Happiness
It's created by you!
Nobody in this world can make you happy. It's on you to create happiness in your life. Waiting for your life to be perfect could quite possibly become a lifelong journey. But finding and recognizing moments of joy in your life every day is easy but it requires a shift in your mindset. Without any help from other human beings, you can feel happy, content, and fulfilled.
Think about it. Not only do you have the power within you to make yourself happy, that same power can be used to make yourself feel sad, angry, lonely and empty. Think about the times where you have felt great versus the times that you've been down in the dumps. Negative self talk can make you feel down and have you spiral into a weepy mess. Your highs and lows are a result of your thoughts and your internal noise. It has to do with your mindset about yourself, specifically the words you use and statements you make during self talk. Truth is, there are bad things you say to yourself that you would never say to anyone else.
Next time you catch yourself feeling crappy, take a moment to focus on what is running through your mind. What are you telling yourself? Focus right in on the words. This is the point where you can switch from feeling crappy to feeling better.
Happiness is a state of mind that relies on many factors but the key ones are your emotions, your mind set, and your physical state. People who enjoy lots of happiness know that they should not seek happiness from others. They've mastered the art of knowing how to simply reject the people and things that steal their joy. What that means is your journey to happiness is a solo trip.
Here's what I do to create happiness in my life.
Make taking a vacation a habit. The pic is my husband and I on an all-inclusive vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, at a gorgeous and very relaxing resort. He surprised me with this trip and made all the arrangements, making it one of the best vacations I've ever had. Even if you are booking it yourself, the getting out of town and going where no one can reach you part is the treat.
Watch the movie, Happy! My mind was blown by simple elements people focus on to create a joyful life. The movie goes in depth and explains the science of happiness. It takes you to places in the world where entire communities have mastered the art of happiness and why longevity is prevalent.
Exercise and eat well. Love yourself by taking care of your body. When you feel stronger and have energy, you feel happy. Exercise and nutrition are the keys to feeling good, having energy, and staying healthy. Walking, running and other aerobic forms of exercise stimulates endorphin production which makes you feel happier. Good mobility and proper nutrition will help you to enjoy your life. Try different activities, change it up, try yoga, speed walk, jog, run, do a class, or dance around your home.
Drink at least 2.5 litres of water a day. Water makes up to 60% of your body weight and every system in your body relies on water to function. Water is essential for your body to function properly, maintaining core temperature, digesting food, lubricating joints, and flushing out waste.
Spend your spare time with happy people. If you want more joy in your life, be intentional about surrounding yourself with joy. Spend time with people that bring you joy. Surround yourself with people who know how to enjoy life. Think about yourself as expensive and that your time is valuable. There are times when you won't be in control of who you spend time with but you can set boundaries and limit the amount of time you spend with them.
Celebrate the miracles in life, even when they are little. These are the moments to celebrate and when you do, you feel happy. Little miracles happen every day and when you take the time out to notice them, your faith, your belief that things will work out, builds up. Faith helps you to manifest a happy ending to all that you do.
Be grateful. Gratitude is about being thankful for everything, no matter how small. Taking time out be grateful exercises your mind to see the positive things in life and prevents you from focusing on the negative. Try this, at the end of each day, take a moment to write down or reflect on 3 things that you are grateful for. Also, take a moment to acknowledge one thing you could do to make tomorrow a better day. Be intentional with gratitude and you will feel more joyful.
Do what brings you peace of mind. A quick win for me is listening to music, doing something creative, or going for a good brisk walk. If you don't know what activity brings you peace, pay attention starting now. That activity should become your go to when you need to reset your mindset. When I play old jams, I remember fun times, I get up and dance, I sing as if I can sing, and I smile. Next time you feel blah, go do that thing that brings you joy
Practice being in the moment. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not yet yours, the present is the gift that's yours to enjoy. Worrying is a total waste of time. You can't change what happened or what you did yesterday. You can't control anything about tomorrow until it comes. Do this exercise. When you find yourself wallowing about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow, focus on what you are doing in that exact moment. If you are washing a pot, focus on the put and your hands moving the sponge. Tell yourself "right now I am cleaning this pot". This is a quick way of resetting your mindset and keeping your mind focused on what is useful, the present moment.
Laugh as much and as loud as you can. Laughing uplifts your spirits. Watch a comedy show, read a funny book, and try to find humour in every moment. Look for laughs online and watch funny videos of silly things that people do, like pranks, practical jokes, funny animals, rule your algorithm. Laughter is the best medicine. Bet you didn't know laughter increases your immunity?!
Stop taking life so seriously. Let it Go from the movie Frozen, will remind you why you need to chill! Watch the whole movie! It could lift anyone's spirits. Another great one is the movie called "Up". Read or listen to the Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz to learn how to get rid of the "self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering". Another book I recommend is The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins. It reminded me that nothing in life has meaning until you give it meaning and what people think and say about me is none of my business. Free your body and mind so you can enjoy life to the fullest.
Now get out there and be happy!
TTFN
Wendy
Comments