So how do we stay on track on days when things get tough? To live a happier life, one way is to recognize those life skills or support mechanisms that have stood by you in the past and help you get back on track when things get tough — and draw on them once again.
I’m referring to those core values, affirmations, or thought processes that have supported you to rise up repeatedly. If you’ve been wondering how to live a happier life, these 3 simple principles can change the way you see everyday moments.
What are the 3 P’s for a Happier Life?
The 3 Ps are my simple guiding principles that can help you slow down, stay more present, and enjoy everyday joy more fully. They are reminders to have:
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Peace
While individually powerful, when clubbed together and practiced in your life, they quietly change the way you experience life.
1. PATIENCE: THE WILLINGNESS TO WAIT
Patience is one of life’s greatest virtues. And if you have cultivated the gift of patience in your life, you have reason to celebrate. It’s because patience pays. Often, in our race to accomplish our goals, we expect quick results, forgetting that there is a time for everything. So many goals and aspirations are left midway because we couldn’t see the results we wanted, and that too on our timeline.
The next best option is to give up because we don’t have the tolerance or drive to see things through. It is here that the gift of patience comes in handy.
Remember: It takes 9 months for a baby to be born. 24 hours for a new day. And 365 days for your birthday to come again the next year. And no amount of impatience can speed up these events.
My life experience shows that cultivating patience helps put in the work to meet your cherished goals.
In some cases, you might still fail to achieve them. But if you have the patience to put in the work towards your short and long-term goals, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you gave it your best shot. At least you tried. Patience also gives you a safety net to fall back on when you start seeking unrealistic and instant results. The gift of patience is precious.
Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.
— Unknown
ALSO READ: PATIENCE PAYS: HOW EMBROIDERING MADE ME A BETTER WRITER
2. PERSEVERANCE: THE WILLINGNESS TO TRY AGAIN
According to the Oxford Dictionary, perseverance is the quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim despite difficulties. It is the drive to put in the hard work without giving up. It is about the will and drive to try again if you don’t succeed at a positive goal the first time.
Of course, we need to know when to give up or pass off something that’s not working or good for us. Yet perseverance is the virtue that gives us the inner strength to persist in life when things get difficult.
As a freelance writer, my ability to persevere has gotten me out of many challenging work situations. It’s a virtue that’s served me well, especially when I was beginning my freelance career. If you, too, are struggling with goals that seem unachievable right now, don’t be afraid to persevere.
Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.
— Julie Andrews
3. PEACE: THE WILLINGNESS TO JUST BE
Being at peace with our circumstances and where we are at this moment is a secret recipe for a happier life. Agreed, it’s not easy. And it’s natural to have regrets and unanswered questions that puzzle us to wit’s end. And make us second-guess our life’s journey. Yet, finding peace amongst all the clutter and confusion is when we truly achieve happiness.
Peace begins with a smile.
— Mother Teresa
Here’s the thing.
Whenever you’re agitated, apprehensive, worried, and feel as though a sea of emotions is raging inside you, look for ways to restore your lost peace. This exercise can be different for different people.
The idea is to embrace what works for you – yoga, meditation, a day at the park, a couple of days’ break, or just plain old music therapy. At the same time, making peace with our life’s decisions is another important exercise towards achieving inner peace. And once we achieve it, doubts will no longer bother us.
The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.
— Norman Vincent Peale
ALSO READ: 5 Amazing Techniques to Retreat Within So You Can Shine Outside
Why These 3 P’s Matter?
If you’ve ever thought about how to live a happier life, the solution isn’t necessarily about achieving more or becoming someone you are not.
To live a happier life, sometimes all you need is to:
- Be patient for good things to come to you.
- Be willing to try again, but this time with a better perspective
- Be open to finding peace in the small things.
My 3 Principles for a Happier Life don’t guarantee a perfect, problem-free life. But they do offer a healthier, grounded, and more joyful way to live your life.
If this resonated with you, take a moment today to pause, shift your perspective, and come back to the present. You might be surprised at how much lighter life begins to feel.
You may also want to read: 7 tips to live a happier life by Mayo Clinic.
WRAPPING UP
There is no denying that the complexities of life will never end. But if there’s one thing that can help you cross the hurdles that quite suddenly spring up in front of you, it is your inner strength. And the more you nurture your inner power, the better equipped you are to sail through the sea of life with dignity and grace.
Now add my 3 Ps for a happier life, and you have- Patience to keep going, perseverance to give it your best shot, and the pursuit of peace, no matter how chaotic life gets – and you can get a step closer to living your best life.
Your turn. What are the three values and virtues that you swear by and fall back on when life gets tough? Tell me about it in the comments section below.
First Published: Dec 2021; Last Updated: March 23, 2026
