Happiness, the feeling everyone is in pursuit of. The euphoric state that puts stars in your eyes and makes you feel 10 feet tall with a cape, ready to take on the world!
Happiness makes your soul soar, makes you all mushy inside, puts an ear to ear grin on your face and you feel bubbly like a glass of champagne.
Oh happiness! Just when we think we’ve found you to keep forever, you remind us that sometimes you can be the elusive fleeting state, experienced for a brief moment then floats away like a kite lost in the winds.
How can we keep you close by… forever?
Keep Yourself Busy
An idle mind they say is the devil’s workshop. To be happy you need to keep busy. Now, I do not mean breaking your back with overworking or non stop physical labour. Always ensure you have something to occupy yourself with, for the mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Keep close relationships
Research has shown that keeping at least 5 very close relationships keeps you happy in the long run. We as humans have evolved to live in communities, sharing our lives with others (family and friends) these relationships give us a sense of camaraderie, where we feel safe. This in turn assures confidence that should a need arise; a solution isn’t far off.
Experience
Explore your universe, make happy memories! Memories can be relived over and over again. You may never remember what your first skating shoes looked like, however, you will always remember the experience of skating for the first time. Falling over, the resounding laughter, getting up and trying again and finally the triumph!
Pamper
Take some time out to pamper and spoil the most important person- YOU! Do the things you love and enjoy. Be it retail therapy, indulging in a glass of fine wine whilst reading a captivating paperback or going all out on a pamper day to splurge. It is important to unwind and retreat to your happy place.
Volunteer
Give your time for a course you believe in. Be it helping an old relative, volunteering at your local charity, spending time at the orphanage or helping a neighbour’s child with reading lessons. For in giving you discover the feeling of self-worth and the joy of seeing someone else thrive as a result of your efforts.
Forgive
Ever so often the people in our lives wrong us knowingly or unknowingly. Forgiveness sets you free from the chains of harbouring animosity. Forgive and carry on with life, for it is fleeting and shouldn’t be wasted on ill- feelings.
Love
Love gives a special glow and an inexplicable sense of inner peace. Spread your love far and wide. Give an extra dose to those who do not love you back as more often than not, they need love the most.
Happy Channel
To stay happy you need to have a special escape cave. That channel you can switch to where all negativity varnishes and bliss reigns. Your chill out spot. Be it a happy memory or a physical room you retreat to, your happy channel is important in keeping you on your happy track. Adopting a positive mental attitude is fundamental in attracting only the things that bring joy into your life.
Follow Your Passion, Make Your Dreams Come True
Life is fleeting and short (We’ve heard this so many times- but it’s true!) Do the things you have always wanted to do. A study has shown that number one on the list of regrets people have on their death beds is “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” Experience, experiment, explore your talents and you may find some more you never knew existed. Go on that journey, start that business, take the plunge for you will never know what surprises the other side holds until you’ve tried. If you fail, at least you had the guts to try and if you succeed- there will be no stopping you.
Laughter
Even doctors recommend this all time cure. Laughter is a by-product of happiness and vice versa. Enjoy it. Overdose on it like an addictive drug. For it restores smiles and heals souls.
Almost all our desires in life are driven by the pursuit of happiness. The longing to love and be loved, to connect with others, to socialize, the quest for wealth, higher pay, better social status- After all is said and done, the end goal is to find happiness.
Happiness most importantly is a decision, an emotional state which may not be present at all times but if you make up your mind to be happy, it will never be far from you.
For we create our world, consciously or subconsciously
-Chichi Morris
Photo Credit: Ahmad- Dhanie/Foter/CC BY-NC-SA
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