Don’t we all just want to be happy?

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We all just want to be happy, don’t we? To feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of every day and wake up with enthusiasm for the day that is about to unfold.

How many of us though, can truly say we are happy?

There is so much negativity in the world, wars, tragedies, we can feel overwhelmed. It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s going on around you, sometimes you just might need to slow down and breathe.

focus on being happy

One thing I know we can’t control what’s happening around us and we can control how we respond. 

I believe that what yuo focus on is what you get. So choose to be happy.

I am not saying you ignore the world around you but choose where you can affect change and focus on those areas of your life. Worrying about things that you cannot do anything about does not help anyone.

SELF CARE

What would happen if you chose to look after yourself first? A bit like the safety talk on an aeroplane – put YOUR oxygen mask on first. Not only will you be happier, but you will be surprised at the positive affect you have on those around you.

Put aside some time to do activities that give you pleasure. It could be as simple as relaxing with a good book, having a massage or starting a hobby you’ve always wanted to try.

To fall in love with yourself is the first secret to happiness.

Robert Morley

HEALTH

Focus on your health which may be a affecting your mood. Do you take time look after yourself? Are you present to your overall health? Make yourself the priority, after all you can’t be there for others if you are not taken care of yourself.

So next time you find yourself being critical, stop. Give yourself some positive self-talk and whatever you think you can’t do, you can, you just need to figure it out.

It takes some practice but after a while you can start to eliminate all the negative self-talk. It’s not the same as telling yourself you are the best all the time and that everything is perfect, just that you are you and that’s ok.

A major contributor to mood can be gut health.  Look at your food. Could you eat a little healthier? Cut out some sugar, eat more fresh vegetables? A food diary is a great way to work out your starting point, it also helps you keep on track when you start making changes.

Get out and move your body, exercise has so many benefits. Depending on your fitness level it could be going to a gym or taking a gentle walk. The bonus with exercise is it’s also great for your mental health.

Make sure you get enough rest. Sleep is so good for you it can boost your immune system, improve your mood and your memory and may even help you lose weight!

 

 

 

MINDSET

You are as happy as you tell yourself you are. Getting your mindset right will have a huge impact on your happiness so why not focus on learning ways to improve it.

A gratitude journal is a great place to start. It has been shown to have positive benefits for many areas of life such as relationships, health, career and general well-being.

RELATIONSHIPS

Humans are happiest when they feel connected, so it makes sense to nurture your relationships. Take the time to spend quality time with the people you care about. You will feel happier and so will they.

You don’t necessarily need a romantic relationship to feel connected. Relationships with friends and family can be just as fulfilling.

SPREAD JOY

If we all just want to be happy, doesn’t it make sense to spread the happiness. Smile at strangers, compliment people, be kind.

It may seem like a simple thing but sometimes a smile can make the difference to someone’s day. And not only that but the act of smiling has been shown to release endorphins that can make you feel happier.

 

pLAN, Plan, Plan

 

The old saying if you fail to plan you plan to fail can also influence your happiness. Having clear goals and a plan of how to get there takes a lot of the uncertainty out of life. And its also part of the fun. Think of the last time you went on holiday or had a party. The planning part was a great opportunity to start enjoying the event. Imagining the fun, you were going to have the experiences you would enjoy.

So why not start that type of planning around your future. Where are you headed and how are you going to get there? What are your financial goals? Relationship goals? Career goals? Knowing that you have a plan to achieve them is likely going to help you feel happier.

Choose to be happy

 

It’s easy to blame your happiness on outside forces. I know I have in the past. The economy, the political landscape, your friends or family. However, you are in control of your own happiness. You get to choose whether to be happy or not.

I am not suggesting that you are never affected by events in your life – life is always going to happen. You just choose not to let it stop you finding the joy in the world. You have the power within you if you are prepared to take responsibility for your own happiness.

What is your why?

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Written by Pam

What is your why? Have you every wondered why you are here? Why you are, right now, doing what you do?

For many of us, myself included, our present circumstances were created by choices made in our youth.

Influenced by school, family, society. We started down a path and just kept going!

The act of living takes so much of our day that we rarely have the time to really connect with our ‘why’.

This doesn’t mean we are unhappy, or dislike our life, but how much better would it be if you were living a purposeful life.

“Regardless of WHAT we do in our lives, our WHY—our driving purpose, cause or belief—never changes.”                 

Simon Sinek

Is it important to connect with your why?

 

Everyone is an individual a unique being, and what makes one person happy is not necessarily going to make you happy.

Finding your why is really connecting to your deepest values, those things that really make you feel alive.

Those things in your life that are of the most importance which most of us will find are rarely materialistic.

 

Simon Sinek on the impact of your why.

HOW TO FIND YOUR WHY

Simon states in the video finding his why helped him feel calm and increased his confidence. Sounds great. But how do you discover your why?

As mentioned it is easy to get busy with life and lose sight of what is important to you. To find your why and create a sense of purpose will take some time. It’s a new way of thinking and like anything it takes time to master new skills.

Look at the people around you. Who do you gravitate toward? Who makes you happier and why? Listen to what people around you say about you. How have your actions positively impacted others?

Ask yourself questions. Why do you do the things you do? Are you really organised? Do you love helping people? Are you a great communicator? This will help you build up picture of what really makes you feel alive.

Writing in a daily journal can be really helpful. It helps to clarify thoughts and after a while common themes reveal themselves. 

I found a helpful article here that has 19 journal prompting questions to help you connect with your purpose. 

LIVING WITH PURPOSE

Once you have connected with what’s important to you. You start making more choices that align with your true self.

You just feel happier.

John Templeton Foundation’s study on the Psychology of Purpose found  that living with purpose has psychological, physical and academic benefits.

People living with purpose are less likely to suffer depression or anxiety and according to the study “are also more likely to report high levels of life satisfaction”.

 

People living with purpose think about their situation differently. It doesn’t mean they have huge financial wealth or are engaged in a job that gives them purpose.

It also doesn’t have to mean changing a job or totally reorganising how you live.

The Templeton study states “Studies of purpose and meaning at work suggest that how people approach their work may be more important than the actual tasks they perform”

So it’s about how you approach what you do and where you are in life. If you look at the contribution you make to other’s regardless of the monetary or status you hold, your sense of purpose is increased.

Sometimes we do things not because we really enjoy them but because it aligns with our why and gives us a sense of purpose. For example you may not always enjoy getting up early to take your children to sports training however creating a loving and supportive family life for your children aligns with your purpose. So you’re happy to do it.

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE

If living with purpose creates a better quality of life, including better mental and physical health. It may be the best thing you can ever do for yourself.

And not only will it make you feel better it will also positively affect those around you. Imagine waking up every day knowing you are living your purpose, imagine how much joy you will create in the world.

If we all positively impacted one person everyday imagine the ripple effect.

Finding your why and living with purpose is going to take something to create. It’s going to mean really looking deep inside yourself to truly find your purpose. But it will also result in a deep sense of happiness and belonging. And who wouldn’t want that?

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive, then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” 

Howard Thurmon

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