, AIESEC offers a treasure trove of professional benefits.

4
min. read
Written by
Nishad Kinhikar
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
AIESEC US winter promotional material: Winter Days, Get 100 dollars off your exchange.AIESEC US winter promotional material: Winter Days, Get 100 dollars off your exchange.

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

What are you waiting for?

Sign-up in under five minutes and explore thousands of opportunities in more than a hundred countries and territories.

Sign-up!

Explore more

Empowering Educational Equity: AIESEC US Joins GlobalTuesday to Drive Positive Change

Empowering Educational Equity: AIESEC US Joins GlobalTuesday to Drive Positive Change

AIESEC US, the leading youth-run non-profit organization committed to empowering young individuals through transformative international experiences, proudly announces its participation in GlobalTuesday, a worldwide movement that harnesses collective generosity to create lasting impact.

2
min. read
Written by
Soraya Morales
AIESEC United States earned the 2023 Gold Seal with Candid!

AIESEC United States earned the 2023 Gold Seal with Candid!

We are thrilled to announce that AIESEC United States has earned the esteemed Gold Seal of Transparency by Candid. This recognition underscores our steadfast commitment to openness and accountability in everything we do.

1
min. read
Written by
Soraya Morales
AIESEC US Joins the Global GivingTuesday Movement to Empower Tomorrow’s Leaders

AIESEC US Joins the Global GivingTuesday Movement to Empower Tomorrow’s Leaders

[New York, October 26, 2023] – AIESEC United States, the largest youth-run non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young leaders through transformative international experiences, is thrilled to announce its participation in GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage radical generosity and make a lasting impact.

2
min. read
Written by
Soraya Morales
Empowering Dreams, Transforming Lives: AIESEC US Launches Fundraising Campaign for Education Equality and Global Opportunities during Global Goals Week

Empowering Dreams, Transforming Lives: AIESEC US Launches Fundraising Campaign for Education Equality and Global Opportunities during Global Goals Week

[New York, September 21, 2023] - AIESEC US, the largest youth-run non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young people with transformative international experiences, proudly announces the launch of a groundbreaking fundraising campaign aimed at providing educational equity through scholarships for global opportunities to young students who lack financial resources. As part of Global Goals Week, this campaign directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on quality education, reduced inequalities, and climate action. With the mission to break down barriers and create a more inclusive educational landscape, the campaign seeks to raise funds to offer scholarships for the AIESEC Global Volunteer Exchange program.

2
min. read
Written by
Soraya Morales
Join Us: Live-Streamed Launch Campaign for Educational Equity and Sustainable Development

Join Us: Live-Streamed Launch Campaign for Educational Equity and Sustainable Development

[New York, September 7] – AIESEC US, the youth-led organization committed to fostering cross-cultural understanding, skills development, and global citizenship, is excited to announce the official launch of its groundbreaking campaign. This campaign is poised to break down barriers and open doors to a world of possibilities for students from underrepresented groups through educational equity and global opportunities for sustainable development.

2
min. read
Written by
Soraya Morales