For me, this was God, to whom I submitted myself completely. For you, this can be anything or anyone greater than yourself, to put your faith in. Along with this comes meditation and reflection on who you are and who you want to be, and remembrance that this life is temporary. This is what will lead you to finding your purpose. This is the most difficult of the five steps, but it is also the most worthwhile because it will not only allow you to do the next steps, but it will give you strength and hope to face whatever comes your way.
Love not only your friends and your family, but your acquaintances and your communities. In fact, love every living creature you come across. Develop an unconditional love for mankind, even when you think it’s easier to lose your patience, and try your best to understand others perspective. Engage in at least one kind act each day, and ask yourself at the end of the day what you did to make this world a better place than it was when you woke up in the morning. Providing happiness to others brings back the same happiness to you, tenfold.
After all is said and done, I know that the things I have said (and life in general) can become quite overwhelming and simply too much to take in at times. So, write it all out. When you want something and you encounter challenges and struggles along the way, write about it. When something amazing happens and you just can’t contain your excitement, write it out. When you’re overwhelmed and can’t make sense of a single thing, write it out to yourself, to God, to no one at all. Getting it all out of yourself and seeing it physically on paper will not only simplify it all and provide clarity, but it will also help you see the bigger picture and remind you that if it can all fit on a piece of paper, it is nothing you can’t tackle on your journey to happiness.