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Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect

Being happy does not mean everything in your life is perfect.

It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections and haven't looked back.

Let's face it: There is no such thing as the perfect life. Between stress at work, mounting bills, obnoxious people, pesky health issues, financial pressures, and other challenges we face, our lives are never entirely carefree.

However, those who adopt a half-glass-full approach can view this as a positive.

Think about it. What would life really be like if we had no obstacles to overcome? How would we achieve growth? In what other ways could we acquire wisdom?

If we didn't have rough times in our lives, we'd be less likely to appreciate the tranquil, trouble-free periods. If we had no problems to resolve, we wouldn't know how gratifying it can be to resolve them, especially when it results in people becoming closer.

Sure, no one wishes for, say, health or money woes. But many would agree that only by struggling and experiencing adversity did they finally decide to shape up and make sounder decisions -- whether it be paying down their debt or losing weight -- that finally put them on the path to a happier life.

In other words, it is in the most trying situations that we build the strength, resilience, and wisdom to carry us forward. Thus, the very fact that life is imperfect empowers us to grow.

While our lives may be far from perfect, most of us can say we're in much better shape than many people out there. Things could be better, yes, but they could also be worse.

Many of us feel compelled to act as if our lives are perfect. Just log on to Facebook and you'll see countless pictures and videos of people who want to project that everything from their jobs and relationships to their family lives is impeccable.

But why give off this phony aura of an unblemished life?

By accepting that our lives are not ideal, we release a great load off our shoulders. We come to understand that the quest for perfection is a futile one, but the same doesn't hold for happiness. We can in fact lead happy lives even if things aren't as tidy as we'd like them to be.

Happiness can be anything from a hot cup of coffee on a wintry day with your significant other to taking a brisk walk on the beach under a starry sky.

Life is about taking the good with the bad. It's about knowing that just because you have a frown on your face doesn't mean you can't turn it upside down by refocusing your thoughts.

Even though our lives may be imperfect, that doesn't have to get in the way of our pursuit of happiness. As Havelock Ellis said, "The absence of a flaw in beauty is itself a flaw." 
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