6 Ways to Boost Your Happiness
Hello, Beautiful People!
People often wonder why happy people are so happy. Do they have special powers? Of course, not! However, they do have ways of mastering their own happiness. They spend time expressing gratitude, cultivating optimism, practicing kindness, nurturing loving relationships, committing to meaningful goals, savoring life’s little pleasures, etc...
But guess what? Happiness is available to everyone. Help yourself to it! - Thich Nhat Hanh
We've listed 6 ways you can find your happiness!
1. Mind Your Business:
Yes, this may sound harsh. However, this is a key to happiness. Not allowing yourself to become consumed by others business. Helps you! The energy and time you spend wondering all the "What if's" You are creating negative spaces to dwell in. Instead of worrying or creating anxiety for yourself. Create peace and harmony by removing the discord from your life. Albert Einstein once said, "From discord find harmony". Here's his entire quote:
“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
2. Seeking approval of others:
Oh my goodness! I can't begin to tell you how many people are affected by approval. No matter from whom you seek approval. You're always dancing with no audience. When you allow yourself to receive judgment for yourself from outside sources. You invite insecurities into your mind. Everyone has some type of insecurities, however, not everyone needs a judge to approve them. If this is you STOP IT! You are enough! You do not have to get approval to be you. Acceptance is key not approval.
3. Seeking happiness from others:
No one can make you happy but YOU! Happiness is a temporary emotion and it's constantly fleeting. You need more and more to stay happy. It is unfair and unrealistic to assign someone to your happiness. When you're forging for happiness you lose the essence of that happiness. Personally, I like finding joy. Joy is everlasting because it's not tied to an emotion. It's based on a sentimental meaning (family, friends, significant other, accomplishment, etc...). Find your joy source? What's your joy source?
4. Not letting go of the past:
Wanna getaway? Ok, this is not a SouthWest Airline commercial. However, it is a commercial for much-needed vacation from your past. Carrying about additional baggage does not bring good into your life. It does exactly the opposite! Just like airlines, you can only have one carry-on and one personal item. Everything else you will be assessed a fee. In life, extra baggage comes with an additional cost as well. But there's good news, it's called opt out! You can opt out of the baggage claim at any time. Letting go is very hard to do. Not moving forward is even harder. How to let go: Forgive him, her or them for their offenses. I tell people to use this sentence I learned years ago. First take a deep breathe then say, I forgive you for ______ and I forgive myself for allowing_________.
5. Negative environments:
Ok, this is one of those return to sender situations. I'm always there to comfort any person hurting from a situation. However, I will not take up residency in negative spaces. Staying in negative spaces too long will result in you losing your happiness. I believe in emotional climate control. Just like climate change for the earth. There are outside forces working together with some intentionally and some unintentionally. You have to decide how long will you let your atmosphere be impacted by outside circumstances.
6. Taking on the truth:
This is the most important and trickiest of them all. Truth...it will set you free or make you run and hide. The intent of truth is for correction or bringing light into darkness. You know, truth uncovers lies. Lies we tell others but more importantly lies we tell ourselves. Some lies are fancy aka fantasy! Fantasy is a great and scary phenomenon. In many ways, it can protect you, however, an over exposure or prolong period of fantasy may cause damaging effects on the psyche, whoa it just got real! I've started a series on our Podcast about fantasy and loss. Believe it or not, people grieve a fantasy loss just like grieving a personal loss. You can actually go through stages of grief after a fantasy is lost. Having friends or close confidants that are truth tellers are a blessing. At times, it may not seem that way, when they give you honest feedback or constructive criticism. If they sting you by telling you the truth. Don't end the relationship! Teach them how to deliver truths to you in a non-threating way. Then you both can Namaste together!
I hope these tools are helpful....
Until next time...Be Happy!