What is happiness?
Happiness is feeling good about ourselves and having meaning to our lives. It is having compassion toward others and wanting them to feel good about their lives.
Happiness comes from our actions and is determined by our attitude and choices, rather than our circumstances.
How can we achieve happiness?
- Happiness is a choice
If you want to be happy, you have to decide to be happy.
Try this exercise: Stand up straight with your head held high. Take a deep breathe and smile. Now slouch over looking at the floor. Again, take a deep breathe and smile. Did you find this more difficult to breathe and smile? When you stand tall with your head held high, you feel more confident with life and everyone can see it. You may even motivate others to be happy.
- Be an Influencer
Everyone influences someone. This means that you are an influencer and are being influenced by others. Statistics state that each person can influence approximately 10,000 people in their lifetime. If you are happy and smiling, think of how many people you are influencing to be happy. Go ahead and smile at someone. Did they smile back at you? When you smile the world smiles with you. There are people who are struggling silently and it may be your smile that is the small act of kindness that makes their day.
- Gratitude
Gratitude allows you to be thankful for what you have instead of continuously searching for the bright shiny object you believe you need to be happy. Being grateful is not taking things for granted and having a sense of appreciation for life. This allows for happiness in your life. Having a gratitude diary allows you to put in writing what you are grateful for each day. By doing this increases your sense of self worth which increases your happiness.
- Get Physical
Listen to your favourite music and dance. Take the dog for a walk. Exercise. Being physical allows your brain to release endorphins which are often called the 'feel good' chemicals as they can act as a happiness booster. Another way to release endorphins is to laugh. Have a good belly laugh, or better still, attend a yoga laughter class. It's a great physical outlet that can make you feel happy about yourself and life.
Happiness is how you choose to view life.
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